Laisa Malih
Documentary Filmmaker
Credentials: film director/ storyteller
Brief Bio:
Laissa Malih is a Laikipian Maasai, the first female filmmaker in her community with interests in documenting, linking, amplifying, and scaling up youth and women voices across diverse indigenous cultures in Kenya and the world.
She has a seven year experience as a filmmaker since the year 2017, in 2019 she assumed a position as a coordinator in a community based organization called Maasai Cultural Heritage.
In 2020 her Documentary "RIVER OF BROWN WATERS" which became an official selection of Film Africa was screened in various film festivals in Kenya and the UK.
In 2022 she worked and produced a documentary called ‘MY FGM STORY’ featuring as a main character to help explore why FGM and child marriages are still taking place in Kenya.
In late 2022 she worked on producing a documentary that she features as the main character of the story as an example on how culture, heritage and sacredness of the Maa community is an important aspect of life as it plays a big role on the origin and roots of its community.Laissa Malih's goals is to continue to shed light on her peoples' lives, livelihoods as well as help upscale their voices so as to help protect, and preserve their rights and culture.
Project Abstract:
The maasai rangelands for a long time through marginalization and colonialism have been overlooked and framed lands that have no value when it comes to agriculture in Kenya, simply because they are located in the ASALs (Arid and Semi Arid lands). This is not true as land among the Maa communities is a precious commodity and sense of belonging as it supports pastoralism, livelihoods and indigenous economies among various indigenous communities.
With climate change becoming so unbearable, natural resources are diminishing hence a source of conflict among various indigenous pastoralist communities in Kenya.
With Nentema Ntaiya’s story we explore the sustainable management of these lands and territories as tools for peace. Various initiatives have been undertaken in restoring these lands and territories as a form of adaptation and mitigation measures in the climate change arena. This has acted as a tool of minimizing conflict since the restored lands have given communities pride in the sense that they have rejuvenated ,they are viable and productive if taken care of properly.
Link(s):
The return documentary Trailer https://vimeo.com/793068602
Our Land Our Life https://youtu.be/7mk5Wb9cnRY?si=RBvWCDY5ydTndg5Z
Data-Driven Healthcare https://youtu.be/C4U2jerCjJM?si=1pMD6-updIQlrOwb
My FGM Story https://youtu.be/NsuOpLF7HZE
River of Brown Waters https://youtu.be/2WbrUmLZfQI
Social Media(s):
Facebook https://web.facebook.com/nomadfootprintske/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/laissa-malih-kaunga-8b25b7121/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs1Ov6-7-uNSm6uX8VGdJpQ
Twitter (X) https://twitter.com/MalihLaissa?s=03
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nomadfootprintske
Trailers: My Demo reel https://youtu.be/h4xLVIORJAY
