| Soul Boy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Hawa Essuman |
| Written by | Billy Kahora |
| Produced by | Marie Steinmann Tom Tykwer Siobhain "Ginger" Wilson Guy Wilson Verena Rahmig Sarika Hemi Lakhani |
| Starring | Samson Odhiambo Leila Dayan Opou Krysteen Savane Frank Kimani Joab Ogolla Lucy Gachanja Katherine Damaris Kevin Onyango Omondi Calvin Shikuku Odhiambo Nordeen Abdulghani |
| Cinematography | Christian Almesberger |
| Edited by | Ng´ethe Gitungo |
| Music by | Xaver von Treyer |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 61 minutes |
| Country | Kenya |
| Language | Swahili |
Soul Boy[1] is a 2010 Kenyan drama film, written by Billy Kahora and directed by Hawa Essuman. It developed under the mentorship of German director and producer Tom Tykwer in Kibera, one of the largest slums in the African continent, in the middle of Nairobi, Kenya. The film has received five nominations at the 2011 Africa Movie Academy Awards.[2][3]
The film originated in a workshop for young film enthusiasts from Nairobi, guided by German director Tom Tykwer.
Nairobi, Kenya. 14-year-old Abila lives with his parents in Kibera, one of the largest slums in East Africa. One morning the teenager discovers his father ill and delirious. Someone has stolen his soul, mumbles the father. Abila is shocked and confused but wants to help his father and goes in search of the right remedy. Supported by his girlfriend Shiku, he embarks on an adventurous journey that leads him right to the heart of the microcosm that is his hometown.
Andrew Onyango reviewing for KenyaBuzz was mesmerized by how much "surreal" the world of the movie is, adding that the scripts use of Swahili strengthened the film's impact: "The Swahili speaking audience (particularly those exposed to the dialect being used) feel a powerful sense of identification. There is nothing like hearing it firsthand because the translation loses some of the impact of the words."[56]
