People of the Great River
Title: People of the Great River
Directed by
Ayumi Miyano
Country: Zimbabwe
Duration: 15 mins
SYNOPSIS
This documentary is about a story which teaches us that collaboration has played a significant role in the preservation of a language.
The Tonga people, living in the north-west of Zimbabwe near the Zambezi river are one of the country’s ethnic groups. They lived largely without interference from the colonial rulers until 1957, when tens of thousands from fifteen chiefdoms who lived along the banks of the river, were removed. The Tonga people speak chiTonga.
How have they been preserving their identity and language despite losing their homeland? There has been a variety of collaborative activities accomplished by the Tonga local community and other non-profit organisations such as Tonga Literacy Project and Basilwizi Trust.
Through the interviews with the local Tonga people who played a significant role in the establishment of these organisations, this documentary emphasises how these activities are essential for people who do not have a sufficient form of preservation of their language. These successes brought their tribe’s story to the world in a written form, and as a result, shaped a platform where the Tonga people could raise their own voice.
It was the people of the great river who shared their stories and memories of their rich culture before the displacement, and their motivation to preserve their own language and culture. As we honour the Tonga people and their ancestors who lived along the banks of the Zambezi River, this story offers a gift, the gift of hope to those who are marginalised, displaced, or uprooted from their homelands.
Directors’ Bio
Ayumi Miyano
Ayumi was born in Osaka, Japan in 1988.
She graduated from Rikkyo University, Department of Sociology.
In 2016, she went to Berlin, Germany to take part in Artist in Residence programmes as a photographer.
In 2020, she completed a master’s degree in Journalism from Technological University Dublin.
While she acquires the skill of photography, journalism and videography, she constantly applies new techniques to her creations.
Director Statement
As a Japanese person living in Ireland, I am always curious about understanding the cultural aspects of languages. Having traveled and lived outside of my birthplace, I have come to realise the strong connection between people’s identity and the languages they speak.
I constantly ponder the strengths and weaknesses of different forms of art. In this project, my aim was to incorporate various elements such as poems, drawings, photographs, music, and videos. This challenge became possible with the help of the staff and artists in my production team, as well as the local Tonga people who generously shared their ideas and talents for this project.
I hope viewers will thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the Tonga language, music, and the inspiring story of the Tonga people who fought to preserve their language and identity.
Director's Statement
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