Intentar ORO - Gratis
Found in translation Hollywood films given voice by Uganda's video stars
The Guardian
|June 04, 2025
On a Saturday afternoon in an informal settlement in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, dozens of young men sat on benches in a dark shack to watch a bootlegged version of the Hollywood comedy-horror film, The Monkey.
As the English-language action unfolded on the screen, a voiceover translation in the Bantu language Luganda by VJ Junior – one of Uganda's top video jockeys – boomed into the room.
VJs, who liberally translate movies and TV shows for local audiences, have become an integral part of TV and film culture in rural and low-income areas of the east African country.
Part-interpreters, part-comedians, they often simplify scripts and frame them in a familiar context – for instance by changing characters' names to those of local people or replacing western concepts with Ugandan examples.
Esta historia es de la edición June 04, 2025 de The Guardian.
Suscríbete a Magzter GOLD para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9000 revistas y periódicos.
¿Ya eres suscriptor? Iniciar sesión
MÁS HISTORIAS DE The Guardian
The Guardian
O'Neill steers Celtic to final after 20 years away
There have been wackier weeks in the history of Celtic, but not many.
3 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
Archer and Wood offer hope amid batting woe
A calamitous lack of runs led to an ODI series whitewash in New Zealand, but pace attack show signs of encouragement
2 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
Louvre heist was carried out by petty criminals, says prosecutor
The brazen daytime heist of the Louvre was carried out by petty criminals, rather than professionals from the world of organised crime, the Paris prosecutor has said, describing two of the suspects as a couple with children.
1 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
'He's a force': how shapeshifting Josh O'Connor became one of cinema's most-wanted stars
He came to prominence with his portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown, and now it seems that Josh O'Connor might be primed for his own coronation.
3 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
Shafali and Deepti the home heroes as India make history
At last, 50 years on from their debut on the world stage, India's dream came true: a first World Cup triumph, in front of a deafening full house in Navi Mumbai, as they defeated South Africa by 52 runs.
2 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
Rooney's 'lazy criticism' of leadership riles Van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk has called Wayne Rooney's criticism of him and Mohamed Salah this season \"lazy\" and has hit out at \"ridiculous takes\" during Liverpool's recent bad run.
1 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
Exhibition recalls meeting of abstract masters in Somerset
The story of how one of the UK’s great abstract painters was inspired by ordinariness - and the extraordinary meeting he had with an American artistic giant - is being told in a new exhibition in the West Country.
1 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
I used my voice - I took on a global sports giant and won
The Paris Saint-Germain No 1 recalls how she triggered a campaign against Nike over its refusal to sell her shirt
2 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
Ruthless Haaland guides City up to familiar heights
On Friday Pep Guardiola suggested Erling Haaland’s teammates should support the Norwegian in the goalscoring stakes. Cut to 48 hours later and guess who did the business yet again - twice - for Manchester City to take them into a 2-1 halftime lead that proved unassailable?
3 mins
November 03, 2025
The Guardian
Owner of salon takes on L'Oréal in row over trademark
A small business owner is preparing to face down the cosmetics giant L'Oréal at a tribunal over a trademark dispute she says has had a devastating impact on her.
2 mins
November 03, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size