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I Shot Bi Kidude and As Old As My Tongue - Andy Jones
I Shot Bi Kidude and As Old As My Tongue - Andy Jones
I Shot Bi Kidude and As Old As My Tongue - Andy Jones
UK cinemas: 21 March
www.radiofilm.co.uk #BiKidude
"A doc thriller with a deep emotional core - Andy Markowitz, Music Film Web
I SHOT BI KIDUDE is the latest film by UK filmmaker Andy Jones that tells the
story of iconic Zanzibari singer Bi Kidude's kidnapping and subsequent death
in April 2013, following on from his first acclaimed feature AS OLD AS MY
TONGUE, that first immortalised Bi Kidude on screen, called "A delight from
beginning to end (The Independent).
I SHOT BI KIDUDE opens in UK cinemas from 21 March before going on
general release in Zanzibar (from 17 April) and continuing its world-wide
festival tour, with select live music performances from Mim Suleiman
performing some of Bi Kidude's most famous songs.
Bi Kidude (pronounced Bee Key-Do-Day) was probably the worlds oldest singer. A 102 year
old chain smoking, rebel rocking legend on her home island of Zanzibar and a veteran of
music stages across the globe. Her repertoire embraced both classic taarab, a swirling mix
of Indian ocean melodies backed by a full orchestra and also raw power drumming on an
African msondo drum, with shattering rhythms and shrieking lyrics from age old womens
initiation ceremonies. Bi Kidudes star rose further when she collaborated with Tanzanian
hip-hop outfit Oside Trick; becoming the first Swahili video to hit 1 million youtube views.
In the summer of 2012 Bi Kidude was kidnapped. Unhappy that unscrupulous members of
the music scene were abusing her goodwill, her nephew Baraka took the ageing star from
her home and aired his grievances on national television, slandering everyone he could
think of in the process.
News of the saga reached the UK and as the months rolled on with no resolution in sight,
Andy returned to Zanzibar to attempt to get to the bottom of the story. The team included
veteran DJ and broadcaster Rita Ray (The Shrine, BBC Global Beats) alongside South
African cinematographer Natalie Haarho.
A helter-skelter shoot ended with the crew involved in brokering a fragile truce between the
kidnapper and Bi Kidudes musical friends, but the ailing icon remained under lock and key
and prevented from what she loved doing most - singing.
Just a few weeks later, Bi Kidude was dead. Her final words in AS OLD AS MY TONGUE had
been if I stop singing, how will I survive? Hearing the news, Andy checked his bank
balance, grabbed a camera and headed for the airport. Catching an overnight flight from
Heathrow, he arrived in Zanzibar in time to catch the remarkable scenes as Kidude was
given a state funeral. Her obituaries in the East African press compared her to Margaret
Thatcher, who had been buried in London the day before. Zanzibars iron lady shared
none of Maggies politics, but her iron-like handshake and extraordinary force of character
grabbed everyone who met her.
Born and raised in Zanzibar, Mim grew up hearing tales of Bi Kidude and finally met her
hero in 2012 when they performed at Zanzibars Sauti za Busara music festival. The last
known footage of Bi Kidude is a beautiful scene of her being serenaded by Mim. The pintsized performer with the planet-sized personality looks set to inherit Bi Kidudes mantle as
the voice of Zanzibar in years to come. www.mimsuleiman.co.uk
ends