The documentary 'Kikuyu Land', co-directed by Bea Wangondu and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Andrew H. Brown, will make its Kenyan debut at the NBO Film Festival, set to begin on October 15 to 25. The film follows a land claimant seeking justice for land taken from his family, as Wangondu's investigation uncovers a much longer history of colonial dispossession and family secrets. The film has already screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
Land in Kenya is an economic asset and a personal marker of identity, but given the country's colonial history and the injustices endured during that period, it also remains at the centre of questions of ownership, tenure, and access. According to a report published by the National Lands Commission, it has received 3,665 claims relating to historical land injustices. This backdrop sets the stage for Wangondu's exploration of the land issue in 'Kikuyu Land'.
Wangondu, a Kenyan journalist and filmmaker, has a personal connection to the story, having confronted truths about her own family history while making the film. She notes that the discoveries were brutal and that the distance between journalism and confronting her family history disappeared. The film has screened in over 40 film festivals globally since its release, and the feedback has been overwhelming.
The theme for the NBO Film Festival this year is 'Cinema For Us', which Wangondu believes is a privilege to be a part of. She notes that the film has opened conversations about what colonialism did to Kenya, what it took from the country, and the ways those consequences continue to shape the lives of Kenyans today. The film has also been an important tool for challenging some of the misconceptions people have about Kenya.
Wangondu hopes that the film will spark conversations about land repatriation across Kenya and that it will give audiences room to introspect. She is curious to see how Kenyan audiences respond to the film's two grounded but contrasting sides and what they see in themselves or their families when they watch it. The film will screen at Prestige Cinemas, Kaloleni Social Hall, and Unseen Nairobi during the festival run.
The film's homecoming means everything to Wangondu and the team, as they finally get to share it with the people whose history, land, and lived experiences are at the heart of the film. Wangondu believes that Africans must tell their own story in their own peculiar way and that filmmaking is a responsibility. She hopes that the film will contribute to a stronger demand for accountability and responsible management of public resources.
The Kenyan premiere of 'Kikuyu Land' is highly anticipated, with extended screenings at Unseen Nairobi after the festival run. Wangondu's work on the film has been widely appreciated, and her contribution to Kenyan cinema is significant. The film's exploration of land issues, colonialism, and family secrets is a valuable addition to the country's cinematic landscape.
Key points
- The documentary 'Kikuyu Land' explores the land issue in Kenya, colonial dispossession, and family secrets.
- The film has screened in over 40 film festivals globally since its release.
- The Kenyan premiere of 'Kikuyu Land' will take place at the NBO Film Festival, set to begin on October 15 to 25.
