Directors born in Zambia willing to share their experiences and perspectives on the country are a rare breed. One such individual is Rungano Nyoni, a young woman hailing from Lusaka, although she didn't spend much of her childhood there. She was still a little girl when her family emigrated to Great Britain, where she would grow up in Wales.
Rungano's academic journey took her to Birmingham University, where she earned her degree, and later to the London University of Arts to study drama. However, she didn't pursue an acting career, as she only appeared in three films. Instead, she discovered a passion for directing and writing, which ultimately became her calling.
Nyoni's foray into filmmaking began in 2009, and she went on to create a series of five acclaimed shorts, many of which were selected for various international festivals and garnered numerous awards. Two of these shorts were filmed in her native Zambia, which also served as the backdrop for her feature film debut, "I Am Not a Witch," released in 2017.
In this film, Nyoni brings to life the misadventures of a nine-year-old girl who is wrongly accused of being a witch, narrating the story with a unique blend of curiosity and poetic flair. This internationally recognized work not only showcases Nyoni's talent but also sheds light on the lesser-known country of Zambia, making her a prominent figure in the film industry.
