Josèfa Ntjam
Works
Marthe, Matter Gone Wild
Date
2023
Material
HD film, 5:43 min
Written and directed by Josèfa Ntjam, in collaboration with Sean Hart and Nicolas Pirus. Co-produced by Aquatic Invasion Production, Fonds [SCAN], Fondation Pernod - Ricard.
Description
What does it take to spark a revolt and say no—to demand independence, defy obedience, and resist? French artist Josèfa Ntjam shares the essential ingredients in her five-minute video Marthe, Matter Gone Wild. In a performance resembling a ritual, and in sync with sound elements, Ntjam uses hand movements to highlight her words: the ingredients needed for various ways to break free from oppression.
The video’s visual style, combined with Ntjam’s distorted, metallic-sounding voice, places her work squarely within the aesthetic of Afrofuturism. The figure appears to be speaking to us from another world—both a distant past and a far-off future. The video’s themes bring us face to face with the colonial past and Africa’s many liberation movements. Ntjam draws not only from collective memories but also from her own family history, specifically referencing Marthe Moumié, a key figure in Cameroon’s struggle for independence.