CHUMA (working title) is an action-driven, historical drama, that chronicles the coming of age story of a young African goat herder, the son of a famous Yao warrior. Chuma is swept up in an extraordinary whirlwind of events that snatches him from his simple village life and never lets loose. Through the decimation of his tribe, the massacre of his family, the brutality of fierce Arab slavers, and a chance encounter with an eccentric Scottish explorer, Chuma develops an obsession for justice that culminates in his confrontation with thousands of African warriors on a battlefield...alone.

Production Notes:

The following creative decisions have guided the development of the story:

Chuma's story is revealed, almost exclusively, through the actions and perspectives of historical African characters.
Although Chuma’s fate is intertwined with Europeans - Dr. David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley, and even Queen Victoria of England - this is first and foremost an African story. Not the story of colonizers. The history, heroes, conflicts and landscapes are African. The series explores the diversity of tribes, nations, and alliances that existed before and during the first arrival of European explorers. In this story the truth is stranger than fiction.

Certain cinemagraphic liberties
Although Chuma’s story is based on historical people and events, cinemagraphic liberties were taken in the writing process to enrich the narrative, and compress time and location, for the sake of story screen pace. Some characters are composite and others entirely fictional. Locations in the story have been also minimized to accommodate lower production costs, using existing talent, structures and landscapes that exist near state-of-the-art production facilities in Southern Africa.

Demographic focus
This is not another story about African slavery, with indigenous Africans depicted as depressed, helpless, victims and their anguish under the hands of white colonial slavers. This true story reveals the complexity, strengths, and pride of Africans that could never be vanquished. In addition to our young hero Chuma, and the demonic enemies he must vanquish, the story includes an ensemble cast of strong African female and male allies, mystics, warriors, Kings and Queens who aid and influence Chuma throughout his journey. The coming of age genre has historically proven to appeal to a particularly broad audience.