Nyamula

When fish begin to vanish, community members are quick to blame Dani, the elderly woman rumoured to be a witch. Daisy, a fisherman’s daughter, must decide whether to stand by her friend or heed the warnings of those around her.

A fishermen village with lush vegetation and steep hilltops, Mfangano is an island in Lake Victoria, in South-West Kenya. Atop one of these hilltops is Dani, an elderly woman, living a secluded life, that is until she meets the energetic and charismatic Daisy. Unaware of Dani’s reputation in the village below, the two quickly develop a budding relationship. When the lake’s fish begin to mysteriously disappear and the local fishermen cry out witchcraft, Dani is shunned evermore, and as the community desperately searches for answers, Daisy refuses to stay away. 

Directed by Oskar Weimar and written and performed by a cast of local non-professional actors, Nyamula, offers a glimpse of how residents of Mfangano navigate spirituality, religion and the supernatural. The film’s narrative was constructed in collaboration with local residents, based on their lived experiences on the island. Weimar’s feature debut, nestled in the Bright Future section, is a true exercise in the ways that community collaboration extends the language of cinema. The result is a tender and humble cinematic offering.

– Lyse Nsengiyumva

Trailer

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