About
I’m not sure I will be able to maintain a blog, but the idea with this project is to write about documentary filmmaking, participatory video, poverty and conflict over natural resources in Africa.
Bio
I studied Biology and Physical Geography at Stockholm University, and came to Tanzania to work as a volunteer with community forestry projects in the Usambara mountains in Tanzania in 1985-87 (TIRDEP-SECAP). I kept returning to Tanzania to work with research for documentary films, freelance journalism and as consultant for the Forests, Trees and People Programme. Specialising in participatory research I lead courses in “Participatory Rural Appraisal” methodology at Tanzanian, Swedish and German universities, and carried out field research and training workshops in Tanzania, Eritrea, India, Nepal and rural Sweden.
Having experienced how powerful film could be as a means of communication for predominantly oral societies, I started using “participatory video” as a tool for policy dialogue in a major rural development programme in Southern Tanzania (RIPS) when relatively inexpensive digital video technology became available in the early nineties. In 1998 I established the “Maneno Mengi” company in Zanzibar together with Verena Knippel, Dominick de Waal and Farida Nyamachumbe with a view of establishing a centre for exploring the potential of grassroot video production. Part of the group moved on to mainland Tanzania and established “Maweni Farm” in year 2000.
Since then I have produced documentaries in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria for East African and international TV, always in collaboration with local groups and with a consistent method that involves an iterative process of editing, playing back and discussing film segments with subjects in local communities.
Filmography
“Cry of the Forest”, Tanzania 2009 (in production), director, producer, camera, editing
“Mimba”, Tanzania, 2008, director, producer, camera, editing
“Poison Fire”, Nigeria 2008, director, producer, camera, editor
“Hyena Square”. Tanzania 2006, co-director, co-producer, camera, editing
“Kidnapped Childhood” Uganda 2005, camera and editing.
“Women on the Run” Kenya 2005, camera and editing.
“Upendo wakati wa UKIMWI” (Love in the time of AIDS), Tanzania 2004, director, producer, camera and editing.
“Mgongowazi” (Fishbone Films) series of six TV documentaries 2003-2004, trainer, producer, co-director, editor:
- House Girl, Tanzania
- Nymba Ntobhu, Tanzania
- Gravedigger, Kenya
- Sex, lies and ignorance, Kenya
- Survivors, Uganda
- The people of Sanga, Uganda
“Sauti ya Wananchi” Tanzania 2002, director, co-producer, camera, editing
12 short documentaries on the oral cultural heritage of Bagamoyo, Tanzania 2002.
“Health. Marketing of tobacco, alcohol and junk food to youth”, Italy 2002, producer, editor
“Old Houses and Strong Women” Zanzibar 2000, director, producer, camera, editing
“Assi, miljöcertifieringen och vi” Sweden 1999
“Bongo Beat” Tanzania, research
“Handing over the Stick” Tanzania 1992, co-director
“Skoven som forsvandt/ Once there was a forest” Tanzania 1988, co-director
Kilimo Msetu/Agroforestry, Tanzania 1989, co-director
‘Video-digests’ produced by MtwaraMedia Centre:
- Utuambie Wananchi – Tell Us (1997).
- Bahari Yetu Hatutaki – Not in our sea (1995)
Our place in Tanzania:
Some of our documentaries are available online:
