This is the biography of Joe Njagu, a Zimbabwean filmmaker and actor who has made a name for himself in the African film industry. He is best known for directing and producing the multi-award-winning film Cook Off, which was acquired by Netflix in 2019. He has also directed several other feature films, such as The Gentleman, Something Nice from London, Escape, Tete B and The Letter. Joe has won several accolades for his work, including Best Foreign Language Director at the America International Film Festival and Best Film at the NAMA awards in 2012.
Early Life and Education
Joe Njagu was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, to a Kenyan father and a Zimbabwean mother. He grew up in a multicultural environment and developed an interest in film-making at an early age. Njagu attended St Peter’s College in Harare, where he excelled academically and participated in various extracurricular activities. He was also involved in drama club and theatre productions.
Njagu went on to study film-making at the University of Zimbabwe, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2006. He then pursued his passion for filmmaking by joining the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), a program that connects young African leaders with mentors from around the world. He was selected as one of the Mandela Washington Fellows in 2007.
Joe Njagu Film Career
Joe Njagu started his career as a filmmaker by directing his debut feature film Lobola in 2010. The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike and won several awards at local and international film festivals.
Joe Njagu Biography [Image: @joenjagu/Instagram]
His next feature film, The Gentleman, was released in 2012 and marked his transition to more mainstream cinema. The film is a romantic comedy that follows the adventures of two friends who try to find love after being dumped by their girlfriends. The film won him Best Foreign Language Director at the America International Film Festival and Best Film at the NAMA awards.
Since then, Joe Njagu has directed several other feature films that explore various themes such as identity, culture, politics and social issues. Some of his notable films include Something Nice from London (2014), Escape (2016), Tete B (2018), The Letter (2020) and Ngoda (2023). He has also produced some of these films under his own banner, JN Films.
In addition to directing films, Joe Njagu has also ventured into acting by appearing in some of his own films as well as other projects. Some of his notable roles include himself in Cook Off (2018), where he plays one of the contestants who compete for a chance to win $1000; John Moyo in Something Nice from London (2014), where he plays one of John’s friends who helps him woo Jane; David Moyo in Escape (2016), where he plays one of David’s brothers who joins him on his journey; Tete B (2018), where he plays one of Tete’s friends who supports him during his trial; and The Letter (2020), where he plays one of Sam’s colleagues who helps him deliver an important letter.
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Joe Njagu Achievements
Njagu has achieved remarkable success as both a filmmaker and an actor since making his debut with Lobola. He has been recognised as one of the most influential voices in African cinema by various organizations such as Young Professionals in International Affairs (YPIA) and Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
Joe Njagu Biography [Image: @joenjagu/Instagram]
In 2014, he was listed among the top 35 under 35 media professionals in Africa by YPIA. In 2020, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Harare Polytechnic University for his contribution to education through filmmaking.
Here are some of the awards he and his cast members have won:
- Best Foreign Language Director at the America International Film Festival for The Gentleman
- Best Film at the NAMA awards for The Gentleman
- Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Sound at the Botswana International Film Festival for Ngoda
- Best Director at the Botswana International Film Festival for Mirage (as producer)
- Best Cinematographer Southern Africa and Best Sound Southern Africa at the Zambia International Film Festival for Ngoda
- Best Feature Film at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival for Mirage
- Best Picture, Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Sound Engineering, Best Make-up, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the Nigeria International Film Festival for Ngoda
He has also been involved in various social causes such as promoting peace education through filmmaking, supporting youth empowerment through filmmaking scholarships, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention through filmmaking campaigns and advocating for environmental sustainability through filmmaking projects.
Joe Njagu Personal Life
Joe Njagu is married to Grace Moyo-Mutapa since 2015. They have two children together: Samuel Moyo-Mutapa Jr., born in 2016; and Grace Moyo-Mutapa III., born in 2020. They live with their pets: two dogs, Lucky and Coco; two cats, Simba and Kiara; and two birds, Tweety and Sylvester.
References
- Joe Njagu – Biography – IMDb
- Joe Njagu Speaks On His Career Leading Up To His latest Film, CookOff – YouTube
- Zimbabwean film industry makes Netflix debut with “Cook Off” – Reuters
- Film director Njagu steps up game – Nehanda Radio
