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Mikuba
Cobalt
Mikuba takes us deep into the cobalt veins of Kolwezi, the beating heart of the world’s cobalt supply, where the battle for a sustainable green energy future is fought in dust and heat. This global race to secure the essential element powering electric vehicles and renewable energy puts immense pressure on the land and its people. Amid this scramble, the film reveals the lives of local custodians – artisanal and small-scale miners – who stand resolute as the guardians of ancestral wealth and wisdom. At the center of the story is Mama Leance, a determined and resourceful trader, navigating the labyrinth of multinational copper and cobalt giants that dominate the region. Her journey uncovers the stark reality of a system designed to exploit, but it also leads her to an unexpected path: toward Master Kangalele, the enigmatic guardian of Lwanzo Lwa Mikuba’s ancient practice. Through his teachings, the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the land come alive, offering a counter-narrative to the extractive forces that threaten to erase them.
