Watch Kids' Reviews of
AKESI AND THE LOSS OF THE BATEKE KINGDOM

Akesi And The Loss Of The Bateke Kingdom is a beautifully-crafted educational short film with crisp and clean animation and a well-written story. It's sure to capture the attention of young viewers!

This is part II of the Akesi And The Congo River series when a young Congolese boy named Akesi is transported to the 19th century and he witnesses firsthand the deception that led to the Congolese occupation by the French and Belgians. Akesi watches helpless as history unfolds, and he learns to be careful when vesting trust in others.

The information presented about the Congo and the Bateke Kingdom is detailed and presented in a clear and engaging manner. I didn't know much about the Bateke or the Congo before watching this short film, and I must admit that viewing this film cued a Wikipedia deep dive that educated me further. For history buffs, this is a superb film. The film is animated in 2D -- all the scenes are vibrant and transition naturally. The use of color is especially effective during scenes in the marketplace. The backgrounds are styled like authentic Congolese art. They're wonderful, vibrant, and absolutely suit the story! The background music has been carefully composed and curated to emulate traditional Congolese music, and it really adds to the depth of the story. Sasheer Zamata of SNL fame is the presenter; her delivery is clear and effortless. Nadine Ngolo and Ange Da Costa voice Akesi's Lingala lines -- Zamata takes care of the English portions. Ngolo and Da Costa's audio is beautiful (I love the language; it's the first time I'm hearing it in a show!) but the voiceover is at times jarring. Subtitles are not used as effectively as they could be and volume levels shifts at times. Curt Fortin's writing is absolutely stellar! I love how information is spread throughout the episode and includes bits of Lingala. I also love learning about the Bateke Kingdom (it was well-researched and factual), since we don't learn anything about it in U.S. schools.

The message is: we must be prudent about who to trust.

I give Akesi And The Loss Of The Bateke Kingdom 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend kit for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!

Akesi And The Loss Of The Bateke Kingdom is a beautifully-crafted educational short film with crisp and clean animation and a well-written story. It's sure to capture the attention of young viewers!

This is part II of the Akesi And The Congo River series when a young Congolese boy named Akesi is transported to the 19th century and he witnesses firsthand the deception that led to the Congolese occupation by the French and Belgians. Akesi watches helpless as history unfolds, and he learns to be careful when vesting trust in others.

The information presented about the Congo and the Bateke Kingdom is detailed and presented in a clear and engaging manner. I didn't know much about the Bateke or the Congo before watching this short film, and I must admit that viewing this film cued a Wikipedia deep dive that educated me further. For history buffs, this is a superb film. The film is animated in 2D -- all the scenes are vibrant and transition naturally. The use of color is especially effective during scenes in the marketplace. The backgrounds are styled like authentic Congolese art. They're wonderful, vibrant, and absolutely suit the story! The background music has been carefully composed and curated to emulate traditional Congolese music, and it really adds to the depth of the story. Sasheer Zamata of SNL fame is the presenter; her delivery is clear and effortless. Nadine Ngolo and Ange Da Costa voice Akesi's Lingala lines -- Zamata takes care of the English portions. Ngolo and Da Costa's audio is beautiful (I love the language; it's the first time I'm hearing it in a show!) but the voiceover is at times jarring. Subtitles are not used as effectively as they could be and volume levels shifts at times. Curt Fortin's writing is absolutely stellar! I love how information is spread throughout the episode and includes bits of Lingala. I also love learning about the Bateke Kingdom (it was well-researched and factual), since we don't learn anything about it in U.S. schools.

The message is: we must be prudent about who to trust.

I give Akesi And The Loss Of The Bateke Kingdom 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend kit for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!

Part II of the "Akesi and the Congo River" series, Akesi and the Loss of the Bateke Kingdom explores the history of Congo and the deception that led to its occupation by French and Belgium colonizers. Akesi watches from afar as history unfolds, unable to influence change with his modern knowledge.