The ‘weight of heavy logs': Masculinity and memory in Matabeleland

Mail & Guardian

27-06-2025

Set against the backdrop of the 1983 Gukurahundi massacres — in which the Zimbabwean army brutally targeted civilians in Matabeleland, killing thousands — the film follows protagonist Chris Nyathi. (Photo supplied)
Directed by the talented Nyasha Kadandara,
Matabeleland
is set to captivate audiences with its African premiere at the prestigious Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, which runs until the 29 June in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
This feature-length debut provides a deeply personal lens into a chapter of Zimbabwe's history that continues to ripple through generations.
Set against the backdrop of the 1983 Gukurahundi massacres — in which the Zimbabwean army brutally targeted civilians in Matabeleland, killing thousands — the film follows protagonist Chris Nyathi. Nyathi is a 60-year-old Zimbabwean immigrant in Botswana who embarks on a poignant journey to secure his father's burial and confront the shadows of his family's legacy.
Rooted in resilience and reconciliation,
Matabeleland
explores themes of love, masculinity and identity and offers an intimate reflection on generational trauma, healing and the enduring bonds of family.
The evocative soundtrack by composers Eduardo Aram and Gabriel Milliet underscores the film's powerful narrative, while Kadandara's collaboration with producer Sam Soko of LBx Africa and co-producer Bob Moore of EyeSteelFilms results in a cinematic gem.
In-between screenings of the film at the festival, I caught up with the Zimbabwean-born filmmaker Kadandara to find out more on the process of making this emotionally engaging documentary.
Motaung: Congratulations on this great project. Tell us, when did your love for filmmaking and storytelling start?
Kadandara:
Thank you! If you asked my mother, she would tell you I was always trying to get her attention with stories about my imaginary friends or something else. I can talk a lot!
But, more formally, I would say I found out that perhaps I had something to say, and people might want to hear it, when I was in the student newspaper at UCT. And then, during my first video course while doing my master's, I knew that I had found my medium: film.
I feel really safe and at home with a camera in my hand and I love working with images and sound to create something that can transcend words.
Motaung: What inspired the documentary
Matabeleland
and how long did it take to put it together?
Kadandara:
Following a change in power in Zimbabwe between late 2017 and 2018 I, along with many Zimbabweans, saw new opportunities in the country. In general, it was an inspiring time and many of us were hopeful.
As a filmmaker, up until that point, I had not made any films in my own country, but had directed films in the US, India, Kenya and Chad. So, this felt like the right time to turn the lens on the place I call home. In particular, this story was very personal, having been born and raised in the region of Matabeleland.
Initially, it was meant to be a short film — less than 10 minutes long — but after meeting my producer, Sam Soko, he saw a feature documentary in the little footage I had and then we continued to film the subject, Chris Nyathi, and the people in his life until 2024. In total, we spent seven years on the project, which included one year in the edit room.
Motaung: Budget is normally a pain point for most filmmakers. What challenges did you have to overcome with this project?
Kadandara:
In general, I won't sugarcoat things. It's really hard to get funding for a film like
Matabeleland
because it doesn't fit into the typical boxes. Our characters are complex and challenge traditional notions held by, particularly, non-African audiences.
Some funders wanted more victimhood or more politics in the film but we wanted to stay true to the portrait of African manhood. Now that the film is complete, and people are starting to view
Matabeleland
, it's evident — and by design — that this documentary resonates with African audiences and we are very happy about this.
Matabeleland
could not have been brought to life without the invaluable support of organisations such as Sundance, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, IDFA and Heinrich Böll Stiftung. Their contributions ensured this important story reached audiences who need to engage with its message.
Motaung: With 17 children to support, and a girlfriend hinting about marriage, Chris Nyathi is under pressure. The doccie is essentially an ode to male blue-collar workers trying to support their families. What are your views on such hard-working men in our society?
Kadandara:
As African societies, there are a lot of expectations on men, and there's a lot of pressure to provide or perform. Being an African woman comes with its perils, but I believe I have more outlets to unburden myself, and we tend to share our struggles more in community.
The same cannot be said for men; we don't allow our men to be vulnerable, blue-collar or not. And as a result, the people around them — their siblings, romantic partners and children — will often bear the brunt.
In a recent community screening, male members of the audience talked about how all the pressure, with no release, can lead to suicide or substance abuse. But a film like
Matabeleland
can be a gateway for people, and specifically men, to open up, share about their experiences, and lighten the load of 'heavy logs' as Chris describes in the documentary.
Motaung:
Matabeleland
is currently being showcased at this year's Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. How important is this for you as a filmmaker to participate in festivals?
Kadandara:
It's an amazing opportunity to showcase at any festival, and as a team, we've been really lucky to have had such great receptions from CPH: DOX in Denmark and now Encounters in South Africa.
Showing our film at Encounters has been really special as we get to show
Matabeleland
on African soil to the very audiences this film is about and for. Even though we've just started showing the film on the continent, we've had such a great reception.
People have come up to me and said they want to host impact screenings in their community that will be followed by conversations centred around healing, masculinity and intergenerational trauma. And, for me, that's how festivals can be a great launch pad for meaningful change beyond watching the film in a cinema.
Matabeleland
is screening at The Zone @ Rosebank, Johannesburg, this Saturday 28 June at 5.30pm.