The Kenyan Film Industry… A Journey From The Past To The Present.

Unlike the Nollywood and even the regional Bongowood film industries,which churn out hundreds of low budget local films monthly,our own film industry seems to be on it’s deathbed with endless internal wrangling,lack of sponsorship,lack of audiences and purchasing power and also extreme expenses in production stifling the sector.

Back then,local films were doing exceptionally well,winning awards and even having hundreds of Kenyan film buffs troop to the local cinemas for a popcorn-driven flick or two.

Not anymore.

The desire for local films seems to have died along with the production of the said films. And even when we have some of them still coming out,they’re incomparable to the films of the then days,the likes of Project Daddy and even the Bob Nyanja-produced Malooned,Rugged Priest and The Captain of Nakara.

We may have some blockbusters still making waves to date (Nairobi Half Life, Veve, House of Lungula) but these won’t hold a candle to the cinema-hits of the early 2000s.

Case in point,Project Daddy,a film about a woman who is suddenly getting too old and too caught up on her career and how needs to have a child soon as she can before time runs out.

Released in 2004,the legendary film starred Nini Wacera,Jane Gachui, Wangechi Murage and Bruce Odhiambo,who,were it not for Bob Nyanja,who convinced him to take up the lead role,would never have made history in that groundbreaking film produced by Baraka Films,directed by Judy Kibinge and written by Njeri Karago.

“Bruce was never going to take up the role. He had too much on his plate already… He wasn’t very enthusiastic about it. But the producers wanted to cast him badly. Bob Nyanja saved the day… Bruce came on board and the rest of history,” says one of the film’s insiders.

Many movies were smash hits back then… Winning accolades and driving Kenyans in droves to cinema halls.

“There was a certain rawness,a certain truthability and a certain aspect of wonder and fascination in those early films… Kenyans were genuinely interested… It would strike a certain cord “, Bruce Odhiambo says as if missing the old days.

” Today,films are doing well across social media… But sadly,that’s not necessarily converting to numbers and even fatter pay cheques for our actors…

Bruce thinks that Kenyans should start physically walking into halls and cinema places and video outlets in the neighborhoods to watch a movie as opposed to just buzzing about it on Twitter.

“There’s a local cinema outlet in many of our neighborhoods… Where guys get to watch Premier League matches and DJ Afro movies for a small fee… Those would be ideal places to start. Show a local movie before a match or a Hollywood blockbuster first… Charge the guys a small fee.. Maybe 20 Bob… Just something… Crowds will come,films will be screened and money will find its way into the actor’s pockets… It’s not rocket science… ” he adds.

Piracy is also to blame for the poor performance of films locally.

Not to mention poor marketing skills and lack of proper,structured distribution channels as well,that spread from the studio to the last guy in the neighborhood.

Bob still thinks it can be done,

“Why not? We have the Internet and the Government goodwill and people still love local films. We just need to put our act together. Get a little professional and also,revive our love for locally-produced material “.

Wise words from a veteran.