The world of wildlife documentary-making is undergoing a much-needed transformation, and it's all thanks to the trailblazing efforts of Pragna Parsotam-Kok and Noel Kok, a dynamic duo from South Africa. Their journey began with a simple yet powerful realization: the lack of African voices and perspectives in wildlife storytelling.
A Call for Authenticity
In 2015, the Koks embarked on a mission to change the narrative. They founded the Nature Environment and Wildlife Conservation Trust (NEWF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering African filmmakers and scientists. Their first conference in 2017 brought together a diverse group of wildlife enthusiasts, but a glaring absence became apparent the following year.
Uncovering a Hidden Gap
While searching for African underwater filmmakers, the Koks discovered a surprising reality: many marine biologists on the continent couldn't swim, let alone scuba dive. This revelation sparked the creation of NEWF's first dive "lab" in 2019, which has since grown into a powerful community of nearly 400 fellows from 37 African countries and beyond.
Noel Kok puts it perfectly: "Black African nature, environment, and wildlife filmmakers were rarer than most of the species scientists and conservationists were trying to protect on the continent." This exclusion, he believes, resulted in incomplete and inauthentic stories.
Empowering a New Generation
NEWF's impact is profound. Over 200 divers have been trained in Sodwana Bay, home to Africa's southernmost tropical coral reefs. Hundreds more have honed their wildlife filmmaking skills on land at Bayala, a private game reserve. The organization's composition workshops address another critical aspect: the importance of regionally representative music.
"One of my biggest frustrations is the lion chasing the buck on the African plain, with Mozart's orchestra in the background," Noel Kok explains. NEWF's efforts paid off when music composed by NEWF fellows for a National Geographic film about Botswana's Okavango Delta won best original score at the Jackson Wild film festival, beating Hans Zimmer's score for David Attenborough's Frozen Planet II.
A Personal Journey of Discovery
Silindile Mbuyazi, a local diver known as Mama Sli, embodies the transformative power of NEWF. Her journey began with a tragic loss—the drowning of her brother in Sodwana Bay—and a desire to find his body. Through diving, she discovered a new world and a profound connection to her grandmother, who had passed away years earlier.
"I found myself. I fell in love in the ocean," Mbuyazi reflects. Her story inspired the Koks to establish a permanent base, eKhaya, meaning "home" in Zulu, which opened in November 2023. It serves as a hub for editing, diving, and filmmaking, and has already hosted a diverse range of activities, from traditional Zulu tours to musical rehearsals for the National Geographic Explorers festival.
A Community of Interns and Aspirations
NEWF's impact extends beyond filmmaking. The organization currently has 30 interns, its second 12-month cohort, working on self-driven projects that range from volunteering with elderly locals to conducting rock pool research. The Koks are ambitious, aiming to secure new funding and expand their operations, from purchasing a dive boat to building a fellows' house in Bayala.
Capturing Uncommon Stories
Elshadye Berhanu, an Ethiopian filmmaker, is a testament to NEWF's success. During a residency, she captured the rare sight of two female cheetahs bonding and raising their cubs together. "Being able to film that, from your eyes, it just makes me happy," Berhanu says. Her experience highlights the invaluable practical and creative skills gained through NEWF's workshops and residencies.
A Broader Perspective
The work of NEWF goes beyond creating documentaries; it's about empowering a diverse community of filmmakers and scientists to tell authentic African stories. As Noel Kok puts it, "The stories were not complete" without these voices. By addressing the lack of representation and providing the necessary training and resources, NEWF is reshaping the wildlife documentary landscape, ensuring that the stories of Africa's wildlife are told by those who know them best.
This initiative not only enriches our understanding of the natural world but also highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in storytelling. It's a powerful reminder that representation matters, and when given the opportunity, talent and creativity flourish.
