REFLECTION OF AFRICAN CINEMA THROUGH ANALYSIS OF SOCIOPOLITICAL CULTURAL VALUES, AND DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS. Carolyn N. Ogbulafor; mentor, Professor Abiyi Ford, School of Communications African Cinema, with its short history and the advent of independency by most sub-Saharan countries on the late 1950s to 1980s, served fundamental social, cultural, and political functions. African Cinema became a medium of communication through which oral history, government overreaching, corruption, arrogance, greed, nepotism, maladministration, and colonial/neo-colonial influence were exposed and preserved. The purpose of this research is threefold: first, to analyze how African film makers are able to use local information to show images that are unfiltered; second, to expose some misconceptions about Africans as depicted in the western films; and thirdly to examine the problem of film distribution. This study will utilize both primary and secondary materials. Among the primary materials are a review of African movies, such as SARRAOUNIA, YEELEN, FAD JAL, and taped interviews with professors who are involved with African Cinema. Secondary materials include magazine articles and film reviews.			Carolyn N. Ogbulafor, a graduate of Howard University's Children's Theater program, aspires to be a film producer or to teach children African culture and heritage through creative drama. She has worked with at-risk youth at Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC, and the Special Aid Youth at Adelphi Elementary School in Maryland. She participated in the Fairfax County Multicultural Travel #5, which was videotaped and distributed to schools and organizations across the country. She established the African Cultural Organization and, as director, designed and executed a summer program for children seven to sixteen. She was selected to appear in a play called "The Queen of the Nile" to be performed at Howard's Ira Alridge Theater in November for DC schools. Carolyn was on the Dean's Honor Roll at Howard, nominated twice for Outstanding Development in Children's Theater, invited to attend the Golden Key National Honor Society Conference, and selected to join Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. McNair Alumni