Kenya’s Film Industry Decline: A Veteran Sound Instructor’s Nostalgic Reflection
The Golden Era of Kenyan Filmmaking
John Wambulwa, a retired sound instructor from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), joins former cameraman Henry Bwoka in lamenting the decline of Kenya’s film industry. Trained between 1979-1981 through a German-funded program, Wambulwa represents Kenya’s pioneering generation of filmmakers who witnessed the transition from traditional film to digital video.
The Art of Sound Recording
“Sound in itself was an art,” Wambulwa reflects. Unlike today’s simplified audio recording, professional sound engineers in his era visualized soundscapes and advised producers on musical selections. During a 2022 visit to U.S. cinemas, Wambulwa experienced nostalgia watching films projected on silver screens, recalling Kenya’s vibrant cinema culture with venues like Kenya Cinema and 20th Century Cinema.
Training Kenya’s Film Pioneers
The KIMC program trained students from across Africa in specialized disciplines:
- Camera/Sound: Required strong mathematics/physics background
- Editing: Needed English/geography proficiency
- Laboratory: Demanded chemistry knowledge
Selected to become an instructor, Wambulwa mentored generations including Danson Siminyu, now at the Presidential Music Commission, who describes Wambulwa as “a mobile sound textbook” for his comprehensive teaching of acoustics, microphone techniques, and sound mixing.
Technical Evolution and Loss
The article details Kenya’s transition from:
- 16mm/35mm film with separate Nagra recorders
- U-matic video systems
- Integrated camcorders
- Modern digital recording
“We lack the diversity that made us share ideas during fieldwork,” Wambulwa observes, noting how modern technology has condensed film crews while diminishing specialized roles.
Hope for Revival
Despite equipment being dismantled at KBC and uncertainty about Mombasa’s facilities, Wambulwa recalls a 2006 fact-finding mission to South Africa that identified telecine machines as key to digitizing Kenya’s film heritage. He urges government investment and youth engagement, citing timeless classics like Charlie Chaplin’s works.
“As you prepare for a story, think of the future,” Wambulwa advises aspiring filmmakers, emphasizing storytelling longevity over technological trends.
By William Inganga
Original article: Kenya News