There are less than a handful of black directors who made films before the 1990s. The reasons for this are the same reasons that kept black people out of other professions: economic and legal discrimination, a lack of available training, a lack of money (subsidies favoured white, and specifically Afrikaans film makers) and an often-hostile environment. In addition there was legislation that forbad black and coloured people from taking the lead roles in films. So in films like Katrina, the coloured doctor was played by a white actor who had his face darkened with make up.
articleREF A-0064591Revised
Article record
Why did so few Black South Africans make films before the 1990s?
- Published
- 4 Apr 2011
- Updated
- 20 Jul 2026
South African History Online. (2011, April 4). Why did so few Black South Africans make films before the 1990s?. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/A-0064591
South African History Online (2011) 'Why did so few Black South Africans make films before the 1990s?', South African History Online, 4 April. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/A-0064591 (Accessed: 22 July 2026).
South African History Online, Why did so few Black South Africans make films before the 1990s? [website], https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/A-0064591, (accessed 22 July 2026).
"Why did so few Black South Africans make films before the 1990s?." South African History Online, 4 Apr. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/A-0064591. Accessed 22 July 2026.
South African History Online. "Why did so few Black South Africans make films before the 1990s?." South African History Online. April 4, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/A-0064591.
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