Dr. Mona Mwakalinga
Dr. Mona Ngusekela Mwakalinga is the Dean of School of Journalism and Mass Communication and a Senior Lecturer of Film, Television, Theatre and Media Studies at the Department of Creative Arts, University of Dar es Salaam. Her area of specialisation is Tanzanian/African Film and Television, Transnational Cinema, Gender, African Theatre Practices and Media perception and reception.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and a Master of Arts in Theatre and Film from the University of Dar es Salaam and her doctoral degree in Film and Media Studies from the University Kansas, USA.
Mwakalinga has taught numerous film courses such as:
Introduction to the Film Medium, Introduction to Film and Television, Introduction to Basic Video Production, Advance video production, Film for Development, The Political Economy of The Creative Industry, Television Drama for behaviour change, Film theory and practices, Film Directing, Contemporary Film and Television Practices in Africa, Film Finance, Marketing and Distribution, African Cinema, Cuban Cinema, Advance Acting and Filmmaking Techniques, Broadcast Documentary, and Screenwriting.
Mwakalinga has produced, directed, and written numerous films, radio, and theatre performances at national and international level such as:
1. A writer of a radio serial drama titled ‘Temboni” supported by PCI Media Impact from U.S.A
2. Writer and director a video documentary titled” 50th Anniversary of the University of Dar Es Salaam
3. Writer and director of a short film titled “Sandili,”
4. Scriptwriter for a film titled ‘To See the Sun Rise” a film that dealt with the plight of trachoma in Tanzania.
Mwakalinga has written scholarly articles in national and international journals and currently, she is completing a book on the history of Tanzanian Bongo Movies.
PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC MEMBERSHIP:
Member, Tanzanian Film Board (2022-)
Chairperson, Oscar film selection committee (2022-)
Chairperson, Film Academy, Tanzania Film Board. (2021-)
Board Member, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Professorial Chair (Kigoda) in Pan African Studies. (2011 to date)
