Sally Ngwere: A Kenyan director who turns waste into a story to raise awareness

Written by: Mohammed Omran

A pile of waste It is an ordinary scene that many pass by without noticing, but for Kenyan director Sally Ngwere it represents a deeper story related to consumption, social justice and the choices that shape the lives of societies.

Through her cinematic works, Ngweri seeks to shed light on those neglected stories that are often hidden behind scenes of everyday garbage.

Sally Nguiri uses documentary cinema to highlight the waste crisis.

At a screening inside the French Cultural Center in Nairobi, the audience gathered to watch a documentary that reveals the reality of waste from a different angle, where the issue is not limited to environmental pollution, but extends to people’s lives, livelihoods, and the associated social gap. As events unfold, it becomes clear that waste is not just refuse, but a direct reflection of the consumption pattern in society.

Sally Nguyeri says that her goal with her film “The Other Life of Waste” is to raise awareness about how people’s daily behavior affects the environment, stressing that the responsibility for change begins with individuals and extends to future generations.

She adds that for her, cinema is not just a means of entertainment, but a tool for social influence and for raising questions about justice and consumption.

Environmental studies indicate that a large proportion of waste in low-income countries is not properly managed, with much of it ending up in open dumps or being burned, reflecting the scale of the environmental challenge facing many African countries in light of rapid urbanization.

Through her personal experience, Nguiri confirms that her passion for cinema began during her school years, before developing through specialized training and study, where she discovered that cinema can be a mirror of reality and a means of presenting societal issues in an impactful way. From here, she turned to producing films that discuss social issues such as gender equality and climate change.

Nguyeri believes that waste clearly reveals social gaps within societies, with lower-income groups bearing the brunt of its effects, whether in terms of living near landfills or working in collecting and sorting waste, while wealthier groups remain far from these risks.

Through her production company, she also seeks to support young talents, especially women, by providing practical training opportunities in the film industry, believing that the biggest challenge facing young creators is the lack of opportunities, not the lack of talent.

Despite her success, Nguiri faces significant challenges in securing funding for her socially conscious films, as well as skepticism about the ability of young female directors to manage large-scale productions. Nevertheless, she continues to work on her projects, believing that faith in the idea and community collaboration are the foundations of success.

Nguiri concludes her vision by emphasizing that cinema is capable of changing the way people think, not by providing ready-made answers, but by raising questions and raising awareness about environmental and social issues, foremost among them the waste crisis, which has become a complex global issue.