Top Kenyan production company Buni Media, who are the producers of The XYZ Show, have launched a new production titled From Here to Timbuktu.
The short film is targeted at children, and is based on the creative concept of time travel: four children from four African countries (Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, and Senegal) travel back in time to ancient Timbuktu, which is one of Africa’s most famous ancient cities.
Timbuktu was the home of Mansa Musa, who is widely acknowledged as the richest man in history. In those ancient times, Timbuktu was also known as a hub of prominent African scholars.
In the short film, the young time travelers arrive in Ancient Timbuktu in the middle of an invasion by the Saadian army from Morocco.
They meet Professor Ahmed Baba es Sudane, and take on the challenge of helping him to save his books from destruction by the Saadians.
Visually, From Here to Timbuktu looks like nothing you’ve seen before. Buni Media mixes life-sized latex puppets with beautifully crafted sets and animated green screen backgrounds to create a unique and high quality film.
This film will appeal to the whole family and charm audiences both within and beyond the African continent.
This short film was born out of the observation that within the current market for children film and TV in Africa, one major topic is being largely ignored across the board: History – and more specifically, Ancient African History.
In addition, Ancient African History is not being taught in primary and secondary schools across the continent (and around the world!) as school curricula in Africa remain based on the English or French educational systems, and most textbooks focus on the colonial and post-colonial period.
Therefore, beyond being entertaining and fun to watch, From Here to Timbuktu retells a piece of Ancient African History to the children of today.
You can currently rent it on Vumicentral, costing only Ksh. 110 for one month rental. The short film will soon be released for rent and purchase on Amazon.
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