Netflix and UNESCO Premiere 'African Folktales, Reimagined' at KICC in Nairobi
- By BTR Kenya --
- 30 Mar 2023
The African Folktales reimagined film collection premiered at KICC in Nairobi, Kenya, with notable filmmakers in attendance, including Kate Actress, Sarah Hassan, Melvin Alusa, Melissa Kiplagat, and Sheila Munyiva, among others.
The film collection is a joint venture between Netflix and UNESCO, and it features a variety of African on-screen talent in stories by emerging African storytellers.
According to Netflix Kenya, the premiere celebrated the six finalists of the film collection: " Last night we celebrated the six finalists of the Netflix x UNESCO African Folktales Reimagined collection. The films are now streaming on Netflix."
Netflix's Director of Film in Africa, Tendeka Matatu, had earlier explained the initiative's purpose, saying, "This initiative is a testament to our ongoing efforts to strengthen the pipeline of African storytelling and to include voices from underrepresented communities. We're grateful to our partners at UNESCO who walked this journey with us to provide an opportunity for the six emerging African filmmakers to create and showcase their reimagined folktales to the world, in their own languages, so that more people can see their lives reflected on screen."
One of the filmmakers, Loukman Ali from Uganda, directed the film "Katera of the Punishment Island" and spoke about the impact of the film on his career, saying, "I feel that this film has opened doors for me to tell more stories, and it has given me the opportunity to showcase my talents to the world."
Another filmmaker, Voline Ogutu from Kenya, directed "Anyango and the Ogre" and talked about the importance of sharing African stories, saying, "We have so many stories to tell, and they need to be heard by the world. I am grateful to Netflix and UNESCO for this opportunity to share my vision and my story with a global audience."
The film collection features stories from all over Africa, including "Halima's Choice" from Nigerian director Korede Azeez, "Enmity Djinn" from Mauritanian director Mohamed Echkouna, "Katope" from Tanzanian director Walt Mzengi, and "MaMlambo" from South African director Gcobisa Yako. The stories cover themes of mysticism, love, and pain, and they are all reimagined versions of traditional African folktales.
The film collection is now available for streaming on Netflix, providing a glimpse into African storytelling and culture. As Tendeka Matatu stated, "We're excited to finally bring this anthology of short films created by the next generation of African storytellers to Netflix members around the world."
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