We Name Ourselves

Story

We Name Ourselves follows seven young poets in Dzaleka: Espoir Kahitani, Nyota Ephrase, Charles Lipanda Mahigwe, Mutamba Lodima, Samuel Mundusa, Rudy Ruhigita Bienvenue, and Heritier Havyarimana Kivunja.

The film records how they use spoken word to express daily life, displacement, identity, hope, and the constraints facing young people in the camp. Their preparation for Tumaini Festival connects private writing and rehearsal with performance before a large public audience.

Production and release

HOME Storytellers produced the documentary with an impact campaign intended to connect international screenings with community-led arts, education, livelihood, and mental-health initiatives in Dzaleka.

The official film site announced distribution through festivals, streaming platforms, community events, and educational screenings. Nation Online recorded a screening at Tumaini Festival in 2025, establishing that the film had moved beyond its earlier post-production status.

Cultural record

The film belongs to a wider body of work in which Dzaleka artists document their lives in their own words. It is significant both as a documentary about the camp and as a record of named young poets whose work might otherwise remain scattered across performances and social media.