The inimitable Hakeem Kae-Kazim
IT’S NOT every day that one gets the opportunity to chat with the inimitable Hakeem Kae-Kazim.
After watching his mesmerising performance as Mambo in Sunu Gonera’s Afro-futuristic coming-of-age drama, Riding with Sugar, I was determined to maximise every minute of my one-on-one chat via Zoom.
At the outset, I have to say that I loved everything about the film, from Gonera’s powerful storytelling and masterful direction to the stellar cast and sublime cinematography.
The story, which has been 17 years in the making and is set in Cape Town, follows the journey of Joshua (Charles Mnene), a young refugee obsessed with winning a BMX cycling championship.
He hopes that by doing so he will carve out a more promising future.
Although his dream is derailed by an accident, fate favours him with an introduction to Mambo (Kae-Kazim), an enigmatic teacher who is also a foreigner.
Mambo takes Joshua under his wing and, aside from broadening his view of the world, empowers him to use education to make a better life for himself.
Kae-Kazim expanded on why he agreed to be a part of this Netflix feature.
“I’ve known Sunu for a long time, even when he started developing this thing.
“I mean, I wasn’t involved in the development of it but I heard he was developing the story over the years.
“We had a journey together.
“We were in America at the same time – he doing Pride, me doing Pirates of the Caribbean – and having the same struggle.”
When Gonera finally completed the script, he approached Kae-Kazim.
“It was a no-brainer that I would work with him.
“I loved the character and what he was trying to do in a futuristic sort of vision of the piece.
“I loved the layered characters and the story and what he was trying to say on many different levels,” the actor said.
“And Mambo is a prize because he is so complex and not a bad guy as far as he is concerned.”
What bolsters the film’s appeal is the wonderful screen chemistry between Mambo and Joshua.
Kae-Kazim praised his young co-star.
“He was a lovely young man to work with.
“And he really brings the character to life.
“It’s great to have
