Directed by
Bethune, Lebert "Sandy", Jamaican American
Taylor, John
Narrated by
Harrelle, Johanne, Canadian, 1930 - 1994
Subject of
Harrelle, Johanne, Canadian, 1930 - 1994
Edited by
MacDougall, Elspeth
Composed by
Dolphy, Eric, American, 1928 - 1964
Date
1966
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 22 Minutes
Length (Film): 700 Feet
Description
A short motion picture film with the title "Jojolo." It consists of a single reel of black-and-white 16mm acetate film with optical sound. The film depicts the life of Jojolo (Johanne Harrelle), a young Black woman working as a fashion model in mid-1960s Paris. It opens with Jojolo applying makeup to her face as instrumental jazz music (Fire Waltz by Eric Dolphy) plays in the background. This is accompanied by voiceover narration. The woman states that jojolo is a Yoruba word that means "Look at the pretty girl."
In the next scene, Jojolo walks out of a Christian Dior store unto the busy Rue François 1er and exclaims although it was named after a 16th century French king, there is nothing majestic about it but its name. She briefly engages in some window-shopping before visiting a water fountain that features numerous statues. She then walks over the Pont Alexandre III bridge, commenting that for her it is the funniest bridge over the Seine, "not even my mask can fit me with it. I think it knows."
In another scene, Jojolo observes a sculptor making a statue. She states, "Look at the pretty girl. She couldn't work for my boss but then, jojolo for him is not the same for everyone. I live here. I have to work, that is what my mask is for." She continues along her journey, eventually making it to the street on which she lives. She pauses to look at traditional African masks as the narrator states that "They say that home is where one starts from”, and African drumming plays in the background.
In the final scene, Jojolo looks out from her window unto a procession of umbrellas passing in the street. She sees her neighbor doing the same thing and wonders, "What does she see?" After retiring to her apartment, Jojolo removes her makeup and eyelashes as the narrator states, "My father says, if you sleep in a mask, it sticks to your face. I will never sleep in mine. I want to keep my face. I want to keep my name. Jojolo. Jojolo. Jojolo." The film ends with a shot of her, sans makeup, looking directly into the camera.
Place filmed
Paris, France, Europe
Collection title
Lebert "Sandy" Bethune Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Movement
Pan Africanism
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
short subjects
Topic
African diaspora
Beauty culture
Film
Identity
Independent films
Jazz (Music)
Race relations
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Lebert "Sandy" Bethune
Object number
2018.37.3.1a
Restrictions & Rights
© Lebert Bethune
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd53d686863-e0f9-4f67-a2e1-6087aea3a3d0

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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