Namibia Up: A documentary film companion to ALLS

Coming of Age in an African Context

Africa is rich in creative, ambitious young people. Our new documentary film, “Namibia Up: Being 18 in African Today,” offers an inspiring glimpse into their transition to adulthood. Created as a companion to the Africa Long Life Study —a longitudinal exploration of youth development in Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa — the film brings the fascination of lifespan research alive.

In 2023 we filmed 14 18-year-olds and their guardians for the first installment of what we intend to be a documentary series, inspired by Micheal Apted’s UP series for the BBC. In-depth interviews with young people like those in the ALLS samples conveys narratively and visually the power of a longitudinal study to capture the complex ups and downs in a lifespan. The 14 film participants reflect on their upbringing and how it differs from that of their elders. They share the dreams that drive them and the challenges they face as they embark on adult lives. Grounded in the Namibian context, the stories echo experiences across sub-Saharan Africa, where young people balance traditional values with globalised change and opportunities.

Thanks to support from the Swiss National Science foundation, we can offer both:

Public showings in which the 40-minute film will be embedded in an interactive discussion about cultural similarities and differences in psychological development in general, and the hopes and prospects of Africa's diverse youth in particular.
Multi-session (4-8 hours total) workshops for schools and other groups of 14-25 year olds.

For more information, please contact Anika Stark, anika.stark@uzh.ch.