Pumzi

Pumzi is a 15-minute science fiction short film directed by Wanuri Kahiu, set in a dystopian future where water is scarce and the world has been ravaged by environmental collapse. The protagonist, a woman living in an underground bunker, discovers a seedling and becomes determined to plant it above ground, defying the oppressive regime that controls her world.

The film is notable for its Afrofuturist aesthetic and its integration of Kenyan culture, language, and landscape into speculative fiction. It explores themes of hope, resistance, and ecological restoration in the face of systemic control and resource scarcity. Pumzi premiered at film festivals internationally and became a landmark work in African science fiction cinema, influencing subsequent conversations about climate justice and decolonial futures.