Nabwana I.G.G.

Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana, popularly known as Nabwana I.G.G., is a Ugandan filmmaker and film producer.[1][2] Nabwana, the founder of the film studio Wakaliwood, is best known for the gratuitous violence in his films.[3] Nabwana started to gain fame after uploading a trailer for his film Who Killed Captain Alex? on YouTube in 2010 and later the actual film in 2015. The film gained a cult status and as of January 2023, sits at 8.2+ million views on YouTube.

Nabwana I.G.G.
Nabwana I.G.G. in 2019
Born
Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana

(1973-11-06) 6 November 1973
Wakaliga, Kampala, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
Occupation(s)Director, producer, writer, cinematographer, actor
Years active2005–present
SpouseHarriet Nabwana
Children3

Personal life

Nabwana 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 helicopter can be seen in Who Killed Captain Alex?.

Career

As 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.[4][5][6]

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.[7][8] The film Who Killed Captain Alex is known as the first action-packed film in Ugandan cinema.[9]

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 8 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 for producing 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."[10]

According to IMDb, Nabwana has won 6 awards from various film festivals.

Filmmaking style and themes

Nabwana 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.[11] These traits have appeared in all of Nabwana's films.

Filmography
YearFilmRoleGenreRef.Notes
2008Ekisa ButwaDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilmFirst film
2010Valentine: Satanic DayDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2010TebaatusasulaDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilmlost film
2010Who Killed Captain Alex?Director, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm[12][13][14][15]Breakthrough film
2011The Return of Uncle BenonDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2011Rescue TeamDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2012Bukunja Tekunja Mitti: The CannibalsDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2012BlackDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2014Crazy WorldDirector, producer, actor, writer, cinematographerFilmFirst acting role
2015The RevengeDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2016The Ivory Trap: AkanawuusuDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2016Once a Soja: Agubiri the GatemanDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2016Million Dollar KidDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2016KapitanoDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
2016Attack on Nyege Nyege IslandDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerShort film[16]
2016Bad BlackDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm[17][18]
2020Heaven Shall BurnDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerMusic Video[19]
2021Once Upon a Time in UgandaActorDocumentary
TBDOperation Kakongoliro! The Ugandan ExpendablesDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
TBDEaten Alive in UgandaDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
TBDEbola HunterDirector, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm
TBDWho Killed Captain Alex 2Director, producer, writer, cinematographerFilm

References
  1. "Nabwana I.G.G - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  2. "Wakaliwood: The cinematic dream of a Uganda slum". Aljazeera. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  3. "How one LIer became Ugandan filmmaker's passionate advocate". newsday. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. "The New Wave of Ultra-Violent Ugandan DIY Action Cinema - VICE". Vice. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  5. 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.
  6. "Nabwana I.G.G - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  7. "Uganda's Slum Tarantino". BBC. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  8. Schiraro, Stefano (8 March 2018). "Wakaliwood: The cinematic dream of a Ugandan slum". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  9. Noy, Frédéric (13 July 2018). "Inside Wakaliwood: Kampala's action movie studio". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  10. "Wakaliwood: The Documentary (2012)". IMDb.
  11. Venema, Vibeke (2015-05-13). "Uganda's Tarantino and his $200 action movies". BBC News.
  12. "WHO KILLED CAPTAIN ALEX?". mkefilm. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  13. "Who Killed Captain Alex? YouTube trailer". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  14. "Who Killed Captain Alex?". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  15. "Who Killed Captain Alex? Director's Commentary". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  16. "Attack on Nyege Nyege Island". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  17. "Bad Black". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  18. "Bad Black Director's Commentary". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  19. "Heaven Shall Burn". YouTube. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
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