WHISPERS IN THE WATER
by Fatma Abubakar Abutalib Mohamed
Based in the second-hand clothing market and river landfill of Dandora, Kenya, this project analyses the sociopolitical dynamics of a contested space involving citizens and the state, through the perspectives of children that refuse to accept a troubled future.
Film Logline: Through the unfiltered lens of a young child living near the Dandora dumpsite, Whispers in the Water captures a raw and powerful vlog-style journey that exposes the harsh truth behind Kenya’s overflowing landfills and polluted river—revealing a bold plan by local children to send a message downstream in hopes that someone, somewhere, will finally listen.
This project explores the hidden consequences of the global second-hand clothing trade, focusing on the environmental and social impact of donated clothes dumped in Kenya, particularly in the Nairobi River and Dandora clothing dump. What is often seen as an act of charity becomes a burden for communities like Dandora, where the government profits from the influx while neglecting its devastating effects.
The narrative follows a young local boy living in Dandora, whose daily life is shaped by this toxic environment. Through his eyes, we witness his struggles, routines, and how he copes with a new government policy that worsens conditions. His story takes a hopeful turn when he meets a city boy at the market. Though forbidden to play with the locals, the city boy secretly offers to teach him how to write in English. Their lessons become quiet acts of rebellion and connection.
Together with other children, they find a way to have their voices heard. Using discarded clothes and plastic bottles from the river and landfill, they sew handmade dolls and hide secret messages inside them. These dolls become a symbolic and creative form of resistance, giving voice to a community silenced by environmental injustice.