Finding your voice. Kefa Igilo is carving out a powerful career in the East African film industry as a writer, presenter and film producer.

From a very young age, I had a passion for storytelling. I started writing stories in standard three – around the age of nine. I wrote stories for fun, and I would distribute them to my friends to read. By the time I left high school, I had decided to study film and television.

I succeeded in earning my degree, but while I was studying, I became inspired to help elevate the Tanzanian cinema, and to tell our stories in a way our audiences could relate to. Soon after graduating, in 2019, I heard about the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF). I decided to apply, hoping to sharpen my skills, and grow my network.

My 12 months in the programme were transformative for my career. I got the opportunity to work on major productions – including iconic East African telenovela Selena, where I was a writer. That was the first big set I ever attended, and for me it was magical – the way things were organised; the punctuality; the seriousness!

After working on Selena, had the chance to work on Kina, an adaptation of the South African hit series The River. This taught me about the universality of stories, and how a good narrative will resonate across cultures, but that you can shape stories for local audiences.

As fate would have it, through MTF I also met a writer who would change my life: Damaris Irungu, an instructor at our East Africa hub. She taught me the mechanics of storytelling.

Storytelling skills

She taught us to write stories we were passionate about. She also insisted that we know our characters inside out – their reactions, their emotions, how they talk, how they argue… But the core issue is the conflict. Conflicts drives the story. I use these principles to this day.

My time at MTF included an eight-week internship with MultiChoice, where I got to learn the techniques of writing for animation. That period was intense, and required a high level of creativity, because we were creating content for a younger audience. This equipped me with the ability to write for both children and adults.

After graduating from MTF, I was employed by the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), where I still work, as a producer, director and news anchor. They seem to appreciate my having skills in both film and television, and I get to apply those skills daily, whether I’m making a short documentary, filming a live insert from Parliament, or even producing my own feature films.

My film Still Okay To Date? was commissioned by Maisha Magic Movies, and went on to win Best International Film at the Kalasha Awards in Kenya. Last year, I wrote and produced another film, Love Transfusion, which was also nominated for several awards, including an AMVCA award.

I am 28 now, and looking forward to continued growth in my career. ?

One of the most valuable learnings I have had on my journey is the need for stories to have audience appeal. Teams need to be paid, and for that to happen, a production must capture the popular imagination. It must balance creativity and commercial demands.

I have been able to start a business with my friend Jerryson Onasaa, which is precious, as I have someone to bounce ideas off, and it allows us to share the load of production, admin and marketing. ?

Local content

The East African industry is growing rapidly, especially in the area of local content production, thanks to the MultiChoice investment in the space. This has seen the quality of work improving significantly. Production values are often right up there with content from the rest of Africa and the world.

The storytelling on these channels resonates strongly with audiences. Producing shows in local languages also makes it especially easy for viewers to engage with the stories. As a producer, it is an amazing feeling to be creating such content for my own people. There is a sense of ownership.

I see this hyperlocal strategy taking our industry from strength to strength. I encourage other aspiring East African filmmakers to commit themselves to this approach too. Try to tell African stories.

My other advice is to stay passionate and committed to your craft, because that's what the audience relates to – real, authentic stories. Keep networking and collaborating throughout your career, and be open to learning and adapting.

Ultimately, to tell stories most effectively, you should believe in your own unique voice. No one else can tell a story the way you do. So, develop your voice, and let it be heard. ?

I am proud to be part of the current generation of East African filmmakers. I also look forward to helping to take our industry to the next level of quality, success and cultural leadership.