I have to be very careful about our representation of Africa because there are many old stereotypes still around, we have to show a different image of Africa, a new Africa people can relate to, I don’t see this as a choice I see it as mandatory.
We show an image Africans can identify with; stylistically sometimes my films choose me I don’t choose them. And within these films I have to find a permanence that resonates with me, and one thing I continue to work with is the idea of belonging… and this resonates across my films.
I use my experience to explain the experiences of others and I feel more often than not we Africans are often looking for a sense of identity, belonging, a sense of place.
We show an image Africans can identify with; stylistically sometimes my films choose me I don’t choose them. And within these films I have to find a permanence that resonates with me, and one thing I continue to work with is the idea of belonging… and this resonates across my films.
I use my experience to explain the experiences of others and I feel more often than not we Africans are often looking for a sense of identity, belonging, a sense of place.
Pumzi questioned our relationships with our environment, are you an environmentalist and if you are, is there any issue close to your heart?
Yes I am an environmentalist; I think that anybody who says he or she is not is really denying. Our relationship with water and things related to water is close to my heart and that’s part of the reason I wrote Pumzi.
I don’t like bottled water because it takes more water to make bottle water. Pumzi is my anger, my anger about the way we continue to live as people.
What qualities must a story satisfy to be of interest to you as a filmmaker?
I have a very particular interest and a resolute one too. I must say in strong female characters, and this has becomes more and more important for me everyday.
Also my stories need to take personalities out of the norm, be it emotionally or otherwise, I am drawn to good stories and the possibilities of a good story, because a good story always sells irrespective of location or geography.
Also my stories need to take personalities out of the norm, be it emotionally or otherwise, I am drawn to good stories and the possibilities of a good story, because a good story always sells irrespective of location or geography.
A trend I have noticed in your films, is the use of very strong female lead characters, (using Ras Star as a case in point) are your films mirrored on your experiences of everyday life in Kenya and the role women play?
There is this curiosity that comes out when people ask me what it is like to be a female filmmaker? I don’t know I have never been a man.
This is the most natural place for me to write from, following closely on that, when I write female characters I see more and more the need for them, case in question, Nina Simone.
This was an emotionally devastating story for me as a woman; and I feel it is the duty of any female filmmaker to champion the writing of robust female characters that are challenging, and not the stereotypical depictions of female characters being very maternal, motherly type characters, or beautiful women weather attainable or not attainable, there is more to the female character than that.
This is the most natural place for me to write from, following closely on that, when I write female characters I see more and more the need for them, case in question, Nina Simone.
This was an emotionally devastating story for me as a woman; and I feel it is the duty of any female filmmaker to champion the writing of robust female characters that are challenging, and not the stereotypical depictions of female characters being very maternal, motherly type characters, or beautiful women weather attainable or not attainable, there is more to the female character than that.
Which African filmmakers have inspired your film-making and are there other African filmmakers whose work you have found to be of interest?
Recently I am interested in people of my generation like Caroline from Uganda, she shot the nice film Imani, but also the older generation, Ousman Sembene, Oumar Sissoko, Harooun etc.
But I grew up on a literary background so my main influence have come from writers, like Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri.
But I grew up on a literary background so my main influence have come from writers, like Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri.
What new thing have you found out recently that as being of interest to you?
As a result of Pumzi, travelling has become dear and close to my heart, I discovered the idea of my pan-africanness, what it means to be pan-African in modern Africa, and one of the things I want to do is to travel more across the continent and learn about my pan-africaness.
