Usisahau kutumia kondomu

It has been some very exiting days at the Bongo camp site. We have started filming a small educational campaign addressing issues about HIV/AIDS, with the motto Usisahau kutumia kondomu (don’t forget condoms).

The Bongo Dox team have written three short films (infomercials) designed for Tanzanian television. One about the proper use of condoms, one about local myths and one about the ways you can contract HIV/AIDS. Producing the campaign is an exercise that can help the Bongo Dox team, when they are going to undertake a longer video project about HIV/AIDS, in the year 2012.

It has been a pleasure to see how much the team have developed and the enthusiasm with which they have taken on the task. Making an instructional video about the proper use of condoms can be somewhat of a delicate matter, but the team have received a lot of education regarding this issue, and they are most certainly not shy. The manuscript quickly came to include a very blunt instruction on how to proper use a condom, using a wooden penis replica as an instrument for demonstration. For theatrical effect the video was shot in a tent with one of the crewmembers as a leading actor. It might be a little over the top for Tanzanian television, but it has really shown the creativity and the capability of the team.

The workshops will soon come to an end, and it will be sad to leave. It has truly been a privilege to be received so open-hearted at the campsite, and work with a group of young people, that are so willing to learn and develop their skills.

Working with the Bongo Dox team

My name is Jakob Nielsen and I have had the privilege of working with the Bongo Dox team for the last week, teaching them various aspects of movie production. The Bongodox team consists of young, hardworking, and talented people who are on their way to becoming professional filmmakers. To sharpen the teams abilities and nurture their creativity, we go through small exercises everyday; writing, filming and editing small films.

We have finished a few films but at the movement our internet is not at YouTube capacity, so you will have to wait a little to see some of the short films, that among others, include an introduction to the Bongo Camp, and an action packed kung fu battle, called Manyoga Style (Snake Style).
The next couple of days we will work with one of the core themes for the Bongo Dox team; HIV/AIDS. The participants have been discussing ideas for a small video campaign concerning the issue, and the next couple of days, we are going to make them come to life and compose small films for a campaign.

The Bongo Camp is truly and amazing place, and right now we are in the editing face of a movie that displays all of the beautiful nature that surrounds us. On this project we have my esteemed colleague Mr. Shime in charge of the editing, and the result is looking really good so far.

The team has really progressed over the last couple of days both in the class room working with theory, in the field filming, and in the editing room. We will keep you updated and hopefully be ready to upload some movies soon.

Visiting film experts

During December we´ll have a special series of posts written by visiting film experts at Bongodox. From their point of view they will highlight examples of what is going on at Bongodox.


There are now two film experts visiting at Bongodox. Beside having mr. Shime from Mbeya City, yesterday Bongodox welcomed mr. Jakob from Denmark.

8th December 2011 at Bongodox. Centre: Jakob. Right: Luka, Bongodox supervisor

The local host prepared a reception for Jakob which took place yesterday. It was a fine reception, not least due to the fact that project visitors from as far away as Denmark don´t just pop in every month. It was also creating positive vibes across the project participants and other members of the local civil society organization (Kumbe) owning the project.

8th Dec. 2011: reception of Danish film expert Jakob at Bongodox, Bongo Camping in Tukuyu

Recordings for two documentary films have already been made, and the first period of editing has begun at Bongodox. As stated above, in the coming days at this blog we hope to post highlights and examples of what is actually happening when film experts and the participants of Bongodox are exchanging relevant knowledge about film production.

Bongodox interpreter Michae (left) translating for Danish film expert Jakob and the participants of Bongodox