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Wanuri Kahiu

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Wanuri Kahiu
A collection of short films by African filmmakers.
Play trailer0:39
The Tunnel (2010)
2 Videos
7 Photos
Wanuri's first feature film From A Whisper, based on the real events surrounding the 1998 twin bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania won Best Narrative Feature in 2010 at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, as well as five awards at the African Movie Academy Award, including Best Director and Best Screenplay.

In 2009 Wanuri produced TV documentary For Our Land about Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai for MNET, a pan African cable station. In 2010, her short science fiction Pumzi premiered at Sundance film festival and went on to win best short film at Cannes Independent Film Festival and the silver at Carthage Film Festival (Tunisia). Pumzi also earned Wanuri the 'Citta di Venezia 2010' award in Venice, Italy. Her second feature film Rafiki based on the short story "Jambula Tree" premiered at Cannes 2018 and was nominated for the Queer Palm.

Wanuri is the creator of the Afrobubblegum genre, fun, fierce and frivolous black content that celebrates joy and hope. Wanuri is a TED fellow and a World Economic Forum cultural leader.
BornJune 21, 1980
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJune 21, 1980
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 19 wins & 18 nominations total

    Photos6

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    Known for

    Rafiki (2018)
    Rafiki
    6.8
    • Director
    • 2018
    From a Whisper (2008)
    From a Whisper
    6.5
    • Director
    • 2008
    Kudzani Moswela in Pumzi (2009)
    Pumzi
    7.2
    Short
    • Director
    • 2009
    Look Both Ways (2022)
    Look Both Ways
    6.3
    • Director(directed by)
    • 2022

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Director



    • Washington Black
      • Director
      • Completed
      • TV Mini Series
      • 2025
    • The Thing About Jellyfish
      • Director
      • In Development



    • Look Both Ways (2022)
      Look Both Ways
      6.3
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2022
    • Rafiki (2018)
      Rafiki
      6.8
      • Director
      • 2018
    • Who Am I?
      Short
      • co-director
      • 2018
    • State House (2014)
      State House
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2014
    • Africa First: Volume One (2010)
      Africa First: Volume One
      7.2
      • Director (segment "Pumzi")
      • 2010
    • Kudzani Moswela in Pumzi (2009)
      Pumzi
      7.2
      Short
      • Director
      • 2009
    • From a Whisper (2008)
      From a Whisper
      6.5
      • Director
      • 2008
    • Ras Star
      Short
      • Director
      • 2006

    Producer



    • Washington Black
      • executive producer
      • Completed
      • TV Mini Series
      • 2025



    • Sarah (2024)
      Sarah
      • producer
      • 2024
    • Rafiki (2018)
      Rafiki
      6.8
      • co-producer
      • 2018
    • Homecoming (2013)
      Homecoming
      6.3
      Short
      • producer
      • 2013
    • Still Life
      8.8
      Short
      • producer
      • 2005
    • 500 Years Later (2005)
      500 Years Later
      6.8
      • associate producer
      • 2005

    Writer



    • Outer World
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2018
    • Rafiki (2018)
      Rafiki
      6.8
      • written by
      • 2018
    • State House (2014)
      State House
      TV Series
      • created by
      • 2014
    • Africa First: Volume One (2010)
      Africa First: Volume One
      7.2
      • Writer
      • 2010
    • Kudzani Moswela in Pumzi (2009)
      Pumzi
      7.2
      Short
      • writer
      • 2009
    • From a Whisper (2008)
      From a Whisper
      6.5
      • screenplay
      • 2008

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos2

    Africa First: Volume One
    Trailer 0:39
    Africa First: Volume One
    Africa First: Volume One
    Trailer 0:33
    Africa First: Volume One
    Africa First: Volume One
    Trailer 0:33
    Africa First: Volume One

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Born
      • June 21, 1980
      • Nairobi, Kenya
    • Spouse
      • Anthony GikonyoOctober 15, 2016 - present

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