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. Their journey began with a simple yet powerful realization: the lack of African voices and perspectives in wildlife storytelling. This realization sparked a mission to empower and inspire a new generation of African wildlife filmmakers and scientists.
A Mission to Authenticate
The couple's not-for-profit organization, Nature Environment and Wildlife Conservation Trust (NEWF), was established with a clear vision: to ensure that Africa's wildlife stories are told by Africans themselves. Noel Kok puts it perfectly, "The fact that we were excluded from telling the stories of Africa's wildlife, for me, it just felt like they were just not authentic."
Diving into Diversity
One of the most fascinating aspects of NEWF's work is its focus on underwater filmmaking and marine conservation. The couple's search for African underwater filmmakers led them to discover a surprising gap: many marine biologists on the continent couldn't swim, let alone scuba dive. This realization prompted NEWF to organize its first dive "lab," training divers and filmmakers alike.
The impact of these initiatives is profound. Over 200 divers have been trained in Sodwana Bay, and hundreds more have learned wildlife filmmaking on land at Bayala. The results speak for themselves: in 2023, 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
The story of Silindile Mbuyazi, known affectionately as Mama Sli, is a powerful testament to the transformative power of NEWF's work. Mbuyazi, who wanted to dive to find her brother's body, discovered a whole new world beneath the waves. She found not only her brother's body but also a green turtle she recognized as her grandmother, who had passed away in 2010. "I found myself," Mbuyazi said. "I fell in love in the ocean."
Mbuyazi's journey led her to become a diving instructor with NEWF, and her partnership with the Koks resulted in the establishment of eKhaya, a dive and filmmaking center in Sodwana Bay. eKhaya, meaning "home" in Zulu, opened in November 2023 and has become a hub of activity and learning.
Empowering the Next Generation
NEWF's impact extends far beyond its founders and fellows. The organization currently has 30 interns, its second 12-month cohort, working on self-driven projects ranging from volunteering with elderly locals to rock pool research. These interns are learning to swim and dive, with staff who themselves only learned last year. It's a beautiful cycle of empowerment and knowledge sharing.
The future looks bright for NEWF, with new funding opportunities and aspirations to expand their reach even further. Ethiopian filmmaker Elshadye Berhanu, who attended a NEWF residency to work on films about cheetahs and Mbuyazi, sums up the impact of NEWF's work: "Being able to film that, from your eyes, it just makes me happy."
A New Era of Wildlife Storytelling
The work of Pragna Parsotam-Kok, Noel Kok, and NEWF is not just about changing how wildlife documentaries are made; it's about empowering a new generation of African storytellers to share their unique perspectives with the world. As they continue to train and inspire, we can look forward to a future where wildlife stories are told with authenticity and diversity, enriching our understanding of the natural world and the cultures that call it home.
