‘L'arbre de l'authenticité - Sammy Baloji’

In the heart of the Congo rainforest the remains of the Yangambi INERA Research Station, that was dedicated to tropical agriculture, reveal the burden of the colonial past and its inextricable links to contemporary climate change. Through the voices of Paul Panda Farnana and Abiron Beirnaert - two scientists who worked at Yangambi between 1910 and 1950 - the Tree of Authenticity recounts the ecological destruction that began at the time of the Belgian colonisation.

Structured in three parts, the film combines personal testimonies with scientific findings to trace the legacy of Belgian colonisation – not only its profound impact on human lives but also on the natural world. A riveting historical document, L’arbre de l’authenticité is also a compelling portrait of lives across cultures and backgrounds, and a chilling reminder of what lies ahead if we fail to change our relationship with the environment.

Sammy Baloji (1978), born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, is a visual artist and photographer who lives and works between Lubumbashi and Brussels. He moved from studying computer and information science at the University of Lubumbashi, to photography and video at Ecole Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, in Strasbourg. A visual artist and a photographer, Baloji has been exploring the memory and history of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His work is a perpetual investigation into the cultural, architectural, and industrial heritage of the Katanga region, as well as an inquiry into the effects of Belgian colonization. His most recent films are Tales of the Copper Crosses Garden: Episode 1 (2018), Rumba Rules, New Genealogies (2020), The Tree of Authenticity (2025). 

On May 18, Sammy Baloji will take part in a discussion with the audience alongside actor Edson Anibal, the voice of the film, and Ellen Meiresonne, one of the authors of the texts that compose it.