Private Project

KIDAWA

A self-taught cosmetician genius bullied for her Afrocentric lifestyle embarks on a journey to create a disruptive hairline product and battle an army of bullies

  • FLORENCE GEORGE MKINGA
    Director
  • FLORENCE GEORGE MKINGA
    Writer
  • FLORENCE GEORGE MKINGA
    Producer
  • CATHERINE CREDO
    Key Cast
    "KIDAWA"
  • GIFT MICHAEL
    Key Cast
    "ASHA"
  • HIZZA SALIM
    Key Cast
    "JONAS"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 40 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 10, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    14,958 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Tanzania, United Republic of
  • Country of Filming:
    Tanzania, United Republic of
  • Language:
    Swahili
  • Shooting Format:
    FULL HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • MAISHA MAGIC MOVIES
    Distributor
    Country: South Africa
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - FLORENCE GEORGE MKINGA

Florence Mkinga she an independent filmmaker. Currently, she is the Chairperson of Univeso film lab formal (Tanzania film lab)and production designer with a degree in Theatre and Film from the University of Dodoma(Tanzania). Florence is the founder and CEO of her production house Univeso arts production CO.LTD.
After graduation, she moved to Dar-es-salaam and began her career as a film writer, director, and producer, whereby her short film “Ngoma” was listed as one of the top selections for the European Youth Film Festival Tanzania 2017. She also directed a feature film called German rupee (2021) commissioned by Multchoice, in the same year Florence co-produced a feature film Merchandizer (2021), and in 2023 she is working as a director and producer of a feature film Kidawa developed by Durban talents and commissioned by (M-net).
Since then, she has been fully obligated and surviving in a commonly male-dominated industry with bright colors as a creative director and production designer. Florence's achievements including award-winning Best art director of the Month from Zikomo award Zambia(2021), Best production designer from Tanzania film festivals and awards (2021), and Best production designer Africa from Zikomo awards Zambia (2022).
Florence Mkinga has been attending different films lab and Film marketing including Maisha film lab (2016), Women makes movies (2017), and the Creative entrepreneurship workshop in Kampala, Uganda under the British council (2019). Hub leadership lab in Nairobi Kenya under British council (2018). She also participated in Durban talents (2020), and Durban film mart business lab (2021).In 2022 she participated in Creative African Nexus (CANEX) for a festival management workshop in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Apart from working with her production company and the film lab, Florence has been dedicated to saving the filmmaker’s community in her country by working as the secretary for the Tanzania Writers Guild Association comes with a special seat in the Tanzania Film Board committee (2018- 2020)members. Florence has been selected to be one of the management members of the Tanzania film federation (2021).Florence has been selected to be one of the jury in Tanzania Oscars selection committee(ITOSC) 2022- 2023.
As A chairperson of film lab Florence has organized different filmmaking workshops at Nafasi arts space and in different regions such as Dodoma. She also worked with Creative action institute based in Massachusetts, United states to create arts model that presents girl child problems in their community in(Einot secondary school) Arusha kisongo and Morogoro (Sega girls secondary school).Florence has successful achieved to receive, different grant and funds such as DW-Akademie film development fund Germany (2022).Prince clouds mobility fund Netherlands (2019). Creative action institute (Sauti ya Dada) 2021.
Florence is a Festival manager of Paukwa Pakawa screening funded by Movies that matters (2023), based on screening and panel discussion concerning Human rights films. Her passion in film making, humbleness, team working spirit, and ability to work under minimum supervision marks her as promising person within Tanzania film industry and arts

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Director Statement

I grew up witnessing parental behavior in my family, where I was forced to have my hair relaxed when I was young, and growing up in a fantasy-filled community, this experience of not believing in our own beauty has triggered me since childhood. Every day as I walk down the street, I see three to five men and women who have been affected by skin bleaching, in a world where everyone believes that being white is beautiful and trendy.
The reminder must be placed in all black community doors in order to raise awareness about the negative effects of skin bleaching and to introduce another way for black communities to celebrate their own beauty.
I believe it is time for Kidawa to be heard and for our community to understand that we, as the black community, should celebrate our skin color, hair texture, African print, culture, and customs rather than copying and pasting from the Western world. Being black is beautiful and celebrating our identity is a huge inheritance to our upcoming generation.