MAU MAU (1952, narrated by Chet Huntley)

If the question were posed, name some films that deal with the notorious and bloody Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the early 1950s, I would cite SOMETHING OF VALUE, a terrific MGM production from 1957 starring Rock Hudson and Sidney Poitier, SAFARI, a mid-‘50s adventure flick (with some truly harrowing action scenes) starring Victor Mature, and SIMBA a 1955 British film with Dirk Bogarde. VALUE was available on video until fairly recently (re-release, please!) while SAFARI is not yet available (I taped it off TV years ago). SIMBA was also on video at one point in time. All three films left me wanting to know more about this fairly recent piece of African history.

Then lo and behold, the ever awe-inspiring master of the obscure film on video, Woody Wise (of Discount Video fame) magically conjured up MAU MAU, an interesting time capsule-of-a-documentary made during the actual events described.

Narrated with authority by newsman Chet Huntley, MAU MAU presents a relatively balanced overview of the Mau Mau situation.

MAU MAU is a difficult word to translate. As near as I can figure (the doc. just said it was hard to translate) it is a term that denotes an uprising by a secret fraternity, bent on annihilating the white presence in Kenya. I learned elsewhere that it is sometimes translated as ‘burning spear’.

Colonialism is a difficult subject in these ‘enlightened’ times. We tend to associate colonialism with racism. Indeed there is a connection, but it is more complicated than that. While at its heart, colonialism presumes the superiority of the white race and the divine right to march into a ‘colony’ and completely take it over, there were arguably some good aspects to colonization. Law and order, modern farming methods and the introduction of better health standards are some of the positive aspects of colonization. However I do not presume to be an anthropologist, and I admit that this perspective might not be shared by everyone. Nonetheless, MAU MAU the documentary attempts to present a balanced perspective given the attitudes and sensibilities of its white filmmakers, circa 1952.

Some graphic dramatizations of Mau Mau atrocities aid the filmmaker’s slant, that the Mau Mau are the bad guys. Historically, it is hard to argue against this point of view. The fact is, the Mau Mau used fear as a weapon; coercing, subjugating and terrorizing fellow tribesmen into taking blood oaths against the perceived enemy, the white man. Blatant acts of terror (i.e. massacring women and children) were apparently quite common. Isolated farms of white settlers didn’t stand a chance. Whenever the black servants would enter the room to serve a meal, the whites would take out revolvers- just in case! The parallels to a good, old-fashioned Hollywood Western are obvious (think ULZANA’S RAID).

The film documents how government action (both Kenyan and Her Majesty’s) took extreme measures (including mass hangings) to alleviate the uprising. One fascinating segment shows how government-sanctioned witch doctors created and implemented a ritual to afford coerced or repentant tribesmen the opportunity to come forward and be ‘cleansed’ of their blood oath to the Mau Mau.

Because of the recent history of apartheid and the deploring treatment of natives under white rule in South Africa, it is hard not to see the parallels with the situation in Kenya in the ‘50s. This makes the viewer think there is more to the story than is being presented here.

Fair enough. Hindsight makes each of us a genius. MAU MAU is a fascinating look at a little-known period of African history that has, among other things, provided a colourful background to three fine Hollywood films. It is also another look at terrorism and the measures taken to eradicate it—a subject sadly all too familiar to the world today.

Does anyone know of any other films that feature the Mau Mau uprising?

(There is a film called AFRICA ADIO, which apparently shows authentic footage of Mau Mau atrocities, but I’m not partial to exploitation films, so I wouldn’t include this film in any list for recommended viewing).

Thanks again to Woody Wise and Discount Video for another forgotten film from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Contact Woody and ask for his outstanding catalogue. Tell him Einsiders sent you.

Discount Video Tapes P.O. Box 7122, Burbank CA 91510

Jon Ted Wynne