Kimana Tuskers takes giant steps across the world
We recently interviewed award winning Kimana Tuskers Director Jamie Joseph. When we spoke to her, she confided that she was terrified Djimon Hounsou would reject her request to narrate the film.
The two-time Academy Nominated actor imprinted on her 15 years ago when she saw him in 'Blood Diamond', an incredibly important movie that exposed the world to child soldiers, corporate greed and the ugly truth behind the diamond trade fuelling conflict in Africa.
Two-time Academy Nominated actor, Djimon Hounsou, narrates Kimana Tuskers
"Blood Diamond made people accountable," Joseph continued. "It brought real change. And for me, that is the ultimate goal, and the only reason I made Kimana Tuskers and will continue to make films."
Both born and raised in Africa, Djimon and Jamie hit it off immediately, brought together through shared values and a deep connection to the motherland.
Filmed throughout the Greater Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya, Kimana Tuskers is a short film of epic proportions as the viewers follow Craig, one of the last great tuskers left on earth with ivory that sweeps the ground, and the younger elephant bulls who entrust their lives to him, navigating a vanishing landscape through the Kimana wildlife corridor.
Craig by William Fortescue.
NFT 1/1 on sale October 11th with 100% of proceeds donated to Saving the Wild.
"Dust to dust, water to water, ancient elephant roads have for centuries sustained the hunger to live," Hounsou narrates as the film opens up to sweeping cinematic views of Mt Kilimanjaro.
"This is the passage of experience passed down from wise old bull to the younger bulls; a brotherhood."
Jamie Joseph is at the helm of the groundbreaking charity Saving the Wild, which leads the crusade against corruption enabling rhino poaching in South Africa, pursuing high level targets and fighting organized crime. In the southern tip of Africa she moves in the shadows, and in Kenya in the east of the continent, the sun rises and sets with the promise of a new day.
Jamie Joseph - Director of Kimana Tuskers
In partnership with Comvita and Big Life Foundation, the Saving the Wild Bee Keeping Project is securing wild land in the Kimana Wildlife Corridor, with so far 200 beehives rolled out, and the profits from the sale of the honey invested into an education scholarship fund for the Maasai landowner's daughters, investing in the future conservationists of this fragile ecosystem.
“Whether poaching or the threat of an illegal farm breaking up a critical wildlife corridor, corruption enables. ”
Hosted by Comvita, Kimana Tuskers will be screening at the Dubai World Expo on the 3rd of November.
"Being quiet is being complicit to the crime," says Hounsou, when we asked the conservationist what he felt was the greatest threat facing wildlife. "Politicians are acting on personal interests and this is a global issue, a world heritage that must be protected."
Jamie Joseph and Big Life Ranger, Daniel Kutata
Produced by Saving the Wild, with post production by multi Academy Award Winning facility Park Road Post (Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit); and cinematography by BAFTA winner Bertie Gregory, the film feels more like a 'love song for Kimana' - words lifted from the opening credits - rather than a documentary heavy with narration.
As a first-time director, now with many awards behind her, Jamie Joseph's gamble to stand out from the crowd has paid off. The original motion picture soundtrack, composed by Stephen Gallagher (The Hobbit / The Lovely Bones), can now also be found on Spotify.
If you would like to learn more and assist Saving the Wild's efforts in saving Africa's last great wild places, here are some exciting events coming up:
In partnership with Phosphene, Saving the Wild enters the NFT marketplace on October 11th, with a 'Sentient Beings' collection by rising star photographer William Fortescue. 100% of the proceeds of 'Craig', the star of Kimana Tuskers, will be donated to Saving the Wild.
Kimana Tuskers is screening at the distinguished Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in New York on October 18th, followed by an in person Q&A with Jamie Joseph.
Kimana Tuskers will be screening at the Dubai World Expo on November 3rd. Hosted by Comvita at the New Zealand Pavilion, Jamie Joseph is the guest speaker and will be talking about how bees, the world's smallest superheroes, are helping to save the world's biggest elephants.
To learn more, or make a donation to Saving the Wild, please visit savingthewild.com