Kiumeni is Tanzania’s latest locally-produced film, the title means masculinity. It’s a love story between a rich man and a ghetto girl and the challenges it brings. The cast and crew are part of a new wave of filmmakers who are making better quality movies. So much so, that a former Big Brother Africa winner and radio host, wanted to join the action.
“I said to myself I’m only going to do a movie in Tanzania if it’s going to be with a serious production. And for earnest is a very serious person, the guy who did the movie Kiumeni. So when he told me he was going to do a new project, I was like ‘yeah count me in’ because I knew he was a serious person and he isn’t going to downgrade my image.” Said Idris Sultan, Entertainer
But traditionally Tanzania has sold so-called ‘Bongo movies’- low-budget films that are both shot and sold in the country’s major cities.
Crowded streets have been the backdrop of many ‘Bongo’ films, but for years the challenges have been low budgets, poor technical knowledge and a quick turnaround time. But now a new breed of filmmakers are trying to raise the bar, to international standards
Rose who was once a Bongo movie actress herself, say the films usually never made it to the cinema – but were made for cheap street DVDs. That’s something that Kiumeni is helping change.
“To be honest it’s a nice strategy, and it was a high-quality movie. It had minor shortcomings but hey nothing’s perfect. But my perception of Tanzanian movies changed after I went to the premiere of Kiumeni.” Said Rose Ndauka, Tanzanian actress
The overall approach to filmmaking in Tanzania is shifting with more focus on high performance cameras and improved workflow.
“I think the merging of skill and experience from abroad and here is making us produce better films. And I also think now we are more based on professionalism. We have professionally trained directors. It’s not like in the past where anyone can be a director or cameraman.” Said Devotha Mayunga, Scriptwriter
It might be a while before these films reach the production value levels of Hollywood but, slowly and surely, Tanzanian films are stepping up and who knows…Tollywood may one day be a million dollar industry.
