Soul Boy
Soul Boy
Directed byHawa Essuman
Written byBilly Kahora
Produced byMarie SteinmannTom TykwerGuy WilsonVerena RahmigSarika Hemi Lakhani
StarringSamson OdhiamboLeila Dayan OpouKrysteen SavaneFrank Kimani Joab OgollaLucy GachanjaKatherine DamarisKevin Onyango OmondiCalvin Shikuku OdhiamboNordeen Abdulghani
CinematographyChristian Almesberger
Edited byNg´ethe Gitungo
Music byXaver von Treyer
Productioncompanies
  • One Fine Day Films
  • Anno's Africa
  • Ginker Ink Films
Distributed byX Verleih AG (through Warner Bros.)
Release dates
  • January 2010 (2010-01) (Göteborg)
  • 4 March 2010 (2010-03-04) (Kenya)
  • 2 December 2010 (2010-12-02) (Germany)
Running time
61 minutes
Countries
  • Germany
  • Kenya
LanguageSwahili
Budget$16,211

Soul Boy[1] is a 2010 Kenyan drama film written by Billy Kahora and directed by Hawa Essuman. It developed under the mentorship of German director and producer Tom Tykwer in Kibera, one of the largest slums in the African continent, in the middle of Nairobi, Kenya. The film has received five nominations at the 2011 Africa Movie Academy Awards.

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

Plot

The story is about a 14-year-old boy called Abila, who lives in one of the most miserable slums known as Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya. One of the biggest slums in East Africa. One morning the teenager discovers his father was ill and delirious. "Someone has stolen my soul", mumbles the father. Abila is shocked and confused but wanted to help his father and goes in search of the right remedy. Supported by his girlfriend Shiku whom he is not even allowed to have friendship with. Abila learned that his father has gambled his life in company of a witch.

The teenager sets an adventurous journey in the Kibera Slum about to look for the witch, that leads him right through his community. When he finally discovers her, the witch gives him seven challenging tasks to save his father's lost soul.[2]

Themes

The film explores themes of family, responsibility, and reconciliation, while also addressing issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and tribal divisions in Kenyan society. Its use of magical realism allows it to tackle these subjects through symbolism and allegory, making the story both universal and locally grounded.

Production and release

Soul Boy was developed through a workshop led by German director Tom Tykwer and produced as a collaboration between Kenyan and German filmmakers. It was filmed on location in Kibera, with many local residents participating in its production. The film premiered in 2010 and was screened at several international film festivals, including the International Film Festival Rotterdam[3] and the Gothenburg Film Festival.[4][5]

Reception

The film received positive reviews for its storytelling, performances, and authentic portrayal of life in Kibera. Critics praised Essuman's direction and the film's blending of folklore with contemporary social issues. It went on to win several awards at international festivals, including the Dioraphte Audience Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.[3]

Cast

  • Samson Odhiambo as Abila
  • Leila Dayan Opou as Shiku
  • Krysteen Savane as Nyawawa
  • Frank Kimani as Macharia
  • Joab Ogolla as Abi's Father
  • Lucy Gachanja as Abi's Mother
  • Katherine Damaris as Aunt Susan
  • Kevin Onyango Omondi as Bojo
  • Calvin Shikuku Odhiambo as Kaka
  • Nordeen Abdulghani as Willie
  • Ginger Wilson as Claire
  • Nick Reding as Brian
  • John Githui as Matatu Tout
  • Tony Rimwa as Mr. Kamangu
  • McLean Wilson as Amy
  • Jomo Wilson as Rafael
  • Godfrey Ojiambo - Thief
  • Rogers Otieno - Angry Man
  • Tony Rimwa as Mr. Kamangu
  • Juma Williams as S.A.F.E. Stage Father
  • Sharleen Njeri as S.A.F.E. Stage Mother
  • Micheal Babu as Kama
  • Paul Njogu as Kimani
  • Lydia Makori as Bibi Okello
  • Aida Mulafu as Mama Wekesa
  • Rose Adhiambo as Mama Akinyi
  • Consolata Apondias the Weaver Woman
  • Gilbert K. Lukalia as the Gatekeeper
  • Jones Onyango Ajwala as the Old Couple - Man
  • Clementina Makokha as the Old Couple - Woman
  • Christopher Abuga as the Auctioneer
  • Alex Jadolo - Thug 2
  • Anthony Waweru - Dead Man

Awards and nominations

Year Awarding Organisation Category Nominee Result Ref
2010 International Film Festival RotterdamDioraohate Award Soul Boy Won [3]
2010 Carthage Film FestivalNarrative Feature Film Soul BoyNominated [6]
2011 African Movie Academy AwardsBest Film Soul BoyNominated [7]
2011 African Movie Academy AwardsBest Director Hawa Essuman Nominated [7]
2011 African Movie Academy AwardsBest Young/Promising Actor Samson Odhiambo

Leila Dayan Opou

Nominated [7]
2011 African Movie Academy AwardsBest Editing Ng'ethe Gitungo Won [7][8]
2011 African Movie Academy AwardsBest Screenplay Soul BoyNominated [7]
2010 Africa International Film FestivalFeature Film Competition Soul BoyWon [9]
2010 Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Lead Actress Film Leila Dayan Opou Nominated [10]
2010 Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Lead Actor Film Samson Odhiambo Won [10]
2010 Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Supporting Actress Film Krysteen Savane Nominated [10]
2010 Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Short Film Soul BoyWon [10]
2010 Kenya International Film Festival Best Actor Samson Odhiambo Won [11]
2010 Kenya International Film Festival Best East African Film Soul BoyWon
2010 Zanzibar International Film FestivalSignis Award Soul BoyWon [12]
2010 Afrika Filmfestival Leuven Veto Award Soul BoyWon
2010 Festival Ciné Junior Special Mention "Passeurs d’images" prize Soul BoyWon
2010 Festival Ciné Junior The Young Jury Prize Soul BoyWon
2011 European Spiritual Film Festival Best Fiction Award Soul BoyWon
2011 Kirchliches Filmfestival Recklinghausen Best Children's Film Award Soul BoyWon [13][14]

Reception

Critical response

Andrew Onyango reviewing for KenyaBuzz was impressed 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."[15]

References

  1. ^"Soul Boy | Movies | KenyaBuzz". www.kenyabuzz.com. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  2. ^"Africiné - Film Soul Boy, de Hawa Essuman (Kenya)". Africiné (in French). Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  3. ^ abc"Soul Boy". IFFR EN. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  4. ^Simon, Alissa (2010-02-08). "Soul Boy". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  5. ^"Événements | Africultures : Goteborg International Film Festival 2010". Africultures (in French). Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  6. ^Cheshire, Godfrey (2010-11-17). "THE 2010 CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  7. ^ abcde"Rwanda Film Festival » 'Soul Boy' Shines at Africa Movie Awards". hillywood.org. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  8. ^Best Editor, African Movie Academy AwardsArchived 2011-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^"Soul Boy | African Film Festival, Inc". Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  10. ^ abcd"Kalasha 2010 Winners". www.kalashaawards.co.ke. Archived from the original on 2012-11-22. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  11. ^Kenya International Film Festival: Best Actor
  12. ^"2010 Winners. Signis Award". ziff.or.tz. Zanzibar International Film Festival. 2010-08-25. Archived from the original on 2010-08-25. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  13. ^"Kirchliches Filmfestival - Thema". Lokalkompass (in German). Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  14. ^"Programm 2011". www.kirchliches-filmfestival.de (in German). Kirchliches Filmfestival Recklinghausen. Archived from the original on 2017-03-15. Retrieved 2024-01-30.. No mention of the prize here.
  15. ^"'Soul Boy' Review". www.kenyabuzz.com. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
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