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