Every filmmaker should be unique

Hatibu Yusuf first debuted in the film industry some eight years ago taking on different roles behind the camera. He has been casted as First Assistant Director in different International Multi Award winning films such as Shoeshine by Amil Shivji, Mpango Mbaya a feature film by Karaban Karaban and Dar Noir a feature film by Hamadi Mwapachu. This year he takes a different route from what has become common in Bongo Movies industry. Today he speaks to The Beat’s Paul Owere.

What is this new film about?

Sukari is a film about the reality on what is happening in the lives of young people today in Africa. I am a strong believer in Pan – Africanism therefore, whatever happens in Tanzania I tend to look at it in a broader African perspective.

One of the challenges that Africa faces today as a continent is the high rate of youth unemployment, Poverty, Hunger as well as poor health services and people’s wellbeing. I have try to depict all those issues within a single and simple storyline with a clear subtext intending to trigger public discourse on development and Governance issues focusing on Sustainable development goals within our beautiful continent.

Do you think that the issues that you address are critical in Tanzania’s settings?

Absolutely, I think Tanzania has many programs that deal with poverty, Hunger as well as to improve health services and wellbeing.

It is expected that, Tanzania will also achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and as we are striving to achieve the goals in time.

That is why I think it is worth to remind ourselves on the challenges s so that we can have an ongoing discussion on the best way of dealing with Development and Governance issues in Tanzania.

You boldly take a departure from the usual Bongo Movies style, what has prompted the move?

First of all, I don’t believe that for film to be a Bongo Movie then it must follow a certain style. When it comes to films, directors tend to develop their styles which is unique and that is what can differentiate the art of film making from one director to another. This might surprise some who also do fall in love with a certain film making style from a certain director something which makes directors as super stars.

I went through lots of text and there is no rule about film making style so everyone is free to develop a style and put a film out there.

That is to say, if ever we happen to have that perception of a Bongo Movie style that would be the end of creativity from directors.

However, what might look like a departure from the usual Bongo movies is because usually these films based on content to do with love affairs, gossip, prostitution, witchcrafts.

Film has been used as a soft weapon to destroy minds of the people especially Africans, turning them involuntarily into capitalist market and pop-culture to say it all. Therefore for the past decades film has been used to push other people agenda and get us dancing to their tunes leaving us forgetting our main agendas that are necessary for the development of our people, our nations and our continent.

There is a certain consensus that Bongo movies are on the decline, what is your take on this?

If we ever thought that Bongo Movie was on top then we were detached from the reality, and that’s why previously I said that we do not have a film industry but rather a Sector. This is because what really happened is that we had individuals on top such as the late Kanumba, therefore, Bongo Movie has never been on top neither is it on the decline.

Do you think the current decline was anticipated?

First of all, the many who entered into the film making business had no clue on how the film business works or What it takes to produce and conduct a film business.

Therefore majority got into the business like someone starting a tomato business, they were not keen on issues such as copyright as a result they ended up making no money. On the other hand distributors were making high profit without mentioning the piracy experienced that entire long. We have also been experiencing poor story lines, poor production, poor acting/ casting things which at a certain point put Bongo movie in a situation where they can’t blame audience.

It is very clear that, with no clear distribution terms, no good stories and story lines, poor production with no clear intent of improving then the decline was very anticipated.

Do films like Sukari pay the bills?

Movies are made for the heart while films are made for the Minds. I think now it’s high time that filmmakers considered making film for development.

Recently I came across three film festivals focusing on film for development such as the one in France called “Film your issue”.

On my side every Movie/film with International Standards within the context of well established distribution platforms/ channels it can pay bills. However I wish to call upon different institutions that run different project on Development and Governance issues to consider films as tools and I am sure it is possible to experience major impact through the films than any other format.

If we decide to support the film for development path it will grow faster and takes us far as an initiative.