Who is David Kenneth?
My name is David Kenneth an impact storyteller based in Nairobi Kenya. I run Zawadi Filamu Production Ltd and Zawadi Film Academy where I empower youth and women in film & TV production. I have trained over 100 young people who have started their venture others are employed with various media houses in Kenya. Conclusively, we can say, I am a film, TV, and documentary producer.
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What motivated you to focus specifically on empowering youth and women?
One reason is that I see young people as having immense creativity and opportunities, but they often lack the necessary platforms. Recognizing this gap, I decided to create opportunities for them to learn and become their best versions. In addition to technical training, we provide life coaching to help them understand the branding and packaging of their ideas.
I’ve observed the challenges faced by young individuals who possess great ideas but struggle to present them effectively. As I see it, these challenges include the high costs associated with running such empowerment initiatives. To address this, we charge a modest fee, lower than formal film academies, and offer opportunities to mitigate equipment expenses.
Despite the challenges, there are significant opportunities. The students I’ve trained have opened doors for collaboration with local and international organizations. This has led to projects ranging from weddings to documentaries. Some students also contribute equipment they’ve acquired, enhancing our resources.
What major projects has David Kenneth worked on?
Reflecting on my journey, I’ve worked on diverse projects over the past eight years, collaborating with both local and international organizations. Notable highlights include working with a leading agrochemicals company in Eastern Africa and documenting the Commonwealth summit in Kigali, Rwanda. I’ve had the privilege of photographing prominent figures, including King Charles III in Rwanda.
What challenges has David Kenneth faced?
While I’ve faced setbacks, such as the challenges in securing funds for my TV show, I’ve persevered. Despite the initial setback, I successfully produced a pilot that received approval for prime-time airing on a leading Kenyan TV station. Although I couldn’t fund additional episodes, I continue to work towards creating more content and securing opportunities for future shows.
What has Zawadi Film Production Got So Far?
In mentoring young people, I’ve witnessed the impact of impactful storytelling. The initiatives, Zawadi Film Production and the Default Academy stem from my passion for empowering individuals in the film and TV production industry. Zawadi Film Production initially began as Philam Mitani, aiming to train young people while I was involved in the East Africa reality show on farming. As I registered it as a company, it evolved into Zawadi Film Production Limited.
And then I needed a creative outlet where I could train and empower young people. So, three years ago, I established the film Zawadi Film Academy, where I trained over 100 young people in film production. During the first eight years, I provided training for free. It was only three years ago that I decided to commercialize the training. The inspiration behind starting this initiative came when I was seeking opportunities to study film and TV production. I discovered that Kenya’s available courses and training platforms were prohibitively expensive. This realization led me to the idea of learning and mentoring young people, forming the basis for the academy’s goals.
Why was Zawadi Film Academy founded?
Zawadi Film Academy aims to enable young people to excel globally, achieve their visions, and become self-sustainable. The focus is on storytelling for development, empowering them to be future storytellers capable of advocating for positive change within society. In terms of impact, I have witnessed significant success stories. Some graduates received awards, secured funding from the Kenya Film Commission to produce films, established their enterprises, or found employment in the media industry. Others have contributed to advocacy campaigns, and some even secured part-time positions while still being students.
What successes have they achieved so far?
One notable success story is a graduate immediately employed by a TV station after completing the program. Additionally, several have been employed by state departments in Kenya or work for governors as photographers, copywriters, and videographers. These accomplishments stand as memorable successes for Zawadi Film Academy.
Envisioning the future, I see our film production company becoming one of the best TV producers in Africa. I aspire to be recognized as one of the premier TV, film, and documentary producers on the continent, creating content that has a significant global impact. As for Zawadi Film Academy, our vision is to train over 5,000 young creatives in Africa within the next five to ten years. We hope to become a creative hub where young individuals are nurtured, empowered, and given the tools to become the best versions of themselves.
What advice does David Kenneth have for other young people?
For aspiring filmmakers and producers seeking to make a positive impact through their work, my advice is to be unique and understand your purpose. Differentiate yourself in the industry and align your work with a clear sense of purpose to contribute positively to the world through storytelling and content creation.
Don’t copy someone’s purpose; believe in your craft, find your niche, and be passionate about it because you want to create an impact. If you don’t have the passion, people will see it, and people will feel it. Start with what you have because, if you look at where I started, I began with small equipment, training young people in the village, on campuses, at universities, and locally. Collaborate with others; as someone based in Nairobi, what I see in the current state of film production in the region is a lot of content emerging, some heading to platforms like Netflix. There are ample opportunities, and there’s a lot of money to earn in content creation. The future is online, so focus on content monetization for online platforms.
How does one balance between creativity and profits?
Balancing the creative and business aspects of being a filmmaker, I initially wanted to be just a creative. However, I learned the importance of having a good selling point, the business side of creativity. For instance, the innovation of M-PESA in the telecommunication industry in Kenya succeeded not just because of the idea but also because of effective selling. I balance it by putting value first, and understanding how to communicate that value to clients and those around me.
In terms of the role of film and TV production, audiovisuals can change the narrative and work for advocacy. It acts as a mirror, reflecting where people want to see change and providing a space for new expressions. In Kenya, there’s a growing trend of local producers creating content that advocates and celebrates the Kenyan culture. Our film production, specifically, collaborates with other organizations, securing spaces and equipment. We also contribute to our corporate social responsibilities by helping others grow. We do so through free classes, advice sessions, and collaborations. This is possible via platforms like Power Law, which provides young people access to learning opportunities.
