LATEST LISTINGS:

City of London

Senior Community Cinema: Hyenas

Monday 3rd August 2026

As part of the Barbican’s acclaimed Project a Black Planet film season, Senior Community Cinema: Hyenas offers audiences the opportunity to experience one of the defining masterpieces of African cinema. Directed by legendary Senegalese filmmaker Djibril Diop Mambéty, this powerful and darkly satirical film is widely regarded as one of the greatest works in African filmmaking, combining folklore, political allegory and social commentary to explore greed, justice and the corrupting influence of wealth.

 

Set in the fictional Senegalese town of Colobane, the story follows the dramatic return of Linguère Ramatou, a woman who left the village many years earlier in poverty after being betrayed by her former lover. Having become one of the richest women in the world, she returns with an extraordinary offer that promises to transform the fortunes of the struggling community. However, her generosity comes with a shocking condition that forces the townspeople to confront difficult questions about morality, justice and the true cost of prosperity. As temptation begins to take hold, Mambéty crafts a compelling allegory about consumerism, collective responsibility and the price people are willing to pay for economic security.

Released in 1993 and inspired by Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s celebrated play The Visit, Hyenas reimagines the story within a Senegalese setting, using striking imagery, symbolism and dark humour to examine the lingering effects of colonialism, capitalism and social inequality. Mambéty’s distinctive visual style and imaginative storytelling have earned the film international recognition, making it an enduring landmark of world cinema and an essential work for anyone interested in African film history.

This screening forms part of the Barbican’s Senior Community Cinema, a welcoming programme designed primarily for audiences aged 60 and over, although friends, family members and companions are also welcome. The initiative encourages people to enjoy outstanding international cinema in a relaxed daytime setting while connecting with fellow film lovers. As part of the Project a Black Planet season, audiences booking two or more films in the programme can also take advantage of a discounted ticket offer.

Presented within the wider Project a Black Planet programme, which explores the global influence of Pan-Africanism through exhibitions, films, talks and performances, Hyenas remains a powerful reflection on wealth, power and human nature. More than three decades after its release, its themes continue to resonate, making this an unmissable screening for anyone interested in African cinema, Black history and some of the most influential filmmaking of the twentieth century.

More City of London Listings MORE

City of London Monday 3rd August 2026

Senior Community Cinema: Hyenas

As part of the Barbican’s acclaimed Project a Black Planet film season, Senior Community Cinema: Hyenas offers audiences…

City of London Monday 10th August 2026

Relaxed Screening: Handsworth Songs

Presented as part of the Barbican’s groundbreaking Project a Black Planet film season, this relaxed screening of Handsworth…