Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana, popularly known as Nabwana I.G.G., is a Ugandan film director, cinematographer, writer and producer.[1][2] He is the founder of the film studio Wakaliwood, known for producing popular ultra-low budget action comedy films. [3] He has been referred to as Uganda's Quentin Tarantino due to his use of gratuitous, over-the-top violence. [4] Nabwana first started to gain wide international attention after uploading a trailer of Who Killed Captain Alex? on YouTube in 2010 followed by the entire film in 2015. The film has gained a cult status and as of October 2024, has 9.8 million views on YouTube. He is the subject of a 2022 documentary Once Upon a Time in Uganda by Cathryne Czubek.[5]
Nabwana I.G.G. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Nabwana I.G.G. in 2019 | |
| Born | Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana 6 November 1973 |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Occupation(s) | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer, actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Spouse | Harriet Nabwana |
| Children | 3 |
Personal life
editNabwana was born in Uganda during the regime of Idi Amin in 1973. During the Ugandan Bush War, he and his brother were reportedly chased by an attack helicopter. This inspired the helicopter scene in Who Killed Captain Alex?.
Career
editAs he had never been in a theatre, he relied mostly on his brothers and friends' descriptions of films that were just released theatrically. He went for a course in computer repair, but was forced to drop out after the first month due to lack of funds. Therefore, he started to learn filmmaking and its aspects in a self learning methods with his own trial-and-error experiences with cameras and editing equipment. At the age of 32, he began filmmaking as a profession. In 2005, Nabwana founded Ramon Film Productions: the name derived from his grandmothers, Rachel and Monica, which is later known as Wakaliwood.[6][7][8]
His film production is based in his home where he began to produce and shoot music videos since 2009. Ramon Production has involved over 44 feature films. Some of the popular films produced by Ramon Productions are Who Killed Captain Alex?, Bad Black, and Tebaatusasula.[9][10] The film Who Killed Captain Alex is known as the first action-packed film in Ugandan cinema.[11]
After releasing Who Killed Captain Alex? in 2010, it quickly became internationally recognized and popular. The movie attracted super fans from around the world. With over 9 million views on YouTube, it is Nabwana's most popular film and it turned him into a minor celebrity.
Alan Hofmanis, a film festival director based in New York City, saw the film and became known as a super fan; he subsequently traveled to Uganda, met Nabwana and asked to produce a documentary on Ramon Film Productions. Hofmanis has since moved to Uganda to help promote Wakaliwood cinema worldwide and is now an executive producer and actor at Wakaliwood. He was also given a starring role in Nabwana's 2016 film Bad Black and has been called "the first Mzungu Ugandan action movie star."[12]
According to IMDb, Nabwana has won 6 awards from various film festivals.
Filmmaking style and themes
editNabwana shoots his films in Luganda, the language of the Baganda, Uganda's largest ethnic group. Nabwana is known for his action and violence mixed in with comedy in his films. He takes the action in his films to new extremes which mainly consists of gun fighting to Kung-fu and martial arts. Additionally, Nabwana's films feature a 'Video Joker' (or VJ for short), who will translate dialogue and insert their own jokes and commentary over the movie.[13] These traits have appeared in all of Nabwana's films.
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Genre | Ref. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ekisa Butwa | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | First film | |
| 2010 | Valentine: Satanic Day | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2010 | Tebaatusasula | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | lost film | |
| 2010 | Who Killed Captain Alex? | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | [14][15][16][17] | Breakthrough film |
| 2011 | The Return of Uncle Benon | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2011 | Rescue Team | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2012 | Bukunja Tekunja Mitti: The Cannibals | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2012 | Black | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2014 | Crazy World | Director, producer, actor, writer, cinematographer | Film | First acting role | |
| 2015 | The Revenge | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2016 | The Ivory Trap: Akanawuusu | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2016 | Once a Soja: Agubiri the Gateman | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2016 | Million Dollar Kid | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2016 | Kapitano | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| 2016 | Attack on Nyege Nyege Island | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Short film | [18] | |
| 2016 | Bad Black | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | [19][20] | |
| 2020 | Heaven Shall Burn | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Music Video | [21] | |
| 2021 | Once Upon a Time in Uganda | Actor | Documentary | ||
| TBD | Operation Kakongoliro! The Ugandan Expendables | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| TBD | Eaten Alive in Uganda | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| TBD | Ebola Hunter | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film | ||
| TBD | Who Killed Captain Alex 2 | Director, producer, writer, cinematographer | Film |
References
edit- ^ "Nabwana I.G.G - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Wakaliwood: The cinematic dream of a Uganda slum". Aljazeera. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ Anderton, Ethan (2020-03-22). "'Once Upon A Time In Uganda': Welcome To Wakaliwood, Home Of Africa's Indie Quentin Tarantino [SXSW]". SlashFilm. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "Wakaliwood". library.panos.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ Felperin, Leslie (2023-09-05). "Once Upon a Time in Uganda review – celebrating the simple joy of exploding heads on film". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "The New Wave of Ultra-Violent Ugandan DIY Action Cinema - VICE". Vice. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ McPheeters, Sam (3 March 2015). "A Ugandan Filmmaker's Quest to Conquer the Planet with Low-Budget Action Movies - VICE". Vice. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "Nabwana I.G.G - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Uganda's Slum Tarantino". BBC. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ Schiraro, Stefano (8 March 2018). "Wakaliwood: The cinematic dream of a Ugandan slum". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Noy, Frédéric (13 July 2018). "Inside Wakaliwood: Kampala's action movie studio". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Wakaliwood: The Documentary (2012)". IMDb.
- ^ Venema, Vibeke (2015-05-13). "Uganda's Tarantino and his $200 action movies". BBC News.
- ^ "WHO KILLED CAPTAIN ALEX?". mkefilm. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Who Killed Captain Alex? YouTube trailer". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Who Killed Captain Alex?". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Who Killed Captain Alex? Director's Commentary". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Attack on Nyege Nyege Island". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Bad Black". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Bad Black Director's Commentary". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Heaven Shall Burn". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.