The fact of dreads
The Fact of Dreads is my debut short film, an exploration of culture, perception, and the politics of natural hair. Shot in Maputo, Mozambique and crafted through years of perseverance, the film merges spoken word poetry with cinematic storytelling. Completed in late 2025, it is currently on the 2025/2026 film festival circuit for private viewership and awards contention, with a public release planned for early 2026.
synopsis
The Fact of Dreads, blends cinematic storytelling, performance and poetry to trace one man’s journey with his dreadlocks. Even though he is surrounded by people of color in his city, he confronts stereotypes and prejudice. Shifting between stage performance and lived encounters, the film questions how identity is seen, judged, and redefined through the lens of natural African hair.
Director's message
The Fact of Dreads is deeply personal to me, it is my first film, and in many ways it reflects my lived experience. It was born from my own words as a poet, and grew into a visual narrative shaped by trial, error, and determination. Entirely self-financed, the film faced numerous obstacles — from technical setbacks to post-production challenges. When the first edit I received fell far short of my vision, I took it upon myself to learn video editing and re-crafted the film from scratch. I have brought that vision to the screen. My hope is that The Fact of Dreads sparks dialogue by the reflection that hair is never just hair.
Specifications
- Title: The Fact of Dreads
- Director: Edgar Munguambe
- Director of photography: Erasmo "Fenomenal" Vilanculo
- Writer: Edgar Munguambe
- Editor: Edgar Munguambe
- Country: Mozambique
- Year of Completion: 2025
- Language: English
- Runtime: 14 minutes
- Format: 4K (3840 × 2160), Color, Stereo
- Genre: Spoken Word / Drama / Short
Poster
