Page 70 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 5

AR TS PERSONALITY

THE SOUND AND COLORS FROM AFRICA

4 year old Brian (Yas- but one guy I turned away was
sin) Bwire is practicing later killed because of his in-
the art of responsibility. volvement in crime. I blamed
Having seen firsthand myself. I wish I could have
2the effects of not taking spared time for him, to be able
care of one’s brother or sister, he to keep him on the right track. It
set out to establish a safe space was something that haunted me
in Kibra (formerly known as Kib- each and every day and I came
era), where youth can find new to realize that this is something
hope and direction in life. He is that needs to be addressed. We
also working on a project to help need to be responsible for our
get the Nubian community in very young brothers and sisters.
Kenya recognized as a Kenyan If they admire whatever you’re
tribe, by documenting their cul- doing and they want to be there
ture and stories to help bridge with you and they want you to
gaps in understanding and cre- teach them; it’s your responsibil-
ate brotherhood. He says, “I be- ity to do so.
lieve holding each other’s hands Eventually I convinced a friend
will take us far.” of mine to set up a film produc-
tion company, but along the way
Please tell us about your- I made some choices that
self cost me my re-
My name is Yassin Bwire; I’m a lationship
film maker and photographer. with Zindua,
Born, raised and living in
Kibra, I attended training
immediately after high school in
2014 at a film institute called Fil-
amu Juani. I later graduated to
join a company under the same
institute known as Zindua.
Filamu Juani and Zindua are
where I learnt the skills that I
have today. I found the pro-
cess of training that I was un-
dertaking to be one that would
be beneficial for people in the
slum and I knew I wanted to
open a film school in Kibra to
help the youth in the slum
engage in positive activ-
ities.
I worked on some film
projects and was doing
odd jobs to keep myself
busy and in the process,
some of my friends
started to ask me to
show them how to
operate a camera. I
didn’t have the equip-
ment or time to do it,