Tunga Media Afrika and Kenya's National Library Open 80 African Films to the Public for KSh150 a Month

Tunga Media Afrika and the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) have opened a curated catalogue of more than 80 African films to the public for the first time. Any Kenyan with a free account on VTabu, the library's virtual platform, can watch them for KSh600 for four months or KSh1,800 for a year, which works out at KSh150 a month.

Who Is Behind It

Tunga calls itself "Africa's only educational streaming platform built for Africa's education system", and until now its films reached audiences only through institutions. The rates were KSh350 per student per year in public senior schools, KSh600 in private schools and KSh1,200 in tertiary institutions. Tunga says its platform reaches more than 50,000 students across Kenya. Its founder and chief executive, Cindy Makandi, has worked with Kenya's film regulator before: the Kenya Film Classification Board met her in January 2024 to discuss compliance, digital literacy and collaboration on Tunga's educational programme.

Makandi describes the partnership as a homecoming: "For too long, African stories have lived on shelves that most Kenyans could not reach. This partnership brings them home."

What Is in the Catalogue

The films are grouped around five themes: social justice and human rights, environment and climate, arts and cultural preservation, mental health and family, and education and identity.

Among the documentaries are Softie from Kenya, Mother City from South Africa, No Simple Way Home from South Sudan, The Empty Grave from Tanzania and Searching for Amani from Kenya. The fiction titles include Supa Modo and Baada ya Masika (After the Long Rains) from Kenya, Liyana from Eswatini and The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, a Nigerian film from 2024. Shorts include Act of Love, Baba and Stero from Kenya and Amigo the Griot from South Africa.

The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos poster. Source: TIFF

What It Means for Filmmakers

Tunga licenses films directly from filmmakers, and revenue is split 50/50 between Tunga and the filmmaker. Tunga says Kenyan filmmakers produced more titles in 2024 than the country had ever produced in a single year, but that few of them reached the audiences who would value them most. A public library catalogue is a distribution route that works with, rather than against, that gap.

New films are added monthly, and each film comes with lesson plans and discussion guides. The partnership also includes community screenings at Maktaba Kuu and other KNLS libraries, each built around a themed film with an expert to guide the discussion, and families and groups can take the discussion guides home.

Why It Matters Beyond Kenya

A Nigerian film sitting in a Kenyan public library catalogue shows how African cinema can travel on the continent without waiting for a global streamer. It fits a wider pattern of Kenyan and Nigerian cinema meeting on screen, including East West Love, the Kenya and Nigeria film that opens on 9th October. For filmmakers on both sides, the lesson is the same: the audience for African stories is already on the continent, and the routes to reach it are multiplying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Tunga Media Afrika?

Tunga Media Afrika describes itself as "Africa's only educational streaming platform built for Africa's education system." It builds African films into school curricula and is led by founder and chief executive Cindy Makandi.

How Much Does Access Cost?

KSh600 buys four months and KSh1,800 buys a year, which is KSh150 a month. A free VTabu account is required.

How Many Films Are Available?

More than 80 films across fiction, documentary and shorts, with new titles added monthly.

Is There a Nigerian Film in the Catalogue?

Yes. The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, from 2024, is in the catalogue.

How Are Filmmakers Paid?

Tunga licenses films directly from filmmakers, and revenue is split 50/50 between Tunga and the filmmaker.