The Kenyan film industry creates a wave with a completely novel concept born of coffee. Manufactured by Find my Africa in cooperation with Java Nairobi houseIN Love and coffee This is a debut film that combines romance, family pressure and fights the dynamics of the country of coffee. The film premiered on Valentine’s Day in 2025 and offers an intuitive study of the Kenya and Socio-Economic Coffee Sector that shape it.
“Love and coffee It is my first film and means the realization of sleep, which began six years ago, “says David Mudachi, the executive producer of the film.” At the base ensures a powerful message [that] The time for African governments and stakeholders prioritize to adding values in key export sectors and not only strengthens our economies, but also generates balanced employment and regain ownership over our resources and narratives. ”
The film tells about the love story of Sarah Njeri (played by Wambui Ngugi), a very passionate and independent barista, and Felix Munene (played by Khul Budi), the heir of one of the richest business empires in the country. They both stand in the foreground of love in the offense of social classes and social divisions, while revealing economic and ethical issues that take one of the most significant exports of Kenya – Coffee. Barista Sarah is determined to reform the coffee sector, which is the economic spine of many compact farmers, but leaves them still undergoing poverty. Felix balances between the obligations imposed on him as heirs of the influential Empire and his desire for independence, with love of Sara in the mixture.
Adding to the already tense infusion, Kendi (played by Joyce Maina), who is a former girl of Felix and a shadow from the past, enters the stage, trying to relieve their relationship and shaking the relationship of two lovers with the core. In addition to love, the film goes deep into social divisions, economic justice, family fights and community expectations, revealing the Kenya coffee sector as a battlefield for integrity and economic reforms.
Mudachi notes that for too long African narratives-even her story-stood told and written mainly by non-Fryans. Although this is not negative by nature, it often leads to misleading and inaccuracy. He believes that the lack of real narratives from Africa has significantly shaped how the world perceives the continent, noticing that the consequences of this absence are deep (erosion of culture, loss of identity and disconnection from our roots). “
It was natural that the producers associated the movie with coffee. They used the approach to telling the stories of “Hook and Catch”, in which “Hak” was a love story (an element that is widely resonated with the audience). Because everyone likes a fascinating romantic narrative, they used this emotional combination to draw viewers. However, love history went beyond entertainment to discover deeper, heavier socio-economic topics.
“As an avid enthusiast of coffee, I watched the growing recognition for high quality coffee among Kenyans and Africans. Coffee was therefore a deliberate choice [to use in the film] Not only because of its cultural importance, but also because it symbolized a greater conversation around adding values and economic strengthening, “Mudchi informs us.
As a communication specialist with experience in non-profit and development sectors in Africa, Mudachi traveled a lot on the continent and made engaging observations.
“One repetitive and deeply disturbing observation was the striking similarity in the challenges that many African countries are facing, tells us:” The main one was excessive rely on import and underdevelopment of local added value industries. ”
The executive manufacturer also claims that in the early years after independence, many African nations invested in industries designed to escalate the values of local raw materials. For example, Kenya once had a flourishing textile industry, which transformed the local cotton into ready -made products. Today, this country depends very much on imports to satisfy local demand. This change arises the question: what has changed?
“We believe that Africa is still entangled in a network of strategic and systemic manipulation-sponsters and global structures that encourage the export of raw materials with minimal profit for Africans, only for the same materials, to return as steep, with added value [as seen in coffee]. This imbalance strengthens economic dependence and suppress with industrial growth on the continent, “says Mudachi.
In writing Love and coffeeManufacturers intended to present Africans as aware and talented agents of change. The narrative emphasizes that Africans are not only aware of the system problems affecting their economies, but are also willing and are able to take the necessary steps to solve their problem without relying on external intervention. It is a history of self -awareness, resistance and strength of home solutions.
Choice Wimbui ngugi As the main actor, she was informed by the embodiment of deeply rooted African values, such as a forceful sense of community and personal responsibility. Thanks to their character, producers tried to reflect the awareness that many Africans have about the system challenges that the continent faces, and the desire to confront and defeat them from the inside. The film aims to promote African pride, dignity and cultural integrity through film and coffee. Has already secured distribution via Select International Airlines, and is currently available for rent Find my Africa.
“Our partnership with Nairobi Java House was a natural match, justified by a common commitment to add values as a key factor of sustainable economic growth. Java’s business model is an example of how African enterprises can create jobs and transform local economies by processing and promoting home products, and not simply export raw materials.
