Jonathan Benaiah

Lover Of The African Bush, Thoughtful Conversations & The World Of Sound | Quicker Responses On Professional Profile 👉 @AhaJonathan

[The New Vision @newvisionwire]

Ugandan conservation storyteller and filmmaker Jonathan Benaiah has won the top prize at the WildPitch Kenya 2026 awards, one of Africa’s leading pitching competitions for wildlife and natural history filmmakers.

DETAILS👇🏽#VisionUpdates

https://t.co/MFtI7tHSvj

[NTV UGANDA @ntvuganda]

Ugandan filmmaker Jonathan Benaiah has won first place at WildPitch Kenya 2026 with Musambwa, a documentary exploring the intersection of spirituality, snake conservation, and indigenous knowledge. The award comes with development funding to support the film’s production.
#NTVNews
📸Benjamin Jumbe

[KTN ENTERTAINMENT @ktnhome_]

In Nairobi, for two days in June 2026, the wild was not confined to forests and savannahs; it was on screen, in conversation, and increasingly in African hands.

The Wildscreen Festival returned to Kenya for its fourth African edition on 11–12 June, following earlier stops in Nairobi (2023), Tanzania (2024) and Botswana (2025). The gathering highlighted a growing shift in wildlife storytelling, with Africa asserting a stronger role in shaping how nature is portrayed and understood.

https://t.co/htCT6oMXOk

[Jonathan Benaiah @AhaJonathan]

Ugandan Conservation Storyteller Takes Top Honour at Wildscreen Festival Kenya | Thanks @nilepostnews https://t.co/cc7DotvpCt

[UG Bulletin @UGBulletin]

Ugandan filmmaker wins top award at WildPitch Kenya 2026
@AhaJonathan @TheBenaiah

#UGBulletinUpdates
https://t.co/3e0wEmVUvF

[Jonathan Benaiah @AhaJonathan]

I’m still processing yesterday. It feels surreal to say that a story I so heavily believe in took first place at WildPitch #WSFK26.

When I first heard about this small sacred island in Lake Victoria years ago, I never imagined that one day I’d be standing on a stage sharing its story with an audience of broadcasters, conservationists, industry leaders and some of the most talented filmmakers on the continent.

So, thank you to Wildscreen, The Wilderness Project, the jury, the festival sponsors + partners and everyone involved in creating avenues for African stories.

A huge thank you to my awesome team especially Holly Olive Akello and James Ntulume, our incredible herpetologists and conservation biologists, without whom this project would simply be too intimidating to do, especially in how they continue to help us plan this story safely and responsibly.

Thank you to my mentor, Jigar Ganatra whose feedback really helped me tighten the additional nuts and bolts that held the pitch tightly together.

Thank you to the many filmmakers, storytellers, and new friends I met through Wildscreen that believe this is a story worth telling; a true story about a unique biodiversity site with a rare human-wildlife relationship.

And most importantly, thank you to the people at the heart of this story. To Mzee Katongole, Mzee Badiru, and the wider community, for trusting us with your stories.

Winning means more than just the recognition, and not just because it comes with some support from The Wilderness Project, but because it shows that stories of this nature which remind us of our connection to tradition and the natural world (like Musambwa does) still matter. Stories about how people choose to protect the natural world when no one is watching; when the cameras are away; outside our contemporary conservation laws and treaties.

Finally congrats to all my fellow winners and finalists too Siima Wild (Erica Rugabandana), Victoria Wanjohi, Seetsele Nthomiwa, Dan Yessa, and Geoffrey Mboya. Everyone showed up with their A-game but most importantly with very powerful stories that must be told.

In true Kenyan fashion, Asante sana!

📷 Wildscreen

#WildscreenKenya #WildPitch

[Jonathan Benaiah @AhaJonathan]

Next week, I’ll be carrying a story from Uganda’s sacred Musambwa Island to @WildscreenFest Kenya 2026.

It’s really humbling to know that Musambwa has been selected as one of six finalists for WildPitch 2026. Congratulations to the other finalists, I look forward to hearing the stories you’ll be bringing to Nairobi.

A special thank you to the elders, the people, the wildlife and the landscapes from whose lived experiences this project is being birthed as well as my incredible team and collaborators, especially Holly Olive Akello and James Ntulume. As herpetologists and conservation biologists, they helped me navigate a world I knew very little about and gave me the confidence to even begin writing this story. It has been a remarkable learning journey, and it still is.

And a shout-out to big brother Julius @Mugambwa_. If memory serves me right, the very first time I heard about Musambwa Island was from Julius one evening after several long days of filming in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park during the COVID years. It’s amazing how a single conversation can travel with you for years and eventually become a film project.

It’s honestly surreal to have the opportunity to share this story with Africa’s largest gathering of wildlife and natural history filmmakers next week.

Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026 brings together filmmakers, broadcasters, conservationists, and industry leaders for two days of talks, screenings, discussions, and collaboration focused on the stories shaping our understanding of the natural world.

🗓️ 11–12 June 2026
📍 Nairobi, Kenya | Emara Olesereni
🎟️ Festival Passes: https://t.co/Y8RWq5lyCI

See you there 😉

#WSFK26 #WildscreenKenya #WildPitch #ConservationStorytelling #DocumentaryFilm

[Richard @ricwe123]

Jeffrey Sachs is spot on.....

[Jonathan Benaiah @TheBenaiah]

@daddyeme_IBB @Mrbankstips Elite comment 🤣 Made me laugh so hard

[António Guterres @antonioguterres]

I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace & security.

All Member States must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the @UN. The Charter clearly prohibits “the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.

I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. The Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security.

[Sen. Bernie Sanders @SenSanders]

The U.S. Senate must be clear: no war with Iran.

[Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump]

Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly-not skilled!

[Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump]

I predict that President Obama will at some point attack Iran in order to save face!

[Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump]

@BarackObama will attack Iran in order to get re-elected.

[Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump]

In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.

[The Telegraph @Telegraph]

🚨 Fifty-one schoolgirls were killed and 60 were injured when a strike destroyed a girls’ elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, Iranian media has reported

Follow the latest ⬇️
https://t.co/okQc7Buhe0

[Jonathan Benaiah @TheBenaiah]

After the Elections: What the Internet Shutdown Told Us About Uganda https://t.co/jODHHknHB9 #UgandaDecides2026

[Jonathan Benaiah @AhaJonathan]

Ba intellectual bwe swiii

[Jonathan Benaiah @AhaJonathan]

Could be one of Uganda’s lowest voter turnouts. Assuming the remaining 6.39% of votes yet to be announced follows the same pattern, the 2026 voter turnout would remain close to 50.3%. Is this a boycott or did the failure of the Biometric Voter Verification Machines play part?

[Jonathan Benaiah @TheBenaiah]

M A N U N I T E D

[UF @UtdFaithfuls]

Just 10 seconds between Maguire heading the ball and the ball hitting the back of City's net.

Blistering counter-attack. ⚡️