The South African trailblazers seeking to change how wildlife documentaries are made
In the realm of wildlife documentaries, a groundbreaking initiative is reshaping the narrative, led by Pragna Parsotam-Kok and Noel Kok, a dynamic duo with a mission to amplify African voices in the field. Their journey began in 2015 when they embarked on a wildlife series for South African TV, only to encounter a startling reality: the scarcity of African wildlife documentary makers and the arduous task of accessing animals for filming.
This realization sparked a transformative endeavor. The Nature Environment and Wildlife Conservation Trust (NEWF) was established, serving as a beacon for African wildlife filmmakers. The Koks organized a conference in 2017, a pivotal moment that laid the foundation for their ambitious vision. However, a subsequent challenge emerged in 2018 when they struggled to find African underwater filmmakers for a panel discussion on oceans.
This led to the creation of NEWF's inaugural dive "lab" in 2019, a pivotal moment in their mission. The program attracted a diverse cohort of 400 fellows from 37 African countries and 13 more in the global south, a testament to the growing momentum behind their cause. Noel Kok, reflecting on this period, humorously noted the rarity of black African nature, environment, and wildlife filmmakers, a stark contrast to the species conservation efforts on the continent.
The Koks' commitment to authenticity and representation extended beyond filmmaking. They recognized the importance of music in wildlife documentaries, often overlooking regional cultural nuances. In 2021, NEWF introduced composition workshops, addressing the need for music that authentically represented the African landscape. This initiative bore fruit when NEWF fellows, including local musician Koolkat Motyiko, composed the score for a National Geographic film about Botswana's Okavango Delta. The score won the Best Original Score at the Jackson Wild film festival, outshining Hans Zimmer's composition for David Attenborough's 'Frozen Planet II'.
The Koks' impact extends beyond filmmaking. They met Silindile Mbuyazi, a local diver, who embarked on a personal journey to find her brother's body in Sodwana Bay. Mbuyazi's experience with NEWF not only led to the discovery of a green turtle, her grandmother, but also a newfound sense of self. She became a mentor, teaching diving to NEWF fellows and establishing eKhaya, a dive and filmmaking center on her grandmother's land. eKhaya, meaning 'home' in Zulu, opened in November 2023, offering an editing suite, a dive pool, and accommodation for fellows.
The center buzzed with activity in mid-June, hosting a tour for an induna and his entourage, musicians rehearsing for a National Geographic festival, and local interns learning to swim and dive. NEWF's reach extends to Bayala, where they are negotiating funding for a dive boat and a fellows' house. The organization's influence is evident in the work of Ethiopian filmmaker Elshadye Berhanu, who, after attending a NEWF workshop, gained invaluable experience in filming cheetahs and Mbuyazi's story.
The Koks' journey is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Their efforts have not only transformed wildlife documentaries but have also empowered individuals like Mbuyazi and Berhanu, fostering a new generation of African filmmakers and divers. As NEWF continues to evolve, it stands as a beacon of change, challenging the status quo and shaping a more inclusive and authentic narrative in wildlife storytelling.
