RIP Snake/Njoka Man

Sad news from Miono, Juma Nasoro Malema – aka the snake/njoka man of Miono, and possibly the hardest person I’ve met – has died. His reputation as a man who could calm and catch snakes, and treat those with snake bites extended beyond Miono to most of Tanzania. People in Miono tell me he was … More RIP Snake/Njoka Man

Get thee to Sheffield! Exhibition time ‘Pili and the Left Ones’ 27th – 29th April

What is not to love about Sheffield? Birthplace of Jarvis, a city in the countryside, and a university full of people I like. Now this great city has another bonus – it’s exhibiting the first showing of photographs from Pili from the 27th – 29th April as part of the Art, Expression, and Democracy seminar … More Get thee to Sheffield! Exhibition time ‘Pili and the Left Ones’ 27th – 29th April

Wrapped!

After 6 weeks of government bureaucracy, a near-miss in a ravine, bucket showers, a LOT of rice and beans, a funeral, malaria, kidney stones, dust everywhere, the odd diva episode,  hundreds of consent forms for extras, one case of extortion, and a run in with police at the airport (props to the Dar airport police … More Wrapped!

Currency Wars

Over ten years ago I was doing some teaching assistant work at the University of Manchester to get some extra cash while doing my PhD. This involved running seminars on the politics of globalisation. As anyone knows when you first start working as a teaching assistant the trick is to just know a little bit … More Currency Wars

Storyboarding

While I spend time fretting over insurance and budgets, Director Leanne and Cinematographer Craig have been drawing stick people and wheels on post it notes. And adding $$ signs to the screenplay to send me into budget-control overdrive. Note ‘DRONE?’ er, a drone? $$$$$!!!!! For anyone who spent their school years doodling on your homework … More Storyboarding

Squeaky Bum Time, Swahiliwood and Shuga

  Squeaky bum time continues this week in pre-production planning. It has been another trying week with new obstacles cropping up, but these obstacles have been met with a solutions-orientated crew, committed people in Tanzania, a great support system at Queen Mary (with research manager and administration Director getting their heads around all sorts of … More Squeaky Bum Time, Swahiliwood and Shuga