PROJECT DADDY

Kenya, 2004, 90 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Judy Kabinge.

An opportunity to see a film from Kenya that reflects the life of young, affluent Kenyans, certainly upwardly mobile, in Nairobi at the beginning of the 21st century.

Actually, the film reflects the life of young affluent 20-somethings in many parts of the world, irrespective of local cultures. The screenplay for Project Daddy is very similar to the spate of popular Hollywood movies between 1997 and 2002, made by African Americans for a largely African American audience, starring Taye Diggs or Omar Epps.

The central character is a strong young woman who has an influential position in a bank. She is living with her fiancé, who is unacceptable to her rather patriarchal father (whose alternate suitor no one in their right mind would want to marry). The couple clash over his moodiness (to do with her demand that he have an HIV test) and then his flirting at a club when his test results are clear.

She decides at 29 the main thing she wants is a baby, irrespective of the father. She parties (rather gauchely) without success and then tries internet dates (with a collage of oafish would-be suitors). Her friend, who separates from an arrogantly demanding husband, is born again and takes Mumbi along.

You will have guessed the ending but that does not matter. The moral of the story is be yourself, work hard and be rewarded and make a match with the love of your life.

1. A popular film from Kenya? East African style – influences of popular movies, of American movies, of African American movies?

2. The popular themes for the Kenyan audience? For audiences outside Africa? Love, romance, motherhood? The role of women? The role of men? Study, success, business?

3. The Nairobi setting, the city – and the touch of affluence, homes, families, clubs, workplaces? The musical score and the jaunty style? Local songs?

4. The focus on Mumbi – a spirited heroine, seeing her at work, at home and the clash with her parents, her love for Fred, their ignoring him? Her call to the hospital, Fred’s friend dying of AIDS? Her support? Her relationship with Fred, wanting to marry him, taking him home, her father’s sternness and rejection? Her unhappiness, her stance? The support of her younger, free-speaking sister? Seeing her at work, her skills, research, the Project Daddy, the board meeting and her promotion? Her relationship with Fred, wanting him to get the HIV test, his not wanting it? Her friend and giving birth, her husband – and Mumbi wanting her to move away? The wife moving away, befriending Mumbi and taking her to the church, the born-again experience? Praying? Mumbi and her clash with Fred, the night of his getting the test results, his flirting in the club, her seeing him and breaking off the engagement? His protests – and his later sending flowers, phone calls and her not receiving them? Her parents not telling her? Her visit home, the suitor and his awkward style and her harsh reaction? Her decision that she really wanted a baby, the plan to be a single mother, the project and the steps on the butcher’s paper on the wall? Her friendship with Martha, Martha’s support, staying with her? The collage of the various dates, her awkwardness in falling over, dancing, not wanting the men to touch her? The failure of this plan? Her being ready for pregnancy – and the phone call and the friend belching into the phone and her mistaking it for Fred? The internet, the search for the men, the range of suitors – and their foibles, failings? The jokes? The Frenchman and his denunciation of the restaurant? Her finding the ideal man, meeting him in the bookshop, the plan for the meal, the seduction and her not being able to go through with it? Martha and her marrying the Indian? The encounter with Fred, his taking her home, her drinking, the night together, her becoming pregnant? Their final meeting and his inviting her to the meal, her going, the happy ending? The portrait of a contemporary Kenyan young woman?

5. Fred, his success in business, awkwardness, love for Mumbi? His freewheeling friend and his influence? The death of his other friend from HIV and its effect on him? The love for Mumbi, the proposal, going to her parents’ home and the rejection? His actually undergoing the HIV test but not telling her? His anxiety about the test, reluctance, his happiness at the result, kissing everyone? The flirting and the break-up? His moving in with his friend, the friend answering the phone? The encounter with Mumbi, happiness to see her, taking her home, the night, his dismay at her reaction? His phone calls, declaration of love, her coming to the restaurant and the happy ending? Family, parenthood, marriage?

6. The character of Martha, at work, friends, going out on the town, flirting, pushing Mumbi to go out and party? The meeting with the Indian man, the engagement? The character of the Indian – his claiming himself as a poet, his friendship with Mumbi, the happy ending for Martha and himself?

7. Mumbi’s friend, the glimpse of her husband coming home from work, demanding and commanding, her submission? His absence at the birth of the baby, his boasting in the club? Her leaving her husband, going to church, born again, her language about prayer? The sadness and irony of her returning to her husband and submitting to him, Mumbi not able to persuade her to change?

8. Mumbi’s parents, affluent, stern, patriarchal? The psychological pressure rather than his beating his wife? Treatment of his daughter, ousting Fred, arranging for the suitor to come? The awkwardness of the suitor?

9. The range of men that Mumbi met, dated – especially the collage from the internet?

10. Fred’s friend, freewheeling, masculine, the false image of Kenyan masculinity?

11. The board, the presentation – and the Project Daddy and the reliability of Insured customers?

12. The parallels with American movies? Popular themes on television around the world? An African variation on the theme?