Exclusive: Bea Wangondu opens about making ‘Kikuyu Land’ ahead of Kenyan premiere

Kenya's land issue is a source of economic value and personal identity, yet it also remains a focal point for questions of ownership, tenure, and access. Bea Wangondu, a Kenyan journalist and filmmaker, delves into this issue in her documentary 'Kikuyu Land', co-directed with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Andrew H. Brown. The film, set in a tea-growing highland, follows a claimant seeking justice for land taken from his family, uncovering a long history of colonial dispossession and family secrets.

Since its Sundance Film Festival screening, 'Kikuyu Land' has been showcased at over 40 international film festivals, receiving enthusiastic feedback. The film has also challenged misconceptions about Kenya and initiated discussions about colonialism's impact on the country and the ongoing consequences. Wangondu, reflecting on the film's upcoming Kenyan premiere at the NBO Film Festival, emphasizes the significance of the event, stating it is a privilege to contribute to Kenyan cinema.

The film's homecoming holds particular importance for Wangondu, as it allows her to share the story of her people and the land at the core of the documentary. The theme 'Cinema For Us' for the festival resonates deeply with Wangondu, as it recognizes the importance of telling African stories in their unique way and fostering a sense of connection and introspection.

Wangondu hopes Kenyan audiences will engage with the film's contrasting aspects and reflect on their own experiences and relationships with land. Ultimately, she aims to spark conversations around land repatriation and the need for accountability and responsible management of public resources, acknowledging that land is a pressing and personal issue in Kenya today.