Bongoland

'Bongoland' is supposed to be a fictitious African country, but it's no secret that Bongoland is really the East African nation, Tanzania. The film opens with beautiful shots of Bukoba, Tanzania and Lake Victoria.

A ballad by late Tanzanian pop singer, Justin Kalikawe gives us some background on the main character Juma Pondamali who lives in Minnesota. He left Bongoland for America with the blessings of those at home in hopes of finding a better life and being able to help those he left behind.

Juma started out in America as a student but his status expired and he's now an illegal alien. Because of his status he must work as a dishwasher and peel potatoes at a restaurant. His co-workers seem to leave all the hard work to Juma which he does though grudgingly. One co-worker even taunts Juma about his doing menial work, even though he's highly educated.

Juma has a girlfriend, a white American, Rachel. Juma takes her to a restaurant where he's unable to pay his bill because his credit card is rejected. During the film we learn they've been a couple for two years. But obviously the film is about the end stage of their relationship. There's little affection between the two, except for a peck of the cheek, and a brief rub goodbye on the shoulders. Their relationship seems to have been hurt by the fact that Juma has different expectations of a relationship than Rachel. Blame culture clash, whereas in African relationships men are superior, and in America couples are equal. Rachel is so annoyed with Juma that she demands he leave her house and even threatens to call the police on him. This after he brought her flowers and came to apologize for not speaking to her on the phone while visiting some friends from Bongoland.

To make amends Rachel invites Juma to dinner at her house with her parents. The parents are wary of Juma even though he seems to be a nice man. Juma leaves early but happens to overhear a conversation between Rachel and her parents which has subtle hints of racism.

With his love life in shambles, Juma's hours at his job are cut making him unable to pay his bills. We soon learn that the hour cut is the work of some his conniving co-worker who's deliberately trying to get Juma to quit. Juma's forced to put his manhood aside and beg and cry to keep the 25 hour work week that he has.

Things briefly look better for Juma when he lands a desk job in a local financial company complete with benefits. However, when he shows up to start he's turned away at the door because the company has found out that he's an illegal alien. A small political speech ensues about how illegal immigrants are unable to work decent jobs and have no means of advancing in American society.

Juma is evicted and moves in with a fellow countryman, Edwin. They have many discussions about life in America. One day other Bongolanders come over and its even suggested that he take up with an older white woman who could marry him. This would legalize his status is America. Juma refuses saying he doesn't want to drag others into his problems. Soon after Juma decides life in America is not for him and returns to Bongoland.

The audience is left wondering if Juma could have succeeded in America if he had gone about things differently. Juma represents many illegal aliens in the USA.

This was Director/Writer Josiah Kibira's first film. It's also one of the few feature films that use Swahili. It was indeed a great effort. Many will be touched by the film, but some Africans and especially Tanzanians will be embarrassed. They are the ones who portray life in America as being easy and great. They send home false images of America, while working menial jobs some times two and three at a time. They are too ashamed to admit the truth. Bongoland says it all!

The fate of Juma Pondamali (name carefully chosen probably to honour one of Bongoland's all-time goal-keeping legends) epitomises an experience that remains deeply buried in the minds of a lot of people who have struggled (some unsuccessfully) to brighten their future by penetrating the corridors of success in foreign lands for many years.

Getting money, securing a well-paid job, paying rent, winning a relationship, supporting parents and relatives, traveling to Bongoland, owning a beautiful car, house, buying an air ticket, tube ticket, nike trainers and many more are only a few fields characterising a typical Bongolander's database table at any given moment be it in metropolitan Tokyo, suburban Stockholm or central Milan.

Particularly to those who ever took the bull by the horns as young graduates trying to "gate-crash" into the western labour market, Bongoland will have brought old memories flooding back. Juma Pondamali portrays a brave personality as he refuses to accept a low status amidst limited options. To some he may have flown too close to the sun in wings of feather and wax - but presumably he doesn't plunge to his death by retreating back to Bongoland. With his education as an asset surely Juma will live to fight another day.

How many qualified doctors, engineers and other professionals from the developing world remain trapped in the west today - most earning a living as taxi drivers, plumbers and even cleaners and how many of them have the audacity to "voluntarily" board a plane heading Bongoward? Whoever watched the movie would like to follow and track Juma's progress in Bongoland. May be the Kibira's will bring him up again - either as a successful consultant sought by a number of American financial institutions, a well-established Bongo executive or probably (and God forbid) a frustrated common man drowning in alcohol and drugs.