Climate change and historical injustices ignite a conflict between Indigenous pastoralists and white ranchers in Kenya’s Laikipia County, highlighting the urgent need for reconciliation.
Synopsis
Climate change and historical injustices ignite a conflict between Indigenous pastoralists and white ranchers in Kenya's Laikipia County, highlighting the urgent need for reconciliation and meaningful change. Directors Daphne Matziaraki and Peter Murimi offer a nuanced perspective on both sides of the struggle. The documentary captures the challenges faced by the pastoralist herding community, struggling to feed their cattle amidst shrinking grasslands and severe drought, and the white ranchers determined to protect their territory. The film delves into the deep-rooted issues stemming from the region’s colonial past and examines the impact of climate change on land and livelihoods. Through the stories of individuals like Simeon, a proud member of the Samburu people, and Maria, a matriarch of a white farming family, The Battle for Laikipia provides a powerful call for reconciliation and meaningful change, serving as a compelling reminder of the ongoing struggles in post-colonial societies and the urgent need for climate action.
Directors: Daphne Matziaraki and Peter Murimi | Countries: Kenya/USA | Running Time: 94 min | Languages: In English and Swahili with English subtitles | Rating: 12A
Screening Details
- Festival Screening: 14 September 2024
- Premiere: Scottish Premiere
Trailer
About the Filmmakers
Daphne Matziaraki is a Greek documentary film director based between Greece and the San Francisco Bay Area. She directed, produced, shot, and edited the New York Times Op-Doc 4.1 Miles, earning an Academy Award nomination, an Emmy nomination, and a Peabody Award. Her films Container and Into the Sea have won multiple awards. She directed a segment for Apple TV's The Me You Can't See and premiered her first feature, The Battle for Laikipia, at Sundance 2024. Daphne mentors filmmakers for the Stavros Niarchos Artworks fellowship and Docubox.
Peter Murimi is a multiple award-winning Kenyan documentary director/producer known for tackling hard-hitting social issues. His feature-length documentary I Am Samuel (2020) follows a gay Kenyan man's struggle for acceptance, screening at over a dozen festivals including Hot Docs and BFI. His second feature, The Battle for Laikipia, premiered at Sundance 2024. Murimi has led investigations for BBC Africa Eye, including The Baby Stealers (2020) and Suicide Stories (2019), winning the Rory Peck News Features Award. He has made films in 30 African countries for outlets like Al Jazeera and Channel 4 News.