My Story
The real story of Wafalme, First Prize Winner of the MTV Positive Change Award, Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, December 2009
Even in the slums there are small, very small heroes that have been able to find an alternative way of coming out of poverty. The music group of Wafalme (The Kings) represent this rare example of motivated youth. They are 15 in number and their average age is 12, all of them live in Nairobi, Kenya, in the slum area of Mathare Valley.
My story is the true story of Wafalme through the true words of the kids. To enter deeply in the daily life of youngsters in the slums through the positive message/vision brought up through their music and reflections on important topics, starting from what words like poverty, hunger, health care, education, hip-hop, crime, positivity mean to them. My Story gives the viewer a unique chance to explore their world from their point of view.
My story is not just a documentary project, is a multimedia project that will consist in: a film documentary; a coffee table book containing pictures taken by the kids, their poetry, daily life annotations, drawing, observations and text stories; a music cd of Wafalme. The multimedia project is in its initial phase. We are looking for partners and sponsors to support it. Produced by Cultural Video Foundation and Slum Talent Trust.
My Story - the documentary trailer
My Story is the true story of 15 kids from the slums of Nairobi who have become hip hop stars: the Wafalme (the Swahili word for "Kings"). They are 15 in number and their avarage age is 12; the youngest being 8 years old and the oldest is 16 years. Wafalme want to talk to all the kids of the world and tell them an important message "First education and than talent: the two keys to ensure a bright future"
Produced by Cultural Video Foundation and Slum Talent Trust. Nairobi, Kenya, 2009 | |
My Story – the song
My Story is also the name of the first track recorded by Wafalme. My story as it suggests is a composition about their day to day life and experience in the slums. The song talks about their days without food, problems their parents go through to feed them and take them to school, crime in the slums, poverty that knocks on their doors and lives. They also in the song confirm their positive attitude that despite all that is negative around them they will make it through their talents (music) and education. With the powerful lyrics and rap skill, Wafalme have managed to draw a picture of their lives.
Duration/ 4:31 - lyrics by Wafalme - music produced my magi magi 4play directed by adam juma - producer slumtalenttrust - production slum talent trust |