Inspired by American action films of the 1980s, the indigenous Ugandan cinema of producer/writer/editor/cinematographer/director Nabwana Isaac Godfrey is shot in the slum district of his hometown village of Wakaliga—with homemade props and using mostly locals as his cast and crew—and released through his Wakaliwood film studio. Shot on mini-digital videotape, his work treats elements of criminality and social injustice as fodder for zealous exploitation and satire, characterized by supercharged exaggeration and voice-over narration in a style practiced by “video jokers” (VJs) in Ugandan video clubs. Nabwana and Ssebanyiga Moses Emmanuel aka VJ Emmie join us through a video introduction to present the world theatrical premiere of the feature Bad Black (2016), in which their vengeful heroine rights the wrongs of child slavery and murder. Expatriate New Yorker Alan Hofmanis, Wakaliwood ambassador, sometime actor, and current co-producer, will provide an insider’s perspective on the culture and process of no-budget filmmaking in Africa.
Bad Black. Uganda. 2016. Directed by Nabwana I.G.G. With Nalwanga Gloria, Alan Hofmanis, Bisaso Dauda. 69 min.