The Nairobi Film Festival 2024, running from Thursday, October 17 to Sunday, October 27, promises to be a significant cultural event for Kenya, bringing together filmmakers and film enthusiasts from across Africa and beyond. Among the standout features of this year’s festival is the Kenyan debut of the Malagasy film Disco Afrika, which will screen on Sunday, October 18, at Prestige Plaza at 5 PM. Directed by the visionary Luck Razanajaona, Disco Afrika is a powerful story that not only explores personal and political turmoil but also showcases the vibrant spirit of African music from the 1970s as a means of awakening and resistance.
This feature arrives at a particularly resonant moment in Kenya’s political landscape, a country experiencing what many describe as a political renaissance. Since June 2024, Nairobi has been the epicenter of numerous protests led by Kenyan youth, who have mobilized against the controversial Finance Bill 2024 and demanded greater accountability from the government. In this climate of political unrest and reawakening, Disco Afrika is a timely piece of cinema, connecting the struggles of its Malagasy protagonist to the broader experience of disillusionment and hope shared by post-independence African nations. This Kenyan debut presents an opportunity not only for the Malagasy film industry to reach a wider audience but also for Kenyans to reflect on their own political and cultural journey through the lens of African solidarity.
Disco Afrika: A Political and Artistic Awakening
Set in Madagascar, Disco Afrika follows the life of Kwame, a young sapphire miner who becomes entangled in the country’s rampant corruption. As he grapples with his internal struggles and the larger sociopolitical forces that threaten his future, Kwame embarks on a journey of rediscovery. The film paints a vivid picture of Madagascar’s political landscape, touching on the themes of corruption, exploitation, and the fragility of hope in post-colonial African societies.
However, Disco Afrika goes beyond merely presenting the bleakness of Kwame’s situation. At the heart of the film lies African music, specifically the sounds of the 1970s, which serve as a tool for personal and political resistance. Razanajaona cleverly uses the music as both a metaphor and a narrative device, tying Kwame’s awakening to the larger movements of political and artistic expression that swept across the continent during the post-colonial period. For Kwame, the music becomes a vehicle of rebellion and renewal, reminding him of the ideals that his nation once fought for and lost amidst the chaos of corruption and failed promises.
This musical and cultural revival is not unique to Madagascar. Across the continent, the 1970s were a time of artistic expression intertwined with political resistance. From Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat in Nigeria to Miriam Makeba’s politically charged music in South Africa, African artists used their craft to protest colonial legacies, military regimes, and corrupt governments. Razanajaona’s decision to anchor Kwame’s personal journey in the sounds of the 1970s resonates with many Kenyans, who have also seen music and art become a crucial part of their own political discourse. In this way, Disco Afrika speaks to a shared experience across African nations, using art as both a historical record and a source of renewed strength.
A Kenyan Political Renaissance
The premiere of Disco Afrika at the Nairobi Film Festival comes at a pivotal time for Kenya, a nation that is also witnessing its own political reawakening. In June 2024, protests erupted across the country in response to the government’s Finance Bill, which many saw as an unjust burden on the already strained economic conditions of ordinary citizens. What began as a protest against a single bill has since morphed into a wider movement, with Kenyans calling for more transparency, accountability, and fairness from their leaders.
Nairobi, in particular, has been at the forefront of this movement. The capital has seen a surge of youth-led protests, mirroring the kind of political awakening that Disco Afrika portrays. The youth in Kenya, much like Kwame in the film, are grappling with the reality of corruption, inequality, and a government that many feel has lost touch with its people. As these young Kenyans continue to take to the streets, Disco Afrika offers a cinematic reflection of their struggle, providing not only a Malagasy perspective on these issues but also a universal African one.
Razanajaona, in his directorial vision, has emphasized the importance of telling stories that reflect the frailty and humanity of his characters. He avoids grand political narratives, opting instead to focus on the individual, on Kwame’s doubts, fears, and eventual growth. In doing so, he paints a picture of political awakening that feels intimate yet powerful. This personal journey of discovery is something that many Kenyans, particularly the younger generation, can relate to as they navigate their own place in the country’s evolving political landscape.
The Revival of Malagasy Cinema
While Disco Afrika offers an insightful look into political and artistic awakening, it is also a significant step forward for Malagasy cinema. Madagascar’s film industry has been largely absent from international screens for decades, with very few films from the island nation reaching global audiences. Razanajaona sees his film as both an artistic and political challenge, an attempt to restore pride in Malagasy stories while introducing them to a broader, more global audience.
In an interview, Razanajaona explained his desire to “modestly chronicle the emergence of a political awakening in the heart of an individual,” underscoring his commitment to telling stories that reflect the complexities of African life. Disco Afrika is more than just a Malagasy film—it is a deeply African one, touching on themes and experiences that resonate across the continent. This pan-African approach to storytelling is one of the reasons why the film has been so highly anticipated at the Nairobi Film Festival.
For Malagasy cinema, Disco Afrika represents a revival, a way to reassert its place within the broader African cinematic landscape. Razanajaona’s success in bringing this film to international festivals like Nairobi’s signals a new chapter for Madagascar’s film industry, one that could potentially lead to more collaborations, more opportunities, and greater visibility for Malagasy filmmakers. In doing so, Disco Afrika serves not only as a story of political and artistic awakening for its characters but also for the nation it represents.
Conclusion
Disco Afrika’s premiere at the Nairobi Film Festival 2024 is a momentous occasion, not only for Malagasy cinema but also for African storytelling as a whole. The film’s exploration of political awakening, set against the backdrop of 1970s African music, offers a poignant reflection on the personal and political struggles that continue to shape the continent. In Kenya, where protests and calls for greater accountability have become a defining feature of the current political climate, the themes of Disco Afrika are likely to resonate deeply with audiences.
For Luck Razanajaona, this film is more than just a debut feature—it is an artistic and political statement, a way to restore pride in Madagascar’s cinematic heritage while telling a story that is both personal and universally African. As Kenyans gather at the festival to witness this anticipated premiere, they will not only be engaging with the story of Kwame but also reflecting on their own journey of political and cultural renewal. Disco Afrika is a film for the present moment, one that speaks to the shared struggles and aspirations of Africans everywhere.
