Joyce Arigi, a prolific Kenyan film director in a recent photo
By Ronald McAgak
Film Industry in Kenya has surely evolved from that time when actors could work out of passion to a time now that it earns them a living. Most a times people and the media always puts much emphasis on the actors and forget that the talent displayed by the actors is always under the guidance of some people behind the scenes. They never appear on the your screens back in your rooms but their prowess always makes you want to skip other things in order to stay glued to the screen.
A seasoned film maker will tell you that however much an actor may be talented, he or she may not be able to realize his/her full potential unless he/she is under the guidance of a very talented and passionate artist director. Just like without a good cook, a delicacy will always be tasteless no matter how fresh or appealing it looks to the eye.
Joyce Arigi also known as Aduda Cele Mum is the invisible face behind the success of Papa Shirandula, a comedy drama film that airs every Thursday on Kenya’s Citizen TV. Joyce earlier acted as Aduda Cele Mum, sister to Wilbroda the wife of Papa Shirandula. In this role her greatest enemies were Jalongo and Otoyo who always saw her as a threat to their stay in Nairobi.
Currently she is the artist director of the program and her prowess is beyond imagination. Always composed and humble but advice and words are always taken seriously by the actors. It is through her concerted effort with the other players in the program that has made the ratings of the TV drama Papa Shirandula stay on top in the Kenyan TV rankings
A closer look at how Joyce does her work will amaze you. You will see a lady well knowledgeable about what she wants out of a script. Being a scriptwriter and having been an actor, her artist-directing prowess finds its deep anchored excellence and success in her works. Joyce draws great respect from seasoned actors like Juma Anderson, Papa Shirandula, Wilbroda and Njoroge who would always ask her on what should be done incase they are not sure on how an act is to be undertaken.
With her competence, she has attracted indulgence from other film making organizations that cannot afford to miss out her super amazing talent. Currently among the best film directors in the country, Joyce Arigi has earned great respect among the practitioners in the film industry. The expansion and the growth of the film industry has her work imprinted on it as a great contributor
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| Arigi doing what she does best in a recent film shoot at Daadab Refugee camp |
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| Arigi giving instructions to Awinja and Wilbroda of Papa Shirandula |
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| Arigi Keenly following rehearsals by Cheupe and Chausiku all of Papa Shirandulla. |
Photo Source: Courtesy ( Joyce Arigi)
