African Animation on Fire!

 

When animation directors such as the likes of Ngendo Mukii (Kenya) and Kenneth Coker (Nigeria) are part of an Afro-futurist animation series, one can be sure that this project is going to be ground breaking. 
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire - the animated sci-fi anthology series was first aired on Disney+ in December 2023 going on to win a host of awards; Best Animated Series at the KIDSCREEN AWARDS, won the prestigious Annie Award. The winning series episode “Enkai” was directed by Kenyan Ng'endo Mukii and produced by Blink Industries.

The episodes on Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire anthology are:

• Stardust: Directed by Ahmed Teilab – Egypt

• Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer: Directed by Simangaliso ‘Panda’ Sibaya and Malcom Wope – South Africa

• Hatima: Directed by Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane – South Africa

• Enkai: Directed by Ng’endo Mukii – Kenya

• Moremi: Directed by Shofela Coker – Nigeria

• Surf Sangoma: Directed by Nthato Mokgata and Catherine Green – South Africa

• Mukudzei: Directed by Pious Nyenyewa & Tafadzwa Hove – Zimbabwe

• First Totem Problems: Directed by Tshepo Moche – South Africa

• Herderboy: Directed by Raymond Malinga – Uganda

• You Give Me Heart: Directed by Lesego Vorster – South Africa.

Experimental Animation Workshop in Nairobi

Upcoming Event: As part of the AHRC funded E-Voices Network, PAWA245 in Nairobi will be hosting an experimental Animation Workshop with award-winning Ng'endo Mukii with a focus on voices from marginalised communities.

The AHRC Network e-Voices: Redressing Marginality brings together a global network of academics and practitioners to explore the theme of marginalisation, and how digital media can be used by marginalised groups to make their voices heard, within and beyond the borders of their communities promoting social inclusion. In particular, the network is going to explore three case studies: how favela residents in Brazil are using digital media to foster community engagement and active citizenship; how Kenyan artists are using digital tools to promote a dialogue around human rights and power structures; and how development organisations working with displaced populations in Syria are using digital technologies to foster peace and reconciliation in the country.

As part of the project, award winning Kenyan animator, Ng'endo Mukii will be running a four-day workshop to create an animated Portrait of the recently killed Brazilian activist, Marielle Franco. The workshop will invite artists to engage with collections of visual material from Brazil to reflect upon marginalised voices. The artists will utilise a range of techniques and materials that include digital and non-digital modes of experimental animation.

Here is an example of an experimental animation created with Ng'endo Mukii and the Olands Folkhogskola in Sweden.

Ahwak Runaway from Ng'endo Mukii on Vimeo.

To find out more and apply for the workshop please go to:

E-VOICES Animation Workshop

Salim Busuru... Comic artist, illusrator, animator

Watch Salim Busuru illustrator from Kenya talk about the beginning of Avandu Studio and his motivation to tell African stories as he engages with aesthetic and notions of authenticity. A great interview on Vimeo from the project AfriDesignX. AfriDesignX is a V&A and UaL project that set out to investigate ' new design typologies and visual strategies from African megacities'.

Interview with Salim Busuru of Avandu Studios from AfridesignX on Vimeo.

VR in Africa...

Although discussions on VR are not usually thought of as taking place in Africa, in 2015 an exhibition in Johannesburg, NEW DIMENSIONS, sought to curate a collection of different pieces intended to explore new storytelling practices from artists from Kenya, Ghana, South Africa. Supported by Electric South and curated by South African Ingrid Kopp, a Senior Consultant at the Tribeca Film Institute - this exhibition drew attention to the experimentation with new processes including animation and games engines such as Unity to rethink the moving image. Exhibition included artists, such as Ngendo Mukii, Jim Chuchu, Jonathan Dotse and Kabiru Seidu.
You can read more about this exhibition on the i-doc website.

Comic Book Artist: Salim Busuru

Recently stumbled across Salim Busuru's comics via a recommendation from Kenyan animator Alfred Muchilwa. These characters look like they could populate an animation...

You can view the portfolio of his work at:
https://www.artstation.com/artist/salim_busuru

Comi(K)ment Issues: Kenyan Comics

Recently setup Comi(K)ment Issues is a group of Kenyan comic book artists and writers including Just a Band's own Daniel Muli. Keep an eye out for their instagram page. 

Tribute to Allan Mwaniki

It is with great sadness that I write this post to announce the death of the Kenyan artist and animator Allan Mwaniki. Allan was an talented individual whose work in animation as a independent filmmaker and teacher inspired many within the animation community in Kenya. He was known for his work on the UNESCO Africa Animated Project, with his and Thomas Mbalu's animation Samak (2006).



He went on to work on the famous Tinga Tinga animation series and later became an animation teacher going on to inspire and teach others. He also made other work in collaboration with others, such as Children of War (2013)



and his more humorous Jino Pevu Uhunye

 

His contributions also extended to aiding and assisting with research on animation in Kenya, through interviews with key players and disseminating animation to rural communities, Allan's efforts in this field were always positive and his good nature brought joy to many. These are some of the photos he sent me whilst doing fieldwork in a rural Maasai community with colleague and animator Kwame Nyongo.

Allan Mwaniki (left) and Kwame Nyongo (right)

I only hope that his memory lives on through the many people he inspired in his travels. You can read more about the man on the Facebook tribute page Allan Mwaniki

The NEST in Kenya

Visual arts, film, music, photography, fashion... these are some of the aspects that the artists at The NEST in Nairobi, Kenya are exploring.

What is the NEST?

The NEST is a multidisciplinary collaborative of ten Kenyans, working collectively since 2012 with the aim of exploring our troubling modern identities, re-imagining our pasts and inhabiting mythical African futures.

Included in their portfolio of work one can find
'Stories of Our Lives', 'The Old Order of Things' and recently 'To Catch a Dream'

Kenyan Digital Creatives Rock!

Whilst not only featuring animation, this short trailer features a bunch of Kenyan artists that are straddling different forms of art and engaging with a range of digital technologies... including Kaggia, Just a Band, Bob Muchiri and others...

Check out Stocktown's  trailer for Afripedia on Kenya

Afripedia Kenya trailer from Stocktown on Vimeo.

Politicised Creativity PAWA254

Kenya's Creative Hub for political and social action through the arts and digital media is mobilising Kenyan youth through different workshops. Amongst their very comprehensive lineup, they included some animation workshops by Allan Mwaniki on 9th August 2014 - title Pencil to Pixels - this is one of a series in collaboration with the Association of Animation Artistes Kenya.

Check out PAWA254!

Winners for BUSTED 2014 - Well Done All!

Well Done to all those involved in the A3 BUSTED Animation Competition - the entries were great!
Here are some pictures of the winners receiving their prize...
Congratulations

First place -  Rabii Kinyogoli 

Second place -  AMP 

Third place -  Addmaya

Honourable Mention, Kiss and Tell by Domestic Disturbance. 

Honourable Mention, Police Busted, By Alex Kirui.

and lots more great animations!

A3 Kenya Launch their Animation Competition - 'BUSTED'

The Kenyan Association of Animation Artists (A3) Organisation is launching a great 30 Second Competition under the theme BUSTED. The prizes are great incentive to get on board 100,000 Kenyan Shillings (1200 USD) for the first prize. Anyone can apply and upload their work online... the deadline is coming up soon 25th of May and I am excited to see the entries. For more information you can contact the Association of Animation Artists Kenya on their Facebook page

2D Animation... All about Kenya: Made in Kenya

Kwame Nyongo's animation for EU and Kenya

Democracy, Internet and Just a Band....

The New York Times recently ran a story about the rise of a new generation of artists in Kenya like the particular band... collective... artists... known as Just a Band who straddle the popular and high art seamlessly moving across different spaces. Their rise in part has been facilitated by the Internet and related technologies and you can view all of their work on Youtube Channel JustABandWidth.
To read the article and watch an interview with Daniel and Bill see: The New York Times

kenyan animation blog...

For current information on the animation scene in Kenya and a great contribution to the blogosphere

kenyanimators makes for a welcome addition to online information about anything animation in Kenya...

KENYAN ANIMATORS PAVILION 

Check out the great post dated 29 July 2013, on this years National Film Conference and Exhibition in Nairobi 

The XYZ just keeps on going!

Ever growing popularity of The XYZ Show is discussed on VOA TV

Animation Apprentices: Kenya's Recon-Digital Investment in future talent

Previously featured here, Kenya's animator Gatumia Gatumia made his entry into 3D computer animation with his political short “The Greedy Lords of the Jungle” and humorous take on familial life “Domestic Disturbance”. More recently his company Recon-Digital has made an impact by introducing an animation apprenticeship for 7 young animation enthusiasts. The company aimed 'to identify, train and retain' young talent with a view to encourage the growth of a sector in Kenya and to enable the generation of local content for a local audience. Well done to Gatumia and his team for this great initiative! You read an interview with the company here: Techmoran To view all 7 animations go to Youtube CHannel RECON

AIM 2012 exciting frontiers... Modern Africa

This years Africa in Motion which has extended to two cities Edinburgh and Glasgow, is sure to provide exciting new material to look out for on the African film front. To talk about see past festival director and festival chair, Lizelle Bisschoff






Of particular interest look out for

Kenyan - Ngendo Mukii's Yellow Fever (2012)
Ethiopian - Danny Gebeyehu & Bisrat Amare Abeba and Abebe: The Pepper Merchant (2011)
Burkinabe - Lazare Sie Pale Le Parain (2011)
Kenyan - (Bob) Muchiri Njenga  Kichwateli (2011)

Kenyan Wasi PSA

This new PSA created by Majiqmud Pete from Kenya for the WASI Campaign

SHUJAAZ.FM rocks and wins the International Digital Emmy Award!

What is Shujaaz? Well Told Story describe it like this.....


At its heart Shujaaz.FM is a story about four young Kenyans growing up and meeting life’s many challenges. 

600,000 copies of the 32-page colour comic-book Shujaaz.FM are distributed nationally each month, reaching at least 3,000,000 readers.


Shujaaz mostly known of in Kenya for its monthly comic books with an young and funky edge

but featured also for its animated content and short online episodes... 




....and have just won the International Digital Emmy Award  in the Digital Program: Children & Young People category, cited as having beaten some of the giants of international media. 

WELL DONE to all those involved.... and mostly the producers and distributors Well Told Story!! 

Subscribe to SHUJAAZ TV here