FEATURE
THE RISE AND RISE OF KENYAS’
FILM INDUSTRY
Valarie Kimani
T
BY WANJOHI KABURUKU
wo decades ago, the Kenyan creative scene still mellowed in the glory days of renowned novelist Ngugi wa Thiong’o, gyrated to the tunes of Benga maestro D O Misiani, danced to the mimes of Opiyo Okatch, enchanted by the chiaroscuros of Ancent Soi and marvelled at Kevin Oduor’s sculptures. Many remember the days when a theatrical premiere at one of the local theatres would only attract a few people. A story on Kenyan film simply meant Kenya’s alluring landscapes being used as film locations and Kenyan actors hobbling along as extras in movies such as “Out of Africa”, “Born Free”, “King Solomon’s Mine”, among others. It was a labour of love for the Kenyan creative, in those days. Few artistes- if anymanaged to make ends meet through their craft. As the new millennium dawned, Kenya’s creative scene experienced an upheaval. In came new novelists Binyavanga Wainaina and Yvonne Owuor both straight from winning the Caine Prize for African Writing, Billy Kahora, Muthoni Garland, comedians Daniel Ndambuki, thespians Sammy Mwangi, Victor Ber, and Ken Waudo of Heartstrings Ensemble, the Reddykyulass Trio and Charles Bukeko.
But it was not only Film theatre, songsters Suzanna Owiyo, Hez Ndung’u, Elijah Miller, Kamande wa Kioi, Herbert Nakitare,Eric Wainaina and Abby Inyinza broke into the scene with ferocious melodies. Film-makers Bob Nyanja, Mburu Kimani and Wanuri Kahiu broke in too and the Kenyan creative scene’s old script was rewritten. For the first time in decades a boom time was recorded and art is now considered a key economic pillar, thanks to the lively never-say-die-spirit of “Riverwood” which, despite being criticized for years as a hub for shoddy productions and piracy, has today emerged as Kenya’s music and film capital. “River wood” which is the art name of downtown boisterous Nairobi’s river road area is well known for its prowess in producing both movies and music faster than they are scripted and for building stars like Machang’i, Kihenjo, Githingithia, and scores of musicians who were ignored by mainstream press into underground comic celebrities. Wanjiru who is a fervent blogger and has reviewed the arts for all the media houses in Kenya has a clear grasp of where the upturn for the creative began. “A lot has happened behind the scenes and all has been
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Chronicle | July 2013