This weekend, a new romantic comedy is gearing up to capture the hearts of lovelorn audiences in Nairobi. Boda Love, a fresh take on the classic fish-out-of-water romance, will deliver laughs, tears, and a vibrant slice of Kenyan life starting this September.
Imagine Notting Hill transplanted to the chaotic streets of Nairobi, and you’ll start to get a feel for Boda Love. The film follows Charlotte, a lonely British woman who falls victim to an online romance scam. Lured to Kenya by the promise of love, she instead finds herself stranded and robbed.
Enter Jabari, a humble boda boda rider who becomes her unlikely knight in shining armor who helps Charlotte navigate the busy city in search of her fraudulent fiancé. Boda Love doesn’t shy away from the realities of life in the Kenyan capital, with much of the action taking place in Jabari’s crowded family home in Kaloleni. It’s here that Charlotte finds an unexpected haven and begins to see beyond her initial misfortune.
Leading actors Murunyu Duncan Mungai and Greer Dale-Foulkes bring Jabari and Charlotte to life, their on-screen chemistry promising to be an electric display. The lead stars will be supported by a cast that includes Justin Mirichii, Muthoni ‘Mo’ Gathecha, Kieren Ratana, Wanjiru Marima, Timothy Wachira, Mehul Savani, Tom Lincoln, Keith Chuaga, and Claude Zatara.
Written by Grace Irungu and Janet Wells (the latter also serves as the director), Boda Love will be hoping to put Kenyan cinema on the global map by adding a new, authentic voice in the world of romantic comedies. Boda Love will premiere at Anga Diamond Plaza Cinema on September 21.
