Following two successful screening events for the compelling ‘Back to the Source, the Nile’ documentary in China and Kampala, the Director and Producers of the film hosted another screening in one of Kampala’s slums – Katanga.
Held on the evening of Saturday May 16th, the screening drew in hundreds of young children, youths, parents and local leaders who huddled together as twilight fell on the open grounds, screams dying into murmurs, then silence as the screen came alive with scenes many among this audience only ever imagine fantasies.
Back to the Source – the Nile, follows Uganda’s Consul General to the People’s Republic of China Ambassador Judyth Nsababera as she returns to Uganda and explores the River Nile from its source in Jinja and traverses the country’s most extraordinary destinations.
The documentary was directed by award-winning Ugandan visual storyteller/filmmaker Derrick Ssenyonyi.
Community gatherings in the ghetto are not uncommon. People come together as tragedies befall the land; heavy rains sweeping away shanty housing, a child going missing thanks to an overloaded drainage trench and once in a while, the convening is beneficial – an NGO conducting a health camp, a philanthropist giving away school supplies.
This time, however, the atmosphere was different; members of the local community were the center of the show, groups of talented singers, dancers and rappers showcased their art as revealers made themselves at home in their seats and enjoyed the evening away.
Everything about this screening oozed ‘real’ from every orifice – the dancing kids embracing the lit stage with smiles that outshone the starry sky, mothers rocking their toddlers on the lap and gently explaining the scenes, youths listening keenly and watching as the VJ translated the documentary to Luganda, the screams from the faint of heart as the raft took a dip on the white waters and the pure excitement of the few who have been to Jinja as they reminisced crossing the Nile.
Michael Jackson Mugema, team lead at Hope for Katanga Kids project, a community-based organization, commended the director and producers of the film noting that screening such a documentary in a community that often lacks formidable inspiration and relatable role models helps to bridge the gap.
Mugema noted that the Ambassador’s message on conquering fear and leading with intention and courage couldn’t be more imperative especially for children in the Katanga community.
“The documentary has brought forth an important component of self-belief. The children watched the Ambassador got on the raft to face her lifelong fear, trust me this is going to push them to look beyond their limitations as kids growing up in the slum,” he said.
Members of dancing crews including TNG dancers (The New Generation), Clif dancers among others heaped praised on the director and the Ambassador for giving them a stage to showcase their talent but also taking them on a visual tour of the Uganda they didn’t even know existed.
Vivian Nakakande from TNG Dancers noted that after watching the documentary, she and her team of young girls were inspired to chase their dream of being internationally recognized dancers even though they are from a slum.
“We are very inspired and we have also learnt that sometimes your greatest fear can be your greatest story from the Ambassador’s experience. We appreciate that the director and producer of the film chose to screen it in Katanga because otherwise not many of us would have the opportunity to watch it,” Nakakande said.
The Katanga screening brought the dream home for Ssenyonyi – the Director – who grew up in Nakasongola watching tourists drive by, unsure of what the Uganda beyond the confines of his locality held.
A Ugandan director creating a film that stars another Ugandan telling the story of Uganda in a documentary that has garnered international acclaim is proof, especially for kids in the Katanga community – that is largely underserved and often leeched out of opportunities – that no matter who they are or what their story is, they matter.
Also read: ‘Back to the Source – the Nile’ Film a New Dawn for Tourism, Creative Industries – Gen. Saleh
By screening the Back to the Source – the Nile documentary in this local community, Ssenyonyi and his team sought to create a hunger among the ghetto youths and dwellers in general for aiming higher, sticking to the dream and telling the story that makes each one, their unique self.
“This film is not mine. It is not the Ambassador’s. It is Uganda’s. And Uganda belongs to every person in this space tonight. Tonight, we are showing it here, in this community, for free, because you deserve to see what is possible. Because the children of Katanga deserve to look at that screen and say: a Ugandan made that. And if a Ugandan made that, I can make something too,” Ssenyonyi said in his remarks at the screening night.
He further encouraged the youth, “The person who made this film grew up in Nakasongola watching tourists drive past. Nobody told him he would one day direct a film for 73 million people. Nobody told Ambassador Judyth Nsababera she would produce and star in an internationally recognised documentary. Life does not tell you what you are going to become. You have to tell it.”
In her message to the audience, which was read by one of the children from the Katanga community, Ambassador Nsababera emphasized that although the film has been screened before diplomats, ministers, investors, business leaders, “and people in very expensive suits”, Uganda’s story does not belong only to people in boardrooms and fancy hotels. “It belongs to every Ugandan.”
“The film you are about to watch was created by Ugandans. It is about Uganda. It is our story. And funny enough, the woman at the centre of it was terrified of water her whole life. But she decided to face that fear publicly on the River Nile, with cameras rolling, for the entire world to see. And do you know what happened? Over 73 million people in China watched that journey,” she added.
The Ambassador called on the community to be proud citizens and believe in what they can create while making every opportunity count.
“If anyone here tonight thinks your story is too small, or that where you come from limits where you can go, let this evening remind you that even stories that begin in communities like Katanga can reach the world,” she said.
After the film screening, the audience dived into a cake cutting ceremony to mark the event and climaxed the evening with a sumptuous dinner, all courtesy of Ambassador Nsababera, Derrick Ssenyonyi, partnering initiatives, Community Based Organisations and the local leadership.