A documentary project exploring the relationship between culture, spirituality and wildlife conservation has earned Ugandan filmmaker Jonathan Benaiah first place at WildPitch Kenya 2026, one of Africa’s premier competitions for natural history and wildlife storytellers.
Benaiah’s project, Musambwa, was named the overall winner during the Wildscreen Festival Kenya in Nairobi after competing against five other finalist projects from across the continent.
Set around the sacred Musambwa Island in Lake Victoria, the documentary examines how traditional beliefs influence conservation practices. The story centres on two elders whose lives have been deeply shaped by encounters with snakes—one tasked with protecting sacred cobras regarded as ancestral guardians and another coping with the lasting effects of two near-fatal snakebite incidents.
Judges selected the project for its unique approach to exploring conservation through local cultural perspectives. The award includes development funding that will support the project’s next production phase.
The recognition highlights growing interest in African-led conservation storytelling that places local communities, traditions and indigenous knowledge at the centre of environmental narratives.
Wildscreen Festival Kenya attracted filmmakers, broadcasters, conservation experts and content commissioners from across Africa and international markets. The event provided a platform for discussions on wildlife storytelling, conservation communication and opportunities for African filmmakers within the global natural history industry.
Festival participants also attended screenings of major wildlife productions and engaged with representatives from international organizations such as the BBC Natural History Unit and Wildstar Films.
Wildscreen, a UK-based conservation charity, has for decades promoted excellence in natural history filmmaking and the use of storytelling as a tool for environmental awareness and conservation action.
With Musambwa still in development, Benaiah’s achievement marks a significant milestone for Uganda’s emerging conservation film sector and underscores the growing global appetite for authentic African environmental stories.
