Uganda: Nsimbi to premiere Infinity at US film fest

Set in Uganda, Infinity tells the story of a young boy who must unlearn his selfish ways and understand the interconnectedness of the universe and the importance of community.

“Our film is both a spiritual journey and an entertaining family story told in musical form,” Nsimbi, which comprises GNL Zamba and Miriam Tamar, said. “Our hope is that audiences watching this film will learn about Africa beyond the stereotypes of colonial legacies. We would like to take you to a time that existed before man migrated [from Africa to other parts of the world].”

The film, featuring an entirely Ugandan cast and crew, was created by Nsimbi, directed by Matege ‘Pest’ Rogers and produced by Swahili Nation and Baboon Forest Entertainment.

Nsimbi said Infinity would remind audiences that the universe works in mysterious ways to reveal what is most important.

“In the wake of the Black Lives Matter unrest, the COVID-19 pandemic and dangerous divisive politics, we realised there was a desperate need for love and positivity that transcends time, geography and race. We made Infinity to remind ourselves that whenever the message inscribed in our spirits gets blurry, the universe sends messengers to guide us through our blindness back to the source of what is truly important: the love that can stop us from hurting each other by healing ourselves.

“For us, visual art is an extension of our music. Even with our music videos, we have always been very intentional and conceptual as we build worlds, tell stories, share positive messages and promote cross-cultural dialogue. We’re looking forward to creating more projects that merge film, music and culture.”

Infinity will be touring the film festival circuit before it goes on streaming services. The tour will include screenings throughout Africa, with dates to be announced over the coming months.

Along with the film, Nsimbi has released a soundtrack album of the same name. Infinity, the album, is a celebration of Ugandan consciousness, with the sounds recorded, mixed and mastered in East Africa.

GNL Zamba is one of East Africa’s most influential hip hop artists, credited with bringing rap to the region’s mainstream culture by using Uganda’s main indigenous language, Luganda, in a style known as Lugaflow. He is the founder and CEO of Ugandan hip hop label Baboon Forest Entertainment.

GNL Zamba’s wife, Miriam Tamar, is an American fusion vocalist and songwriter who creates empowering soundscapes that journey through the vibrant rhythms of global culture. Her mix of genres reflects her years of jazz and pop influenced by world travels and the communities she has lived in, including five years spent in Uganda developing a peace education curriculum to rebuild the lives of post-conflict children. Her solo EP Firedance debuted in the Top 5 of the iTunes World Music Chart in 2017 and was featured in The Huffington Post.