The film invites viewers into the lives and perspectives of the Samburu tribe and white Kenyans. The harsh, conflicting realities foster a deep connection with the audience, highlighting the beauty and conflict inherent in their ways of life. Western notions of belonging and home, closely tied to ownership and boundaries, clash with the tribal perspective of home as a communal, boundless space. Despite this, both groups share a profound connection to the landscape, the environment and the wildlife. The film's cinematography is breathtaking. The sweeping shot of wide-open plains juxtaposed with intimate over-the-shoulder angles offers a glimpse into both kinships' wonderfully different lives. This visual storytelling encapsulates the essence of wildlife and nature, leaving viewers in awe and underscoring the need for preservation.
The time lapses that follow the drought, which affected 1.3 million people at the time (a number that has now risen to around 5 million Kenyans without adequate access to food or water), follow the rising political tensions that begin to integrate into this long-standing conflict. These represent how climate change is unbiased in its destruction, punishing the wildlife, the tribe, white Kenyans, and the environment viciously and equally.
via IMDb
The journey was an extremely layered story of legacy, race, politics, and climate change which at times did not effectively balance both perspectives. An adequate insight into the political dimension, particularly the heated climate during Kenya’s general election, which began to corrupt the way of life for the Samburu people, could have enriched the narrative further. Including a broader context would reveal the intensity of this conflict, as steep population increases have led to massive pressure on land and the particularly heated political climate during Kenya’s general election. Furthermore, the biography failed to capture the magnitude of these conflicts. An article from The Guardian in 2017 recognises that there were 25-50 deaths during the violence, and, as many articles focused on the deaths of the white people, an inconclusive number of tribesmen who illegally drove tens of thousands of cattle onto privately owned estates have also been killed in clashes with security forces.
Despite these shortcomings, The Battle for Laikipia acts as a film and a mediator in bringing two polarised communities together to coexist in the same ecosystem. By prompting conversation surrounding the lasting impacts of colonial legacy and climate change, this documentary is a highly important film to be showcased in this year’s Sydney Film Festival. It provides insight into an enriched way of life fractured by a political conflict of land ownership and colonisation, ignited by the indiscriminate severance of climate change. The Battle for Laikipia is crucial for understanding the consequences of unresolved historical injustices.
Amelia Akonnah is a first-year student studying a dual degree in Media and Social Sciences at UNSW, majoring in Politics and International Relations and Journalism with a passion for writing and film.
