The newly launched Kamera Kwanza film series marks a new chapter in the collaboration between the Goethe-Institut and Docubox, building on years of partnership dedicated to showcasing powerful African documentaries.
With Kamera Kwanza—loosely translated as Film First—the two institutions aim to deepen a shared love for cinema while placing documentary storytelling at the heart of the experience.
By focusing on non-fiction films, the series not only offers audiences authentic, lived narratives from across the continent but also invites them to explore the artistic decisions behind each production.
At the core of the screenings are the post-film conversations. After each showing, filmmakers engage audiences in in-depth Q&A sessions, unpacking why they chose particular stories, the creative approaches they adopted, and the artistic or geographical challenges they encountered along the way.
“What I love most about this film screening series is the intensity of the conversations we have after showing the film,” says Cristina Nord, director of the Goethe-Institut Kenya.
“The audience’s questions and remarks struck me as both thoughtful and compassionate. For the filmmakers, the warm and informed response to their work often triggers a wealth of new ideas and emotions. It’s such a rewarding experience,” added Noord.
Since 2024, the Goethe-Institut and Docubox partnership has hosted 16 documentary screenings from across Africa. While many critically acclaimed African films gain recognition at major festivals in Europe and the United States, they often struggle to find sustained audiences on the continent itself.
Kamera Kwanza seeks to bridge that gap by bringing these celebrated works directly to Kenyan audiences, ensuring that African stories circulate more widely within Africa.
The first screening of 2026, set for February 25, features Widow Champion (2025) by Kenyan filmmaker Zippy Kimundu. The documentary follows Rodah Nafula, a widow and outspoken advocate navigating the tension between entrenched cultural practices and a rapidly evolving society as she empowers other women.
The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and was later screened in Nairobi in partnership with the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and Afro Films International.
“Kamera Kwanza reflects something we have held close for many years: that African documentaries deserve to live, to travel, and to be experienced by the audiences they speak to most intimately,” says Susan Mbogo, executive director at Docubox.
“Through our collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, we are nurturing a consistent and welcoming space where stories from across the continent can be encountered, reflected on, and understood with greater depth,” added Mbogo.
Beyond screenings, the initiative also invests in capacity building. Selected filmmakers in Kenya benefit from in-depth masterclasses led by directors whose films have featured in the series.
Following the February screening, Zippy Kimundu will host a masterclass, offering hands-on mentorship and practical problem-solving sessions designed to encourage collaborative learning.
As the festival continues to evolve, Kamera Kwanza positions itself as more than a screening series. It is an educational, entertaining, and inspirational platform—one that brings film lovers, filmmakers, and cultural enthusiasts together to engage deeply with African stories and the art of documentary filmmaking.
