2011
RWENZORI, MOUNTAINS OF MOON
IM REICH DER REGENGÖTTER
Uganda
52 min. tv documentary
director: Marcel Kolvenbach
camera: Marcel Kolvenbach
ZDF/arte, a&o buero Filmproduktion
Portrays the Bakonzo community and their cultural transformation in Uganda‘
s Rwenzori Mountains.
A film about the changes in the traditional life of the Bakonzo community in Africa's highest mountain region – the snow-capped Monte Lunes the Rwenzori. The Ruwenzori, the snow-capped Monte Lunes (Mountains of the Moon) in the border region between Uganda and the Congo, were until 100 years ago among the last blank spots on the maps of Africa. Many explorers searched in vain for the highest mountains on the continent, not least because the Mountains of the Rain Gods are usually shrouded in thick clouds. It was not until 1888 that they were rediscovered, after having disappeared from European maps for over 1,000 years. Today, the Bakonzo hunter-gatherers live at the foot of the Ruwenzori. But hunting is no longer possible, as the region has recently been designated a national park and World Heritage Site. As a result, Matovu, the master hunter of the Bakonzo, has had to lay down his weapons and reorganize his life. Hunting in this region is not only a centuries-old tradition, but also a rite of passage for the young men of the Bakonzo and, last but not least, a means of obtaining food. Matovu wants to earn his living as a porter and tourist guide in the future. Just a few years ago, such a tour would have been impossible. Just a few years ago, such a tour would have been impossible. This is because the Ruwenzori Mountains were part of a war zone. Rebels from the Congo repeatedly raided
the mountain villages, leaving death and devastation in their wake. Many people fled. And to this day, large areas of the mountains are still mined.
RWENZORI REGENGÖTTER DOKU YouTube