Uppland

This short film is the culmination of their earlier body of work in progress, shown here in 2016. In the early 1960s a Swedish mining company began building a settlement in northern Liberia to accommodate workers at a nearby iron ore mine. Within only a few years this housing programme had transformed into a fully functioning town called Yekepa. Built along Scandinavian lines but located in the remote highlands of Liberia, Yekepa soon became a symbol of the utopian promises attached to the West’s investment in the natural resources of a developing nation.

But as the iron-ore reserves became depleted, Yekepa fell into disrepair, a ghost town haunted by the memories of past prosperity. Now partly repopulated by workers of another mining firm, Yekepa has returned to life, but its fortunes are starkly dependent on the price of iron-ore on the world market.

In 2016 architect Killian Doherty and filmmaker Edward Lawrenson visited Yekepa to chronicle its unusual history and uncertain future. Having spoken to past and present residents of Yekepa – both in Liberia and in Sweden – they have made a documentary about the town.

Uppland is shown as part of the Technology, Nature & The Essay film form.
There will be a post-screening Q&A with Ed Lawrenson.