Maajabu Films
Please click on a link to jump to a Maajabu film
- Our Beloved Forest - a film about community management of a forest in northern Tanzania
- Kings of the Springs - a documentary about customary water management practices by the Sonjo community
- Maajabu! - a promotional film for the Maajabu film production unit
- Voices of the Maasai: Lake Natron - a documentary about life in and around Lake Natron
- Conserve Our Environment - a music video about the environment in our everyday lives
- Remembering the "Maasai Range Management Project" - an evaluation of a project from the 1970s from the community point of view
- East Coast Fever - the launching of a vaccine to improve pastoralist livelihoods
- Upcoming film projects
What are Maajabu Films?
Maajabu produces films with communities about management and governance of natural resources. Demand for films by Maajabu comes from a range of partners, from community based organizations, schools, and national level non governmental organizations. Maajabu aims to produce films that will help communities advocate for improved governance of natural resources. Films are produced in a participatory way that includes the community representatives during all stages -- from planning to reviewing.
Filming plans for 2010
In 2010 Maajabu plans to build on the topics introduced in the films below, which relate to topics addressed in the TNRF working groups. Additional topics in 2010 will include documentation of the National Climate Change Hearings; an educational documentary linking the East Coast Fever vaccine to improving pastoralist capacity to manage range resources; a description of clean energy options for rural households; and success stories from community forestry in Kilwa and Rufiji Districts.
(10 min; with Ngorongoro NGO Network, 2009)
This film was made in colloboration with community based organizations in Ngorongoro District and the District Council to help understand the current situation of forest management. The forests around Engaserosambu are important for the daily needs of the local community, such as for medicinal plants and firewood. The forest is also a drought refuge for pastoralist livestock. The sustainability of the forest for local needs is under threat by loggers seeking hardwood without the proper harvesting permits. This film serves as to facilitate discussion between the Engaserosambu community, District and Central Government, and the private sector loggers when deciding the future of the forest. Part II of the film will follow the decision-making that has happened related to the forest's legal status, and document a follow-up of investigations that took place following the arrest of illegal loggers by local community watch patrols.
(23 min; with Ujamaa Community Resource Trust, 2009)
Water is a scarce commodity in Ngorongoro District. However, the Sonjo, or Batemi, community, is known for its lasting customary water conservation system. The Batemi live along the underground water systems and streams that link the hilltop catchment forests of Engserosambu and the wetland area of Lake Natron. The Batemi have developed a strong custom of preserving hot and cold springs. In a district that is often plagued by harsh dry weather conditions, the Batemi stand out for having established a working system of water management and distribution. This film documents their water management customs, the challenges they face in meeting the growing demand for water, and the relationship between the Batemi water management and community water management in neighboring areas.
(6 min; 2009)
This film describes the work of Maajabu! the participatory film show and cinema unit that produced these films. This promotional documentary is the first film produced by Maajabu. It was filmed in Arusha town, with additional footage from around the country.
Voices of the Maasai: Lake Natron
(10 min, 2009)
Lake Natron is home not just to the endangered Lesser Flamingo, which flocks to the lake every year to breed and roost, but also to community of pastoralist Maasai. This film documents the unique ecosystem of the lake in relation to the people who depend on it for water, soda ash and the benefits brought the area from wildlife tourism and trekking.
(3 min; 2009)
This music video describes the importance of the environment in our daily lives. It is a joint production by Tanzanians and Kenyans who attended a training by Community-based Biodiversity Conservation Films at Mutomo Village in Kenya in October 2009. The song features K4 and Lody (Lodrick Mika).
Remembering the "Maasai Range Management Project"
East Coast Fever - Launching a vaccine
(13 minutes; 2010; with GALVmed and VetAgro)
On May 20th, 2010 in Arusha, Tanzania organizations and government authorities committed to livestock development and pastoralist livelihoods in Eastern and Southern Africa met to promote a vaccine for East Coast Fever. The video here captures comments from vaccine supporters and was featured at the launch.
The ECF vaccine protects livestock from disease carrying ticks. After livestock are vaccinated a pastoralist can herd cattle in areas once avoided due to high tick populations. This way the vaccine gives pastoralists more flexibility in choosing where to graze their cattle and alleviates pressure on land resources.