PLAYING "NURSE MALIKA"

By

Chemi Che-Mponda

Chemi & husband Doug Whitlow

When I tell people that I had an acting role...
...in the feature movie, "MAANGAMIZI - THE ANCIENT ONE" the first thing they ask is "How did you get the role?"

Well, my story is like this...In 1994, I was the Publicity Secretary for Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA). I was also a member of its Executive Board. At an Executive meeting, the Board was told by Ms. Fatma Alloo, the former chairperson, that a multi-national crew was coming to shoot a feature film called "MAANGAMIZI - THE ANCIENT ONE."  Fatma informed us that TAMWA had been asked to help arrange the local logistics for the shooting.  She showed us a letter from Director/Producer, Martin Mhando.  I knew Martin to be a renowned actor and film director, but I never really met him.  We were very excited about the prospect.  At that time, TAMWA was producing a video series on "Sexual Harassment" and we thought that exposure to professional filmmaking would be beneficial.

My task was to alert the local media about the filming. I loved the publicity work which was made easier in that at the time I was a full-time reporter for the Tanzanian government newspaper, DAILY NEWS and SUNDAY NEWS.  I had also planned on asking my News Editor if I could take a photographer and an office car and driver to visit the Bagamoyo location to cover some of the filming activities.

After being given scripts, I read mine over and over trying to picture the final product. I was in awe at what a powerful script it was, but I was also worried about how well it would come across in the movie. The next day, we TAMWANITES met with Martin and Ron Mulvihill in the TAMWA offices in downtown Dar-es-Salaam.  I only knew that Ron was a director on the film ARUSI YA MARIAMU.  In the TAMWA conference room, I felt privileged to be in their presence.

After Fatma and another member, Ummie Alley Hamid had worked over the logistics, I started my own mini review of MAMA TUMAINI, a film that Martin had directed.  I praised and criticized it, hoping not to offend Martin. "How do you think it could have been improved?" Martin asked.  The question caught me off guard.  So I explained and acted out how I thought some of the roles should have been portrayed.

   The next day, I went to TAMWA for another meeting with the crew. Martin was there and asked me to play the role of "NURSE MALIKA."  My mouth dropped and I was speechless.  As soon as I regained my composure, I immediately said, "Yes." With all of the talent in Tanzania, I was surprised that I was chosen, especially as I had not considered myself a candidate. The closest I had expected to come to the set was to participate with the TAMWA crew, or to do a news story. I was excited.

   We at TAMWA were busy picking up cast members from the airport and running to Customs to clear some of the things needed for production.  I was amazed that people had come from the United States and Australia to participate in the making of the film.

When the day came to leave for Bagamoyo, my excitement was intense.  I took a local bus to Bagamoyo.  The crew stayed in dormitories at MANTEP, the Bagamoyo Teachers Training College.  It was quite comfortable. I took plenty of mosquito repellent with me, because Bagamoyo is known for its mosquitoes, as well as its mysticism.  I had visited Bagamoyo in 1987, with my class when I was a student at the Tanzania School of Journalism.  I remember one of my classmates scooping a handful of dust from a grave.

On my first day on the set, I was a bundle of nerves.  Would I manage, or would Ron and Martin say, "that's it, we're replacing you?"  The ancestors were with me and I managed. I fondly remember shooting my last scene and getting a round of applause from the crew. It was interesting having Helen Robley do my make-up and style my hair. Every night, a list was posted of who was needed on the set the following day. So, this was how they made movies. I also learned a few secrets of movie magic.  BarbaraO  (Dr.Asira) kept telling us, "You're going to be amazed with what they do with this stuff, you'll love the final product."

I had reviewed the script daily, trying to memorize my lines, and practicing. I kept wondering how to pronounce, "Schizophrenia" and dreaded when I would have to say it.  The word was omitted from my lines, after Ron realized that I had no idea how to pronounce it.  I soon learned that film acting was much different from stage acting.  In film acting you get to be more of yourself, even your tone of voice is more like you own voice.

One of my most memorable moments was when we shot the fire scene.  With the generator roaring in the background, we watched as Kisaka (Waigwa) set the pantry on fire.  Of course, Thecla Mjatta (Zeinabu) wasn't inside. But when the structure collapsed, it seemed as if a woman's shadow rose from the flames.  Helen Robley was in tears. As soon as it was thoroughly burned, we all took the water buckets we brought from our dorms and doused the fire.

Behind the set, I talked to BarbaraO about her acting experiences. I found O to be a very down to earth, simple person. To be honest, at first, I thought that with her being an American actress, she would have been a snob, who would complain about local conditions, but she was the complete opposite. Even when production closed down (in 1994) she explained that, "Sometimes productions run out of money, but its the movies that take the longest to make that turn out to be the best."

All of us who took part in MAANGAMIZI became emotionally involved in it.  During that time we were together, we became a family.  I have high hopes for MAANGAMIZI, which is a ground breaking movie for African film making. I thank the Lord and my ancestors that I was able to play a role in it.
 

Some of the 1994 Cast & Crew