AFRICAN animated science fiction anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire premiered last week at Ster Kinekor, Sam Levy Village in Harare.
The anthology presents 10 futuristic visions from Africa featuring advanced technology, monsters and spirits.
The films are Stardust, Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer, Hatima, Enkai, Moremi, Surf Sangoma, Mukudzei, First Totem Problems, Herderboy and You Give Me Heart.
Zimbabwean filmmakers Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove are among the creatives behind the science fiction animation demonstrating their creativity in Mukudzei, sixth episode of Kizazi Moto.
Mukudzei presented a Zimbabwean set up showcasing its culture, use of Shona language and names such as Rumbidzai. The film featured the sacredness of Great Zimbabwe monument from which the country derived its name. The Zimbabwe bird (hungwe) is also presented in the film.
Speaking after the movie screening Nyenyewa said: “In Mukudzei we wanted to show beautiful things about our country because Zimbabwe has been portrayed negatively. For us it was about changing the narrative through entertainment.”
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“There are a lot of good things about Zimbabwe, it is peaceful, our culture is beautiful and people around the world now know that there is Great Zimbabwe. For some it may be just 10 minutes but it took us a lot of effort to create the movie,” Nyenyewa added.
Hove said: “It was a challenge to portray our people as beautiful as they are and no matter how much effort we had to put in we figured it out. "We do not have to change anything to stand out because we are beautiful the way we are. That is what we wanted.”
Hove added: “We can convert the tiniest things into something beautiful that people can be able to watch. "Stories like these (Mukudzei) happen where people disappear at these sacred national monuments.”
Hove said they travelled to Los Angeles in the United States for the Africa Animation Exchange programme where they had the opportunity to connect with other animators.
He said they met different animators for animated movies such as Moana, Lion King and Frozen.