Nantaba-The devil within

This one is a collaborative effort by a host of talented actors many of whom work with family members in drama groups that have dominated the screen and production houses for years. The most popular of these is probably Theatre La Bonita and VCR Studios. Others Were created and merged much later. In the sixties and seventies the themes that dominated the stage were mainly political and cultural. The drama groups were as important as they would have been in other centers of power. Functioning to keep the royal house laughing and communicating tough subjects. Many production houses have sprung up from these groups and after years of performance many have become household names. 

Nantaba is about a goddess who rules an Island. She is served by men and will not tolerate the presence of women. 

We expect quite a clash when a stranger uses a groups of women (innocently plying their street trade) into his house where he manages to capture them. Will they escape his grasp. Will the culturally frightening host accept these new guests? What will happen to the adherents of her faith when confronted with these issues. 

In two parts this one should also be fun to watch. The graphics work is impressive as is the choice of sets for production. This film gives you an insiders view in the hidden world of traditional religion and uses current events to question ideas that abound about faith and practice and tradition. 

Kirevu-Soul Taker

So what happens when you throw away articles given to you by de-gods designed to help you prosper? This is the plot of a story about the relationship between gods and men in the Ugandan setting. The movie is a collaborative project by Delta TV Uganda and MK Video Center as well as VJ Emmy (who handled the translation/voice over work). The production house is called Media Arc Films and it is written by Steven Mwanje, Produced, Directed and Edited by Musisi David Lubega. 

Ronald Magezi who starred in Omuzimu Gw'obulogo, Angela Nakuya who takes on the role of the Msambwa (half woman half spirit). 

This one delivers some genuine suspense and in our view is an exploration of the relationships.  Gods and men, between men and women and between men and their family members. 

Personally it is an in depth look at agreements, contracts or blood covenants which people of faith engage in. The graphics are also impressive. 

You could see some parallels between the title and the ideas behind this production with something that others have explored-the sin eater. The belief that in some cultures certain people are supposed to be devoted to the cleansing of others by consuming that which would be considered 'defiled'. In other cultures, it's was a piece of bread that was found on the body of one that had passed. The act of eating the bread was considered to be method of purifying the soul of the deceased. There are currently two under the same title. The first was of an much earlier period of U.S history, while the second used Rome and the Vatican as its primary backdrop. 

Ideas that stand out in this Uganda film are about souls and judgement and the ability of some to split the soul into two. As well as the ability to consume souls of less obedient beings. 

Ekinanba 7 The Number Seven

This one definitely delivered on the all the hype that was built around it. 

It is a healthy mix of tragedy and comedy with interesting infusions of Faith. It is structured around them life of a young woman and her family. Set in a rural place the film follows the couple through challenges that threaten not just their marriage but their lives. 

The couple must depend on their friends and family for solutions to their problems. We see interesting explorations of faith and culture (traditional belief). 

The director makes full use of the locations and the limitations present with these choices. It is possible that the choice of the rural setting and the scene selections help add quite a lot to the mystery and the sense of restriction that life in the village presents to its inhabitants.

A day or two before the celebration of Women's Day, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that the director, writer and supporting role actress role is all done by one named Joan Namirimu. 

The jury is still out regarding the role of voice overs in Ugandan Cinema so we look forward to seeing if some of these leading pictures will have as much an effect sans commentary. 

An interesting side note. The directions often given by traditional practitioners (virgin birds in this case) often seem awfully close to some of the tasks that were given by ancient Greeks (golden fleeces, battles with Hydra). 

Eddogo Mu Kika-Makungura Ki?

This is a film in two parts directed by Katongole Henry Joy. 

The story is set in both rural and urban settings and tackles broad themes common to people in dealing with growth and change. It attempts to create a picture what life would be like if we were to resort to the use of the magic arts for our preservations. 

There is a marked difference between what in Swahili is called Miti Shamba (Eddagala Lyeki Nansi) and what can broadly be described as  Urogi (WitchCraft) the former in English would be called Traditional Medicine mainly making use of herbs, roots and leaves or different plants and trees versus the use of both secret herbs and portions mainly accompanied by words and belief as well as the backing of ancestors to effect change in the lives of everyday people. 

The film is thus an attempt to explore the effect of these activities on a family and the way in which those that are affected deal with these challenges. 

The choice of cast was good as well as location. There is a good combination of plot twists that leave you genuinely concerned and expectant. There are several scenes that help put typical rural life in perspective. 

The film is part of a category that was created to make International film more accessible but that has obviously become a 'thing' within itself. It is almost impossible to imagine watching anything local that is not accompanied by voice over (enjogelele). 

A large groups of people that make up our population have strong Christian belief and a fair sharing of traditional practice to contend with these ideas. As such the manner in which local people juggle these two conflicting worlds makes for great entertainment. Almost all of the effective urban church movements devote a good amount of their time tackling traditional belief and the ideas that many hold onto about the possibility of ill will from others and bad luck. 

The 'traditional doctor' or conjurer is therefore often part of the extended family responsible for all sorts of progress and pain. There are battles to revive these traditional beliefs as many begin to deal with late or undelivered packages of change and development that have not been received. This could cause a rift between the Kingdoms and 

Cultural Institutions on one hand and the Faiths which have benefitted on the whole in the post colonial age. 

There is a slight reference to the this in the film with a brief appearance of a bible. The message is clear though in the title which asks the question-Mukungura Ki (loosely translated as what do you gain or harvest).