A young man possessed by the spirit of a legendary Buganda warrior takes center stage in Wakaliga Uganda, the latest explosive diatribe from the film collective against the plunder of cultural artifacts. Produced at the Chisenhale Gallery in London, the film continues the studio’s tradition of crafting action movies using cast members from the streets of Kampala, props constructed from scrap materials, desktop special effects, and sharp wit.
The studio, widely known as Wakaliwood, achieved international recognition with its breakout hit Who Killed Captain Alex? That earlier feature followed a martial arts master seeking revenge against the mafiosi responsible for murdering his brother, a Ugandan military officer tasked with cleaning up the capital’s slums. Despite a reportedly modest budget of just a few hundred dollars, the blockbuster featured helicopter gunships, shootouts, and kung fu showdowns, proving to be highly entertaining viewing despite its low-cost origins and gallery setting.
Founded by Harriet Nakasujja and Isaac Nabwana, the collective first gained significant attention in the broader art world in 2017 when it was selected for Documenta, a prestigious German art festival. This inclusion aligned with a growing trend toward recognizing independent collectives outside Europe and North America, particularly those pioneering unconventional funding models. Notably, Wakaliwood utilized its earnings to install fiber-optic cables in its neighborhood.
While entry into the international art circuit provided higher production values, the new commission currently on display suggests a subtle shift in both direction and purpose for the studio.
Does the gallery setting dilute the raw energy though? Or does it just highlight the critique of cultural theft better?
Wait, superhero movies made from scrap metal? I need to see this immediately. Sounds absolutely chaotic and brilliant.
Love that they used profits to lay fiber optics. That is actual community impact, not just art world vanity.