By Adede Hawi Nyodero
My name is Adede Hawi. I was born in Nairobi 14 years ago and began my education at Newlight Academy in Komarock till November 2009 when I sat for my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. I am now a 1st former at The Kenya High School in Nairobi.
Well, I just wanted to share with you how I got into filmmaking and how the adventure has been so far.
In 2006, while still a standard six pupil, I got to learn of the Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media initiative for children and youth in Eastern Africa through my parents. It drew my interest because it involved filmmaking by children.
This had always been something I wanted to do, with inspiration from my father. So, I enrolled as a participant for the inaugural event in August 2006. That month, after learning the basic skills of filmmaking, I managed to make my first animated film titled MARY’S BAD LUCK with help from Adima Mesa Nyodero, my elder sister. Antonia Ringbom from Finland facilitated the workshop. That being a success, I was determined to make more films.
Come 2007, I joined the festival again and made another film, LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS. I worked with Samora Michelle Oundo and Karama Kilibwa Ogova in realising this film that continues to be shown and to win awards around the world. For instance, in 2009, it was nominated for the Best Animation Prize at the 5th Africa Movie Academy Awards in Nigeria. This gave me the chance to fly to Lagos and Port Harcourt in April 2009 as a participant in the week-long event culminating in the award ceremony. Though our film was beaten by another one made by an adult, I nevertheless was happy for having made a film that could be singled out for a continental prize in Africa.
Later that year, August to be precise, I joined the festival and was introduced to the art of documentary filmmaking.
I have, through Lola Kenya Screen, had the privilege to speak about children’s welfare and filmmaking on international radio and television networks that broadcast around the world; such networks include M-Net (Multi Choice) of South Africa, and Kenya’s Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and Africa Radio Service. I have also been featured in newspapers, magazines and several online publications, i.e. on the Internet. I feel that filmmaking can make a great impact in children’s lives and should be introduced in all Kenyan schools.
Editorial note
MARY’S BAD LUCK was part of the FILMS BY CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN that won the Grand Prize at the 5th World Summit on Media for Children /Kids For Kids Africa competition in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2007. LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS has been shown virtually in all continents; it has won awards in Kenya and Germany and is still on the festival circuit.
Adede Hawi Nyodero is talented in visual arts, public speaking, creative writing and drama. Having excelled in her national primary examination in 2009, she was selected to The Kenya High School, one of the leading and prestigious girls’ schools in Kenya.
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