The 12th edition of the Kalasha Awards was held at the Safari Park Hotel on the 3 December 2022. The valet parking had their hands full as torrents of bedazzled thespians and behind-the-scenes technicians were escorted, or strolled in, filling the air with pomp. The venue was a classy spot propped even classier to fit this year’s theme – enchanted forest.
So there I was strolling through prop-trees with a black tie nearly strangling me, smiling nervously at all the recognisable faces. This night was clearly very important to everyone here. County 49 star James Webbo and I traded one of those nervous smiles before his pre-entrance red carpet interview photo-op where a vivacious interviewer gassed them up and asked what was what.
We were wined and dined, broadly speaking. We were given cocktails and ‘bitings’ then made to wait until the sports segment on the 7 o’clock news before we were finally let into the main hall. While waiting awkwardly for the doors to open, leaning on a wall rather lethargically with that nervous smile having faded down to an unfriendly frown, a friendly stranger in a leather trench coat and movie-star glasses approached me and said hello. Thank heavens, I could engage this stranger. Steve straightened his collar and told me that his short film, Deviance, which he produced, was nominated for Best Special Effects, and he was there in support of his friend, the VFX artist. I met this friend a while later and he was the word buoyant. Together they were powerful, and they made me appreciate being there more.
The event began with speeches from hosts Larry Asego and Sheila Mwanyigha, who passed the mic to Kenya Film Commission CEO Timothy Owase. The declaration that got the most roars was the one about meeting with the new President’s cabinet and setting up a ‘Creative’s Fund’ to boost the burgeoning industry. “This year we have seen massive improvement with the scripting; in terms of structure…” Owase said. He revealed that they were also lobbying for yet another film school. Zimbabwe’s first daughter was in attendance, as they were in talks to sign a co-production between the two countries.
The awards themselves boasted a few new categories including Best Regional film, Best Documentary Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Makeup and Hair Stylist, Best Costume Designer, Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama, Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama, Best Viewer’s Choice (Feature) and Best Viewer’s Choice (TV Drama).
All of these new categories are much ado, however there are still a few issues regarding this subject. Where are the loose genre categories, like Best Comedy, or Best Telenovela, which would do a lot for diversifying the content we produce, as now we mostly play it safe with agenda-based dramas that have entertainment as a secondary or tertiary importance. The event ran a little under three hours long, without these important categories. I am confident in time they will exist, but would the ceremony be 5 hours then? The organisation and fluidity of Kenya’s Oscars need to be handled with as much delicacy and precision as the glamorous pop of the venue.
Some of the winners included: Best TV Drama – Kina by Appie Matere – which is a telenovela by the way; Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama – Sanaipei Tande (Kina); Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama – Joe Kinyua (Njoro was Uba) – which in itself is a comedy; Best Feature Film – Click Click Bang by Philip Karanja; Best Original Screenplay – Ahmed Farah (Ayaanle); Best Production Designer – Isaac Njue (Ayaanle); Best Director – Ahmed Farah (Ayaanle); Best Supporting Actor in a Film – Ian Nyakundi (Click Click Bang), who got the second biggest applause of the night; Best Supporting Actress in a Film – Annstella Karimi (Baba Twins), among others who took home the trophied strip of film stock. Some of these winners were even awarded with flat-screen TVs from Startimes. The Best Director of Photography, Stanley Njogu (Gacal) was awarded his trophy along with a brand new camera, which I found a very thoughtful gesture. A rather useless category was the Kituo Halisi Award, which was given to Nation Media Group’s NTV Kenya. I looked back at the KTN camera crew, which was broadcasting the event on live television, and half-expected them to pack up and leave.
H_art the Band were introduced as a mid-event performance, twice the first round, because of the time it took to get the standing mics out to stage. More confusion followed as they were introduced yet again, mistakenly by the hosts, ultimately consigned to playing the after-party. Confusion was not to be missed on the presentation either, with nominations being read and jumbotroned only for them to award a completely different category. “I don’t know if this is ours, I didn’t see our name up there, but thank you,” said Abel Mutua, collecting one of the several awards for his 2022 fan-favorite Click Click Bang.
Documentary Kiswahili Kitukuzwe was also among the biggest winners of the night with three awards. The producer and star Omar Kibulanga and Abdala Mohamed were a highlight as they delivered their speeches in immaculate Kiswahili sanifu, or was it Swahili? (they were keen on the difference) Abdala Mohamed sang a few stanzas of Swahili poetry everytime they went up on stage. They picked up Best Documentary Short among others.
Raymond Ofula was awarded with a rather deserving Lifetime Achievement Award. When his name was called out everybody stood up at attention to show their respect for this titan of the Kenyan film industry. Senator of Nairobi county Edwin Sifuna made a charismatic speech and regretted Sarah Hassan’s absence; he’s had a crush for years. In fact, the night was chock-full of innuendos, such as Abel Mutua taking the last five seconds of his allocated forty-five second acceptance speech to acknowledge finally meeting Sanaipei Tande; he’s also had a crush for years.
On the fashion front, it was more extravagant than it was elegant. Some actresses wore flowing tail gowns but forgot to hire tail-handlers (this didn’t boot well for one who fell face first in the lobby). “On your feet Jennifer Lawrence!” I thought. Most of the dresses also happened to be of the crushed-diamonds variety, which I found extravagant and a little tacky. My favourite look was from Nyokabi Macharia in a green veiled dress, seen when she picked up the award for Best Lead Actress in a Film. The invitation called it a black tie event but this was more a suggestion than a rule. Among the best dressed men was Blessing Lung’aho (nominated for Best Actor for his role in Country Queen) who wore a dinner tuxedo with a lightly sparkling coat.
All things considered the event could be considered a success. The appropriate talents were recognised. The night was full of class and elegance and revitalised a lot of people’s purpose working an in industry our parents were told (and passed on) did not belong to us, and was ‘unpractical.’ “It feels good to be recognised by your fellow peers,” Anthony Ngachira said, while we were sipping cocktails waiting for the event to start. He later picked up the Best Performance in a TV Comedy award for his show Too Much Information with Ty.
Much progress is needed, and with the new categories, much progress has clearly been made. However, there remains a field of room. So, once more, unto the breach!
A full list of Kalasha Awards 2022 winners:
TV
Best TV Drama – Kina
Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama – Sanaipei Tande, Kina
Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama – Joe Kinyua, Njoro wa Uba
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama – Foi Wambui, Salem
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama – Moses Kiema, Kina
Best Viewers’ Choice TV Drama – Njoro Wa Uba
Best TV Comedy – Varshita
Best Performance in a TV Comedy – Anthony Ngachira, Too Much Information with TY
Best TV Show – This Love
FILM
Best Feature Film – Click Click Bang
Best Lead Actress in a Film – Nyokabi Macharia, Chaguo
Best Lead Actor in a Film – Basil Mungai, Click Click Bang
Best Supporting Actor in a Film – Ian Nyakundi, Click Click Bang
Best Supporting Actress in a Film – Annstella Karimi, Baba Twins
Best Director – Ahmed Farah, Ayaanle
Best Original Screenplay – Ahmed Farah, Ayaanle
Best Documentary Feature – Story Yangu
Best Documentary Short – Kiswahili Kitukuzwe
Best Short Film – Christmas Love
Best Editor – Abbas Omar, Kiswahili Kitukuzwe
Best Lighting Technician – Jerry Kavita, Baba Twins
Best Special Effects – Khadija Abdulqadir, The Message
Best Director of Photography – Stanley Njogu, Gacal
Best Original Score – Kester Wakahenya, It Rained Again
Best Sound Designer – Abdalla Mohammed, Kiswahili Kitukuzwe
Best Make up and Hair stylist – Melissa Lesila, Click Click Bang
Best Costume Designer – Fatou, Ayaanle
Best Production Designer – Isaac Njue, Ayaanle
Best Regional Film – Gacal
Best Viewers’ Choice Feature Film – Click Click Bang
Best International Award – Still Okay to Date (Tanzania)
Best Animation – Rev
Best Kids Production – Preschool Kids Learning
Best Student Film – Cheza
Best Student Documentary – The Scourge (Chira)
Best Gaming – Adventures of Mchupa
Life Time achievement Award – Raymond Ofula
Best TV Advertisement – Nice and Lovely TVC
Kituo Halisi – NTV
