Anguka, who made history with film Mvera, the country’s submission to the 96th Academy Awards and the first ever from Mombasa, believes the region’s storytelling potential remains vastly untapped.
“Mombasa has talent. It’s time film distributors and content buyers see this city not just as a location, but as a hub,” Anguka, who grew up in the Bangladesh slums of Mombasa, told CNN. “We have upcoming filmmakers, and we have big producers. There are so many good stories here.”
Anguka’s journey into film began with a UNICEF-sponsored scholarship to study at the Kibera Film School through Hot Sun Foundation.
Equipped with a camera, he started writing and filming community-focused stories from his neighbourhood. His earliest works, including short films and stage plays, tackled pressing social issues faced by residents of Mombasa’s informal settlements.
Today, Anguka is not only a filmmaker but also a mentor, having trained and guided a new generation of storytellers.
His long-time mentee, Assistant Director Tevan Kinyua, recalls learning the craft through Anguka’s early projects: “After high school, he started coaching me in film. His first project was where I learned to be an assistant director.”
Anguka rose to prominence in 2019 with Pete, a Swahili-language television drama that aired on Showmax and was filmed on Funzi Island.
“I intentionally kept the island’s name in the show,” he explained, adding that the visibility helped drive local tourism in the area.
“What made Pete unique was the story, the culture, and the environment,” Anguka said. “These are the kinds of narratives that have been missing from our screens, stories rooted in the Swahili coastal identity, stories people can relate to.”
His more recent work, Mkasi, currently airing on Maisha Magic Plus, continues that tradition of cultural storytelling, reflecting everyday experiences and historical inspiration.
Anguka has cited Mekatilili wa Menza, Kenya’s iconic coastal resistance heroine, as a key influence for Mvera, describing the film’s protagonist as a modern-day Mekatilili.
Now in his early 30s, Anguka’s ambitions go beyond borders. “I just want to make a story that can cross boundaries all over the world,” he said.
By Nzula Nzyoka
