What next for Bongo movies after AMVcA?

It was first ‘Ray of Hope’ in 2013, and then came ‘Mapenzi’ and ‘Kitendawili’ as Tanzania’s film industry got a rare taste of international glory at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs).

On that night on the shores of the Atlantic ocean in Lagos’ Victoria Islands as the awards night wore on at the Eko Expo auditorium there was a common feeling that the obvious was about to happen- failure.

And as they say it is always darkest just before dawn, Bongo movies world was weary with dreams of ever making it fading away and all seemed stark.

Single Mtambalike aka Richie and Elizabeth Michael aka Lulu’s win in a faraway place was a breath of fresh air that the industry was yawning for!

It is viewers’ choice awards’ as opposed jurors and the voters had in one voice made it clear that these were their winners.

They beat off competition from actors from Kenya and Uganda in both the Kiswahili and East Africa categories with the most notable contest coming from ‘House Arrest’.

They had finally brought home the prize that had eluded the Bongo movies industry for the past two years even with a tag as the second leading after Nollywood.

Their win especially Lulu’s reverberated across the continent with welcome that in recent times was a reserve for few Bongo stars with hundreds turning up on the streets.

It was an emotional moment for the young actress Lulu and the veteran actor Richie whose name has been synonymous with the industry for close to 20 years now.

This was probably just what the young actress needed to reignite her career after a recent troubled past which involved several months in remand prison.

It has become an annual tradition to review the AMVCAs and the fourth edition held much promise for the clear and undisputable fact that in four years, with a gradual sense of purpose and huge injection of funds, the AMVCAs is now arguably the biggest movie awards event in the continent.

And with such a pedigree comes expectations. There is a growing feeling that it is about time the AMVCA transformed from being a Viewers’ Choice Awards to becoming Academy driven which should enhance the credibility of the voting process.

Much as many agree that it is prudent to give power to the audience which votes for the winners but public voting is populist and not popular in awards of this nature.

A jury of tested professionals and perhaps other past winners would suffice to assess the future categories and pass their judgement without fear or favour.

Viewers Choice categories can be retained in a couple of categories but not the whole awards with a growing reputation such as the AMVCA.

After the confetti has settled and the euphoria is gone there are serious questions that film makers and those that claim to be part of this industry ought to answer.

Bongo film industry has been a chaotic place in recent times engulfed in confusion of all sorts with many artists struggling to find their feet.

From the scriptwriter to the distributors there is a growing consesus that the all is not well and that the industry has taken a dip in recent years with some attributing it to some despicable reasons such as the death of Kanumba.

This is contempt of art! How could a whole industry take a plunge because of one man’s death irrespective of how great he was? The answers are still missing!

What was so glaring at the just concluded AMVCA is that Bongo movies can’t compete outside East Africa as the films only entered in two categories.

Even at local festival festivals such as the ZIFF rarely do you find local films competing for awards against films from elswhere!

In 2015 the Tanzania Film Federation launched the TAFF awards and the main objective was to inspire growth and quality in the movies that are produced locally.

It is obvious that Mwakifamba and co didnt get the required support from their compatriots who questioned their credibility and some silent infights ensued.

In fact, on what was supposed to be glamorous night turned into gloom after the so-called A-class actors failed to show up.

There are some actors who believe the industry revolves around them even when they have very little to offer in an industry where you are as good the last film that you release!

One year after, there is not a single sign that these awards will take place for reasons that are rather obvious- funding!

In a celebration of Bongo movies industry which is believed to employ about 50,000 people DStv last year launched a channel that is exclusive for Tanzanian content and they christened Maisha Magic Bongo. The objective was to give content from Tanzania a greater visibility to the other parts of the continent but even then word reaching us doesn’t shade a great picture- the quality of most films is wanting.

Some of these little niggles have made Bongo movies such a very noisy place that is discouraging for people who would ant to pump in money!

Lulu and Richie’s win mightbe meaningless in the long run if the industry doesnot sort itself out soon to meet the demands of modern film industry.