Russian Chess Official (uncredited)Ī Ugandan girl sees her world rapidly change after being introduced to the game of chess. Ggaba MerchantĪnne-Marie Bewulira-Wandera. Chess Federation SecretaryĬharles Mulekwa. “When my own daughter went to the training she became a different person… Now we have four parents who want to learn.Queen of Katwe Trailer (Official Trailer) Rachael Ofumbi, the headmistress of a Kampala primary school who introduced chess classes after hearing Phiona Mutesi’s story earlier this year, said the sessions have led to a noticeable increase in the attentiveness of her students. It teaches strategy, abstract thinking, resource management, problem solving and perseverance.” “I teach my children that trophies are a bonus, but that everyone achieves in chess as long as they can integrate its principles into their lives,” he told Al Jazeera over a soda in a rustic cafe overlooking Kampala’s urban sprawl.
Competing with televised football for funding and sponsorship is nearly impossible, while a long-running misconception among many Ugandans that chess is simply a means of gambling does not help matters.īut mostly, Robert argues, the government simply does not appreciate the benefits or importance of chess. Since Disney announced it was turning Phiona’s story into a movie, chess has been booming in Kampala īringing chess into the mainstream has not been an easy task. He has lobbied the education ministry but so far without success. “But my biggest hope is to see the government embracing chess as a subject in schools from primary level,” he said, pointing out that ‘brain games’ are supposed to be included in Ugandan school curriculums but are rarely used in practice.
QUEEN OF KATWE FILMING LOCATIONS FREE
This year the clinics have reached more than 400 underprivileged girls, leaving a free chess set for each one. “We’ve been conducting girls’ chess clinics too, and Phiona has been leading the campaign,” explained Robert. Some of Robert’s older students, from the early days of the Katwe Chess Academy, are now leading the drive to spread chess across the country. He has helped to set up chess academies in four more Kampala slums, as well as in seven communities in the northern town of Gulu, which suffered some of the worst atrocities during the conflict with Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army.
QUEEN OF KATWE FILMING LOCATIONS SERIES
Robert Katende, who also works as the federation’s director of development, hopes to build on the increased levels of interest in the game by launching a series of initiatives aimed at school-age children across the country.
When the academy is open, up to 100 youngsters routinely turn up to challenge each other at chess “A lot of people are coming and asking how they can be involved.” “We’re expecting an even bigger turnout this year,” said Vianney Luggaya, the federation’s president. The turnout at the national junior championships has sky-rocketed from around 150 in 2012 to more than 700 last year. Last year, a record 28 chess clubs registered with the Ugandan Chess Federation, up from just 12 a few years ago, while informal clubs are springing up in schools across the country. The movie, which features Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o as Phiona’s mother and David Oyelowo as Robert, is not due to be released until September this year, but the filming – part of which took place on location in Katwe using local residents as extras – created considerable excitement, and its impact is already being felt. “I want to be the second queen of Katwe.” “I want to be like Phiona and win trophies,” said Lillian in a break between games. Robert Katende, photographed outside the chess academy in Katwe, one of the largest slums in the Ugandan capital
0 kommentar(er)
