NaNational Geographic's 'LION' Puts African Wildlife Storytelling in the Spotlight tional Geographic's 'LION' Puts African Wildlife Storytelling in the Spotlight
National Geographic's new four-part documentary series LION, now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, follows lion cub Kio over four years in Kenya's Maasai Mara as he grows into adulthood - but it is the role of the lionesses, and the African filmmaker behind the lens, that is drawing particular attention. Kenyan producer and director Faith Musembi, one of the series' key filmmakers, brings a perspective shaped by years of wildlife filmmaking on the continent, most notably through her work on Queens and Incredible Animal Journeys. Musembi is also the founder of the Nuru Film Institute, a Maasai Mara-based training hub dedicated to developing the next generation of African wildlife storytellers.
For the African travel and tourism industry, LION offers a timely reminder of the Maasai Mara's global appeal as a wildlife destination, with the series showcasing the landscape and its communities to a broad international audience across two major streaming platforms. Musembi has spoken of her deliberate effort to ensure the Indigenous Maasai community is authentically represented in the storytelling, weaving in local knowledge, language and perspective throughout the production. She is currently working towards establishing a wildlife film training school in Kenya, with the aim of creating a pipeline of African talent for international productions - an initiative that could strengthen the continent's role not only in wildlife filmmaking, but in shaping how Africa's natural heritage is presented to the world.
Source: Forbes
