There’s always something brewing within the Kenyan-creatives’ kitchen, and one product is the film ‘Veve’ which premiered on August 28th 2014 at the Junction Mall off Ngong Road in Nairobi. Viewers and supporters of local content turned up in numbers, filling the cinema halls to capacity, and the premier was inevitably a success. It goes without saying that there is a Kenyan audience that craves local content and are more than willing to support the creators of these works.
Veve is a political drama that unfolds in Maua town situated within Meru County. The film’s name stems from the street name given to khat (miraa), a mild narcotic plant grown within Meru. The multi-character story, however, follows the lives of those caught up in a world where political ambition meets an unregulated business.
Amos (Lowry Odhiambo), the incumbent Member of Parliament of Maua, is vying for another term in office. He does so while also trying to expand his veve business, which means facing off his biggest competitor Wadu (Abubakar Mire). Every drug kingpin has a henchman, and for Amos, his right-hand man is Sammy (Conrad Makeni). But Sammy’s appetite for crime is waning, and he finds himself torn between loyalty to his work and dedication to his family.
While Amos’ business is flourishing, his marriage is suffering. His wife, Esther (Lizz Njagah), seeks solace in the arms of Kenzo (Emo Rugene). Unbeknownst to her, Kenzo is an ex-convict with a vendetta against Amos. Inevitably, things boil over, and every character finds themselves at crossroads. In their individual quests, they find their lives stringed together in unimaginable ways.
One of the things that stands out about this Kenyan production is the decision to shoot it outside of the bustling capital. It gives the story an authentic touch and allows viewers to get a glimpse of the town as well as the khat farms which are a source of livelihood for many in the area. This feeling of legitimacy is further amplified by the dialog in several scenes which is in Meru, the local dialect.
After making several local rounds, Veve went on to hit the international stage. In 2015, the film graced the screens at the Durban International Film Festival in South Africa, Filmfest Hamburg, and the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival, both in Germany. Veve was also aired in Bangkok in October 2017 at the Thailand Knowledge Park.
The creativity of this motion picture did not go unnoticed. In 2015, Veve bagged four trophies at the Kalasha Awards, including Best Feature Film of the year, and one more at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for the Best Local Language film in the Swahili category. As time goes by, the movie’s fan base continues to grow, showing just how impactful this #KeFilm has been.
