Jamati.com was pleased to catch up with Wanuri Kahiu to learn more about her passion for film, and the vision she had for Africa’s film future.

Jamati: You have been educated in the UK and US and had an opportunity to work in film in the US.  What are the similarities and the differences that you have noticed in making films in the west and in Kenya?

Filmmakers the world around have the same heart. The crews I have been fortunate enough to work with have the same drive and professional passion. The difference between the industry in Kenya and that in the West is the support. At every level from the inception of the idea to it’s execution to distributing the end product there is already an existing industry and established method of trade. In Kenya almost everything you do is a struggle and most times you make your own way and learn the hard way from your mistakes. You become your own mentor. In the West, film-making is a viable profession, a respected profession. In Kenya, it is a viewed as a hobby, a pastime. It therefore does not get the corporate or governmental support it needs to thrive as a viable industry. This makes it more expensive, more risky and more challenging to create work.

Jamati: Your first film ‘Ras Star’ is a wonderful exploration of the cultural taboos that affect African youth in a modern world.  What gave you the inspiration to do the film, and what message were you trying to convey?

The short film ‘Ras Star’ is based on Nazizi, a friend who works as a musician in Kenya. I have seen her struggle in the industry to get her work out. I wanted to tell the story of her struggle within her own family as a teenager trying to express herself in a world where artistic expression is not encouraged. It’s a message about support. We, the artists need support, and we look to find it from whatever the source, be it from the industry, your family or even the local hooligan!

Jamati: ‘From A Whisper‘ has garnered 5 African Academy Movie Awards.  How difficult was it to capture the emotions of the Embassy bombings?

What became evident from the start of the film is that everyone, cast and crew remembered where they were on the day. It was not hard to capture the emotion of it. The difficulty was choosing what story to tell and how to tell it in a way that is not insensitive to the people who continue to hold that day close to their hearts.

Jamati: You are involved in several projects that show a leaning towards movies that make a statement about social ills and celebrations. Is there a particular message/statement that you are trying to convey through your movies?

I try and make films about real people with real emotions that anyone, locally or internationally can understand and empathize with, realizing at the same time that every person living in Kenya is a social statement. So any story told about a character who has lived, struggled, failed or succeeded in a post-colonial country like Kenya becomes a statement about the state of the economy, a comment on the country’s politics and its social norms. We are the heroes and the villains of our own lives.

Jamati: What advice could you give an aspiring director in Africa?

To write their own stories. Their own experience as Africans. And to plant a tree.

Jamati: Are there any projects we can look forward to seeing from you?

I am currently working on a short film ‘Pumzi’ a futuristic short film about an East African territory where the outside is banned and everyone is forced to live inside. I am also writing my a feature-length script based on the Kenya Land Freedom Army.

Thank you for sharing your insights with us.   To learn more about Wanuri Kahiu, visit her website.