Films have the power to inspire, transform, and educate, offer unique perspectives on revolution.
The wave of youth-led demonstrations sparked by proposed tax hikes last month, Kenyan Gen-Zs are demanding systemic changes to address poor governance is not letting up with the anticipated nane nane demonstrations slated for 8th of August 2024.
These protests that spread to at least 23 of the country’s 47 counties, highlight the pervasive issues of political corruption and police violence. As we navigate this turbulent political landscape, many are seeking resources to help better understand the current moment.
The movies listed below resonate deeply with the ongoing events, providing insightful reflections on the struggles for change.
Mvera
Directed by David Anguka, the film starts with a narration about Mekatilili wa Menza a Kenyan freedom fighter who opposed British rule. It follows Mvera, a woman who is on a mission to search for her lost mother and steals her friend’s chance after she wasn’t chosen by Thabiti Foods Limited to go abroad. She soon discovers she’s trapped in a sinister organ trafficking ring and is forced on a Hero’s journey back home to warn the villagers about the ‘foreign opportunities’. She rallies the villagers, launches a bold protest and fights for their community’s future. The movie stars Linah Sand, Hillary Namanje and Kabibi Salim.
A Bug’s Life
The ants are ruled with an iron fist by a grasshopper named Hopper (Kevin Spacey) and he intimidates them to giving a mountain of food. Flik (Davie Foley) spills the offering set out by the ants and he must find a way to protect his community. He goes off in search of warrior bugs to fight the tyrannical grasshoppers. Flik stumbles onto a troop of circus bugs he mistakes for warriors but they turn out to have the right stuff to help the ants fight the grasshoppers.
Judas and the Black Messiah
In Shaka King’s historical drama, Daniel Kaluuya plays the radical leader Fred Hampton who was cold-bloodedly shot at home during a raid. The FBI had been given inside information about the layout of his apartment by their informer Fred Hampton (Lakeith Stanfield) who had been instructed to rise up through Black Panther ranks. This movie is commendably has a deeper understanding of politics and betrayal.
The Woman King
Loosely inspired by actual historical events and directed by Gina Price it tells a tale centering the Agojie warriors- an all woman group of soldiers sworn to honor-hailing from the West African Kingdom. The army is led by a formidable general Nanisca (Viola Davis) and her closet comrades-in-arms are Amenza (Sheila Atim) and Izagie.
Selma
Directed by Ava Duvernay follows the three months between Martin Luther King Jr (David Oyelowo) accepting his Nobel Peace prize in Dec 1964 and the march for voters’ rights in 1965 March. The film follows a battle between the will of the people and the clubs of police authorities. As King attempts to lead the movement, he’s undermined by the FBI, which tries to destroy his credibility by exposing King’s infidelities.
Sarafina
The film subtitled ‘The Sound of Freedom’ is an emotional musical salute to the black South African school children’s resistance movement that sparked in the 70s. The movie stars Khumala a bright young student who is inspired by her History teacher Mary (Whoopi Golberg). The teens continue to speak out and stage protests that lead to armed intervention, detention and torture od possible witness.
The Last King of Scotland
An adaptation of Giles Foden’s novel this film tells the fictionalized story of an African ruler who killed 300,000 Ugandans. Furiously paced, with excellent performances by Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin and James McAvoy as the leader’s physician, it delivers shock worthy of a horror film. It contains its share of gruesome images, including a torture scene that depicts in detail what happens to someone who betrays Idi Amin.
Hotel Rwanda
It tells a story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), the then manager of a five-star hotel. When Hutu extremists took over the country in 1994, their first major goals was to exterminate all of the Tutsi people (who they called Cockroaches) while rest of the world looked away. About midway through, the United Nations ‘presence’ in Rwanda, represented by Col. Oliver (Nick Notle) makes it clear to the hotel manager why the West won’t intervene to stop the ongoing Rwandan Genocide; “We think you’re dirt, Paul,” he explains “You’re Black. You’re not even a Nigger. You’re African.”
Mandela: Long walk to Freedom
Directed by Justin Chadwick and based on South African president Nelson Mandela autobiography of the same name it gives a clear, strong narrative line showing the burly young trial lawyer and amateur boxer joining the ANC to fight apartheid and police brutality. With peers, Mandela moves crowds to protest with his speeches.
Winnie Mandela
It’s a drama that chronicles the life of Winnie Mandela from her childhood through her student years in Johannesburg, where she trained as a social worker through her courtship with and marriage to lawyer and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. The two Winnie (Jennifer Hudson) and Mandela ( Terrence Howard) are under seemingly constant surveillance by cops. Mandela and other black leaders are sentenced to life imprisonment and Winnie carries the movement torch from the outside, at one point serving jail time herself.
If you’ve seen the films on this list, you can watch them again from a new view point. And if you’re watching some of these films for the first time, you might find themes that resonate with the ongoing Maandamano protests for reforms.
