The Captain of Nakara
The Captain of Nakara is a 2012 Kenyan comedy film. It is an adaption of the German play The Captain of Köpenick by Carl Zuckmayer, itself based on the life story of Wilhelm Voigt, a small-time criminal who posed as a Hauptmann in Berlin in 1906.
Plot
The small-time thug Muntu has just been released from prison in the fictional African country of Nakara. Shortly after, he falls in love with a preacher's daughter, and loathes to tell her of his dark past. He therefore pretends to be a successful businessman. He poses as the owner of a successful market stand. Because of the pervasive corruption in the area, his sincere attempts to make his falsehoods a reality fall flat. In a stolen military uniform, Muntu poses as the "Captain of Nakara" and successfully defends his rights and happiness, leading to changes not only for him, but also for the whole nation ultimately winning the presidency of Kwetu!Cast
- Bernard Safari as Muntu
- Shirleen Wangari as Muna
- Charles Kiarie as Sunday
- Charles Bukeko as General Lumumba
- Patrick Oketch as Captain
- Joel Otukho as Ballad Monger
- Lucy Wangui Gichomo as Civil Servant
- Ephraim Muriithi as Fence
- Evans Muthini as Jailor
- Anne Njathi as Waguyu
- Veronica Waceke as Shop Assistant
- Jim Were as Kiosk Owner
- Joseph Olita as Muntu's father-in-law
Nominations
The film was nominated in the 2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards under the Achievement in Costume Design category.Captain of Nakara was also nominated for the Free Spirit competition at the Warsaw Film festival in 2012.
A year later, in 2013, the film was nominated in the Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou under the Digital Video Fiction Competition category. The category had 17 nominees drawn from across Africa. It was the only nomination from Kenya in this category.