Tjuna on Namibia’s first pan-African film

Actress, mom, blogger and entrepreneur Tjiuna Daringo (32), or just Tjuna, says she is involved in Namibia’s first pan-African film.

The production of the thriller, ‘Whudunnit’, started last Monday at the Skeleton Coast, and will continue until 8 November.

In the film, Tjuna will play the leading role of ‘Samantha’.

The film is about a group of scientists arriving at the Skeleton Coast in search of ‘blunamite’, a never-before-seen gem rumoured to be found at the coast.

When one of them ends up dead, they are not sure whether one of them is the culprit or whether the coast is sending them an ominous message.

Tjuna says she was cast by Play Network Studios.

“This opportunity allows me to not only collaborate on an international platform with popular African and American actors, but also to experience working with international directors, such as Robert Peters,” she says.

She says the intended distribution platform for the film is Netflix, which could be a great milestone for herself and the Namibian film industry.

The film is a collaboration between Nigerian and Namibian producers and directors.

It features a local and international cast and crew.

The production will be in partnership with a media house called ‘Play Network’, which has produced several films on Netflix.

Last year, some local producers collaborated with Play Network to host the Burna Boy show, which was well attended and provided creatives with the platform to showcase their skills.

The film’s main cast includes Norman Job, South Africans Thapelo Mokoena and Cindy Mahlangu, and Nigerians Dima-Okojie and Damilola Adegbite.

Tjuna says a “surprise” United States actor is also included.

“This team will not only contribute creatively to the production, but will also ensure a wider reach on the continent and globally, while allowing us to showcase the beauty of Namibia’s landscapes,” a press statement reads.

It says producers aim to employ more than 25 young, local crew members (50% of the crew).

Tjuna is known as ‘Foibe’ in the film ‘Katutura’, which was directed by Florian Schott in 2014.

‘Katutura’ was selected to be screened at the Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, with the main cast in attendance.

Tjuna has also featured in ‘The Third Will’, ‘Dreamers’, ‘Nothing but the Truth’, ‘Best Sex Ever’, ‘Fish Out of Water’, and ‘Instant Love’.