Harlem will once again serve as the backdrop for a historic celebration as award-winning filmmaker and playwright Jade Bryan marks the 25th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut feature, If You Could Hear My Own Tune.
Originally released in 2001 under the title Somalia and Zavier, the film holds the distinction of being the first feature-length motion picture produced centering Black Deaf culture and Black American Sign Language (BASL). Created in Harlem during the events of September 11, 2001, the film stands as both a cultural milestone and a testament to resilience, identity, and love during one of the most uncertain moments in American history.
The anniversary screening will take place Thursday, March 19, 2026 at Angel of Harlem in New York City, bringing the community back to the very neighborhood that inspired the story.
A Harlem Love Story Rooted in BASL
Set in pre-gentrified Harlem, the film follows Somalia (Sylvie Marc-Charles), an ambitious and expressive aspiring fashion designer determined to build her own path. Confident, culturally grounded, and independent, Somalia navigates school, ambition, and love while immersed in a neighborhood rich with boutiques, salons, bodegas, and artistic energy.
Her relationship with Zavier (Omar Jaslin), a gifted musician, anchors the story. While Zavier’s world is shaped by sound, Somalia’s is shaped by vibration and movement. Their connection runs deep, but as private struggles surface and outside pressures intensify, their bond is tested.
At its core, the film asks a question that still resonates today: What does it truly mean to hear one another beyond sound?
Produced during 9/11, the film also captures a historic moment when New York City — and the nation — grappled with grief and uncertainty. In that climate, creating art became an act of cultural affirmation.
Innovation Beyond the Screen
Bryan’s impact extends beyond filmmaking. In 2007, she appeared on ABC’s primetime series American Inventor, where she became the first Black Deaf woman to pitch on the show and the first Black female inventor to develop a wearable music vest.
Her Vibrotactile Gear, including the Feel-the-Music Vest, predated similar innovations and was integrated into the storytelling of If You Could Hear My Own Tune. Out of more than a thousand inventors representing New York, Bryan advanced through three rounds to become one of the top three semi-finalists.
The technology and the film together expanded conversations around accessibility, creativity, and innovation within Black Deaf communities.
Anniversary Screening Details
Thursday, March 19, 2026
7:00 PM
Angel of Harlem
2272 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (122nd Street)
Harlem, NY 10027
Tickets are $15 through March 16 and $20 at the door.
Happy Hour runs from 5:00–7:00 PM.
The film is presented in English and ASL, fully captioned. Runtime: 2 hours. Rated R.
Following the screening, guests are invited to attend BASL LIT®️ SLAM, a live poetry slam celebrating language, rhythm, and culture, complete with cash prizes. Attendees are encouraged to wear green and come ready to celebrate BASL and community storytelling.
The event also serves as a fundraising initiative supporting Bryan’s upcoming television series currently in development.
Expanding the Legacy: ‘Somalia The Musical’
The celebration continues in April with a staged reading debut of Somalia The Musical, Bryan’s new hip-hop infused theatrical production set for Saturday, April 25, 2026 in New York City.
Revisiting Harlem in 2001, the musical blends fiction and lived experience against the backdrop of a city forever changed by 9/11. The story centers on Somalia’s determination to open her own boutique while navigating loss, economic uncertainty, and evolving identity.
The production builds upon Bryan’s expanding creative universe, which now includes her award-winning episodic television pilot What Somalia Wants (2024), currently touring the festival circuit.
A Cultural Milestone That Still Resonates
For Bryan, the mission remains clear: representation, language, and culture matter.
If You Could Hear My Own Tune was created to confront the absence and misrepresentation of Black Deaf narratives in both mainstream and Deaf media. Twenty-five years later, the film’s legacy continues to expand across cinema, theater, and television.
The message is direct and unapologetic:
BASL is culture.
BASL is cinema.
And Black Deaf stories will continue to be told.