In the realm of wildlife documentary filmmaking, a quiet revolution is unfolding, led by South African visionaries Pragna Parsotam-Kok and Noel Kok. Their journey began with a simple yet profound realization: the lack of African voices and perspectives in wildlife storytelling. This sparked a mission to empower and diversify the industry, and the result is a captivating narrative of inclusion, creativity, and the power of representation.
The Birth of a Movement
When Pragna and Noel embarked on their wildlife series, they encountered two significant challenges. First, the difficulty of accessing animals for filming highlighted the need for more local expertise and connections. Second, the scarcity of African wildlife filmmakers underscored a glaring absence of diverse narratives.
Their response was bold and visionary. They established the Nature Environment and Wildlife Conservation Trust (NEWF), a non-profit dedicated to fostering a new generation of African wildlife filmmakers. The trust hosted conferences and workshops, bringing together filmmakers and scientists from across the continent.
Diving into Diversity
One of the most intriguing aspects of NEWF's work is its focus on underwater filmmaking. In 2019, the Koks organized their first dive "lab," recognizing the lack of African underwater filmmakers and the surprising number of marine biologists who couldn't swim, let alone scuba dive. This initiative not only trained divers but also fostered a unique collaboration between filmmakers and scientists.
"I like to joke that black African nature, environment, and wildlife filmmakers were rarer than most of the species scientists and conservationists were trying to protect on the continent," Noel Kok shared. He added, "The fact that we were excluded from telling the stories of Africa's wildlife felt inauthentic. The stories were not complete."
Training the Next Generation
NEWF's impact is evident in the numbers. Over 200 divers have been trained in Sodwana Bay, home to Africa's southernmost tropical coral reefs. Hundreds more have learned wildlife filmmaking on land at Bayala, a private game reserve. The trust's composition workshops ensure that the music accompanying these films is representative of the region, a departure from the traditional European classical scores often used.
The results speak for themselves. In 2021, NEWF fellows composed the music for a National Geographic film about Botswana's Okavango Delta, which won best original score at the Jackson Wild film festival, beating Hans Zimmer's score for David Attenborough's Frozen Planet II.
A Personal Journey
The story of Silindile Mbuyazi, known as Mama Sli, is a powerful testament to the transformative power of NEWF's work. Mbuyazi, who wanted to dive to find her brother's body, discovered a new world beneath the waves, including a green turtle she recognized as her grandmother. She became a diving instructor with NEWF and proposed a partnership to build a dive and filmmaking center on her grandmother's land, named eKhaya, meaning "home" in Zulu.
Impact and Growth
NEWF's impact extends beyond training. With annual funding from National Geographic, the trust is building a five-year program called Africa Refocused, which includes workshops, residencies, and the construction of the dive and filmmaking center in Sodwana Bay. The center, eKhaya, opened in November 2023 and is already buzzing with activity, from traditional Zulu officials touring the facility to musicians rehearsing for performances.
The trust's internship program is another success, with local interns learning to swim and dive, and working on self-driven projects. The Koks are ambitious, with plans to expand further, from buying a dive boat to building a fellows' house in Bayala.
A New Perspective
Ethiopian filmmaker Elshadye Berhanu's experience with NEWF is a testament to the trust's impact. Berhanu, on a two-month residency, gained invaluable practical and creative experience, allowing her to deeply understand and capture the story of two female cheetahs bonding and raising their cubs.
"Being able to film that, from your eyes, it just makes me happy," Berhanu said.
Conclusion
NEWF's work is a powerful example of how representation and diversity can transform an industry. By empowering African filmmakers and divers, the trust is ensuring that the stories of Africa's wildlife are told authentically and with a unique perspective. As Noel Kok said, "The stories were not complete" without these voices. NEWF is completing those stories, and in doing so, is enriching our understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
