(he acted as the film’s executive producer) and bringing on Natasha Fothergill-Misbah. This was followed by Uhuru (also with Fothergill-Misbah). “In East Africa, where resources are limited, Parkinson’s is often associated with supernatural forces or witchcraft,” he explains, so the ultimate goal was to spread scientific awareness in those communities – particularly Kenya and Tanzania. That’s why he filmed Uhuru in Swahili, the local language; “the message is clearer when it comes from people who look and sound like you,” he says. According to McCoy, filming in Tanzania was no picnic. There wasn’t much there in the way of a film industry
in Kilimanjaro, where they were based. “That meant sourcing local crew and kit was challenging,” and stable internet wasn’t a given, either. McCoy and his team had to carry all their kit from the UK, apply for permits and charge batteries whenever and wherever possible. “The practicals were the biggest hurdle.” It’s not just a feat of documentary filmmaking; Uhuru also carries a socially significant message. “There’s a distinct lack of awareness or total absence of knowledge about what this disease is,” Plummer narrates in Shaking Hands with the Devil . McCoy agrees, “It’s not witchcraft, it’s not superstition, it’s not a curse. It’s just a disease, and these
STORIES IN SWAHILI McCoy chose to film Uhuru in the local language, to better connect with the film’s target audiences
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