I’m a self-confessed movie enthusiast and African aficionado and it gave me much pleasure to put together a list of movies filmed in Africa. Do you know any? Hold on to your popcorn, travellers, some are easy to spot but others may just surprise you!
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Mad Max: Fury Road
The movie is set in a dry, post-apocalyptic world, so it only makes sense to film the story in a desert. But here’s the funny bit: Australia’s outback turned lush with flowers after unexpected rains, moving the set to Namibia’s legendary Namib Desert. The only changes made to Namibia’s natural beauty was the colouring of sand to a yellowish shade.
Bonus point: Charlize Theron accidentally broke Tom Hardy’s nose on set with her elbow.
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Blood Diamond
This story is set in Sierra Leone and exposes the brutality of illegal diamond mines. It was difficult to film in Sierra Leone because of civil unrest and insufficient infrastructure. Mozambique and its capital, Maputo, provided the backdrop for the country instead. The illegal diamond mines and American places were filmed in South African cities of Cape Town and Port Edward in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image credit: Alexander Hill Bonus point: In KwaZulu-Natal, the crew were careful not to disturb the ecosystem while filming.
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The Last King of Scotland
This movie is centered around Uganda during the 1970’s while it was under the brutal regime of dictator, Idi Amin. Staying true to the story, most scenes were filmed in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. To prepare for the role, Forest Whitaker learned to speak Swahili and even met Amin’s siblings for a first-hand account of their famous brother.
Bonus point: Forest Whitaker stayed in character full time for three months, even offset.
Image credit: Achim Prill -
District 9
This movie made South Africans beaming proud with seven BAFTA awards and four Academy Awards. Filmed in Johannesburg and Soweto, the story is inspired by South Africa’s history of Apartheid but with a sci-fi twist. Scenes of the informal settlements in the movie are actual homes that were previously evacuated. District 9 certainly gives a close-up view of Gauteng’s cities – except for the huge spaceship.
Bonus point: Out of the entire cast, William Allen Young is the only actor who is not South African.
Image credit: Felix Lipov -
Invictus
This movie is set in 1995 when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup. Nelson Mandela was the first black president of a newly democratic country and South Africans banded together at this iconic match after decades of racial separation. The movie is filmed at Ellis Park Stadium (now known as Emirates Airline Park Stadium) where the match was won. Cape Town’s Robben Island also features when the rugby team visits Mandela’s prison cell where he spent 27 years.
Bonus point: Morgan Freeman watched this movie with Nelson Mandela.
Robben Island with Table Mountain in the background- Image credit: South African Tourism -
Hotel Rwanda
Based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed hundreds of Rwandans of Tutsi ethnic minority to keep them safe during the country’s genocide. Hotel Rwanda was mostly filmed in the capital, Kigali, while a few scenes were also filmed in Alexandra informal settlement in Johannesburg. Hotel Rwanda won 13 different awards between 2004 and 2005.
Bonus point: The producers created the International Fund for Rwanda in 2005 to support genocide survivors.
Did any of these surprise you? Let us know in the comment section below!
You, Jessica, has surely surprised me with 6 movies that took place in Africa, including proudly South Africa. Good writer!
Hello Paulo, thank you! It does make us feel proud too 🙂
Great article!!!! Will keep my next lazy sundays entertained!! 🙂
Hello Sandra, that’s the best way to spend Sundays – movies and popcorn! Thank you 🙂
Thank you.
Hello Emmanuel, it’s a pleasure 🙂
Don’t forget the great film starring Sean Bean – Windprints, filmed in Namibia
Hello Leigh, thank you for adding Windprints to my list! There are certainly more films that didn’t make the list 🙂