The Time Magazine has debuted its inaugural TIME 100 Next List, and Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu made the list.
TIME Magazine is known for honoring only the best of the best, and when it comes to the world’s most influential figures TIME Magazine leads the way in championing tastemakers, creators and leaders in our modern age; and now it has released a list for young pioneers. According to TIME, the listing features “100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more. Although this focus lends itself to a younger group, we intentionally had no age cap—a recognition that ascents can begin at any age.”
‘Rafiki’ filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu features in the list alongside fellow East African controversial musician turned politician Bobby Wine. The Kenyan creative was honored to be part of the prestigious list thanks to a nomination from Dream Hampton. Enourmoured by Wanuri, Hampton shared she is continually blown away by her talent. She said, “I regularly insist to some fellow sci-fi nerds that they watch ‘Pumzi’, Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu’s stunning short film set in a near-future dystopia. ‘Pumzi’—as is characteristic of Wanuri’s work—centered the stories of Black women, including the film’s protagonist, a scientist.”
Introducing the inaugural #TIME100Next, featuring 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, politics, entertainment and more https://t.co/po2oYLjq3R pic.twitter.com/hXZQ4XCg5X
— TIME (@TIME) November 13, 2019
Other key figures to make the list include songstress Camila Cabello, Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish, rappers Lil Nas X, Meg Thee Stallion and Ezra Miller. South Sudanese- Australian supermodel Adut Aketch was also nominated onto the list for work with refugees. ‘Black-ish’ Actress Martin Marsai as well as TV show host Keke Palmer, also featured on the list.
As earlier reported by The Sauce, Kahiu, 39, wrote and directed the LGBTQ film Rafiki, which made history last year as being the first Kenyan film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival even as the movie was banned in Kenya.