SPLA : Portal to cultural diversity
Mtandao wa Sanaa Kenya

Law and war in rural Kenya (Loi et guerre dans le Kenya rural)

Law and war in rural Kenya (Loi et guerre dans le Kenya [...]
Genre : Social
Type : Documentary
Original title :
Principal country concerned : Column : Cinema/tv
Year of production : 2010
Format : Feature
Running time : 64 (in minutes)

In 1998, a new movement swept through Kuria, in S.W. Kenya with dramatic effect. Cattle raiding fuelled by the increasing presence of guns had led to a situation of total insecurity, with all in fear of the thieves. In April of that year, a group of men in just one location, Bukira East, effected a new organisation merging ideas from the Tanzanian vigilante movement, sungusungu, with their own indigenous assembly, the iritongo. Within a year the movement had spread throughout Kuria and the District as a whole was at peace.
This film revisits the iritongo movement ten years later. In telling the story of its origin, and its current operation, it reveals a broad contrast between the areas where the iritongo still operates, though with some difficulty, and those where it has faltered and died. In these latter areas there has been a revival of clan raiding and warfare.

Director/filmmaker: Suzette Heald
Producer/production company: Suzette Heald
Country of production: UK
Country/location of film: Kenya
Year: 2010
Length: 64 minutes

NAFA 2010 - The 30th Nordic Anthropological Film Association International Film Festival | 28. August - 1. September 2010 | Moesgård Museum - Århus - Danmark
* Being screened Wednesday 1 September at 10.15

Partners

  • Kenya : Arterial Network chapter
  • Kenya : Ketebul Music
  • Kenya : Studio Vista Network
  • Kenya : Kuona Trust
  • Kenya : The Theatre Company

With the support of