''Soul Boy'' is a 2010

Kenyan ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

, written by

Billy Kahora Billy Kahora is a Kenyan writer and editor based in Nairobi. He was commended by the 2007 Caine Prize judges for his story ''Treadmill Love''. His stories ''Urban Zoning'' and ''Gorilla’s Apprentice'' were shortlisted for the prize in 2012 ...

and directed by Hawa Essuman. It developed under the mentorship of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

director and producer

Tom Tykwer Tom Tykwer (; born 23 May 1965) is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, and composer. He is best known internationally for directing the thriller films ''Run Lola Run'' (1998), ''Heaven'' (2002), '' Perfume: The Story of a Murderer'' ...

Kibera Kibera (Kinubi: ''Forest'' or ''Jungle'') is a division of Nairobi Area, Kenya, and neighbourhood of the city of Nairobi, from the city centre. Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi, and the largest urban slum in Africa.http://www.dominionp ...

, one of the largest slums in the African continent, in the middle of

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city prope ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. The film has received five nominations at the 2011

African Movie Academy Awards The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was fou ...

. The film originated in a workshop for young film enthusiasts from Nairobi, guided by German director Tom Tykwer.

Plot

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.

Cast

*Samson Odhiambo *Leila Dayan Opou *Krysteen Savane *Frank Kimani *Joab Ogolla *Lucy Gachanja *Katherine Damaris *Kevin Onyango Omondi *Calvin Shikuku Odhiambo *Nordeen Abdulghani

Awards

*Dioraphte Audience Award,

International Film Festival Rotterdam The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Since its foundation in 1972, it has maintained a focus on independent and experimental f ...

*Veto Award, Afrika-Filmfestival,

Leuven Leuven (, ) or Louvain (, , ; german: link=no, Löwen ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. Th ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

*Signis Award, Zanzibar International Film Festival,

Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islan ...

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

*Polish Filmmakers Association Award, Ale Kino!,

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint Joh ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...

*Best Short Film, Kalasha Awards, Nairobi, Kenya *Best Lead Actor: Samson Odhiambo, Kalasha Awards, Nairobi, Kenya *Best Scriptwriter: Billy Kahora, Kalasha Awards, Nairobi, Kenya *Best Actor: Samson Odhiambo, Kenya International Film Festival, Nairobi, Kenya *Best East African Film, Kenya International Film Festival, Nairobi, Kenya *Special Mention "Passeurs d’images" prize, FESTIVAL CINÉ JUNIOR (International Film Festival for Young people),

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

*The Young Jury Prize, FESTIVAL CINÉ JUNIOR (International Film Festival for Young people), Paris, France *Spiritual Film Festival Award, Paris *Best Children's Film Award at the Film Festival Recklinghausen (Germany) 2011 *Best Editor: Ephantus Ng'ethe Gitungo, African Movie Academy Awards

Festivals

Germany

:2010: Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)

International

;2010 :2010:

Gothenburg Film Festival Göteborg Film Festival (GFF), formerly Göteborg International Film Festival (GIFF), known in English as the Gothenburg Film Festival, formerly Gothenburg International Film Festival, is an annual film festival in Gothenburg, Sweden and the larg ...

:2010:

:2010: Afrika-Filmfestival :2010

Edinburgh International Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a film festival that runs for two weeks in June each year. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all t ...

:2010

Durban International Film Festival The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Founded in 1979 by Teddy Sarkin and Ros Sarkin, it is the oldest and largest film festival in Africa and ...

:2010

Sydney Film Festival The Sydney Film Festival is an annual competitive film festival held in Sydney, Australia, usually over 12 days in June. A number of awards are given, the top one being the Sydney Film Prize. the festival's director is Nashen Moodley. Hist ...

:2010 Cinemafrica Stockholm :2010 Nairobi, Kenya Premiere :2010 African Film Festival Tarifa :2010 Sydney Film Festival :2010 Festival du Cinéma Africain de Khouribga :2010 Seoul Intl Youth Film Festival :2010 Montreal World Film Festival :2010 Cinemas D'Afrique :2010 Cambridge Film Festival :2010 Montreal Intl Black Film Festival :2010 Films From the South OSLO :2010 Hamptons Intl Film Festival :2010 Warsaw Film Festival :2010 Carlow African Film Festival :2010 Discovery Film Festival :2010 Chicago Intl Children's Film Festival :2010 Carthage Film Festival :2010 African Diaspora Film Festival NY :2010 Palm Springs Film Festival :2010 San Diego Black Film Festival :2010 Adelaide Film Festival :2010 FESPACO, Burkina Faso :2010 Birds Eye View FF :2010 FEBIOFEST :2010 Toronto IFF for children :2010 ReelWorld Film Festival :2010 Ecrans Noirs - Cameroun :2010 Rwanda Film Festival :2010 Zanzibar Film Festival, Tanzania :2010 Zimbabwe International Film Festival :2010 Kenya International Film Festival :2010 Amakula Kampala International FilmFestival, Uganda :2010 Ethiopia Film Festival :2010 Festival du film de Dakar, Senegal :2010 Quintessence, Benin ;2011 * Cinema Le Bretagne (France) * Plein La Bobine (France) * Addis Film Festival (Ethiopia) * Chennai Women In Films Festival (India) * Fiuggi Family Festival (Italy) * Salaam Festival (Denmark) * Cine Sparks Festival (Australia)

Reception

Critical response

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."

References

External links

* *
''Soul Boy'' at Rushlake MediaSoul Boy
Filmportal.de
Filmreporter
{{Best Feature Film at the Africa International Film Festival, state=expanded 2010 films Swahili-language films Films set in Kenya Best Editing Africa Movie Academy Award winners Kenyan drama films