Namibian cinema ‘an evolving conversation’ - Imãn Ayisha

Award-winning Namibian filmmaker and screenwriter Imãn Ayisha believes the future of Namibian cinema lies in authenticity, emotional storytelling and embracing local identity without fear of global influence.

The Windhoek-based creative reflected on filmmaking, internet culture and what it means to create art in Namibia during an interview with tjil this week.

Ayisha gained recognition for writing the script for ‘The B2 Passage’, a supernatural short film inspired by a Namibian urban legend. Known for her cinematic visuals and atmospheric storytelling, she told tjil that writing always comes before aesthetics.

“Aesthetic identity is important to me because visuals are such a huge part of storytelling. But for me, the writing always comes first; the words and emotional core of the story are what create the aesthetic," she said.

While many argue that young Namibian creatives are only now beginning to embrace authentic storytelling, Ayisha disagrees.

“A lot of artists and filmmakers here have been trying to tell authentic Namibian stories for a long time now,” she said, adding that she believes global inspiration should not be viewed in a negative light.

“You can be inspired by global aesthetics while still telling stories that are deeply personal and rooted in your own environment."

Still discovering

Ayisha credits much of her storytelling style to growing up online, where she spent years writing fanfiction and engaging in online creative communities.

She told tjil that being online has “trained a lot of us to think visually and emotionally at the same time”.

That influence is reflected in her work, which blends cinematic storytelling with emotionally immersive narratives.

When asked what “cool” looks like in a Namibian creative context, Ayisha described it as authenticity without forcing a westernised version of African identity.

“The way we speak, our humour, our spirituality and our environments deserve to be explored with the same care and style we admire in international media,” she said.

Ayisha also believes Namibian cinema is still evolving.

“Namibian cinema is more of an evolving conversation than a finished identity,” she explained.

Looking ahead, she hopes her generation of filmmakers leaves behind stories that preserve culture while allowing it to evolve with time. “I think of filmmaking almost like creating a time capsule,” she said.