Anam’s Wake, the new Kenyan psychological thriller written and directed by Likarion Wainaina, is set to premiere on 31 July 2026 at Prestige Cinema.
Set against the backdrop of African mourning rituals and traditions, the film explores grief, memory and the lingering consequences of unresolved loss through the story of Anam, a professional mourner trained to summon death and negotiate the passage of souls.
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Though skilled in guiding others through loss, Anam remains emotionally numb after her mother’s death sixteen years ago. When tasked with her first solo ritual at the influential Ebale family home, what begins as a solemn wake spirals into a chilling ordeal.
As death arrives earlier than expected, the family is forced to confront long-buried secrets while Anam discovers the ritual was never truly about the deceased patriarch. Instead, it becomes a deeply personal reckoning that forces her to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death and confront the emotions she has spent years suppressing.
The film stars Marima Wanjiru (Maisha Makutano), Sam Omondi (Tuki), Peter Kawa (Subterranea), Vanessa Okeyo (MTV Shuga Mashariki), Ruth Apondi (Salem), Gathoni Mutua (Single Kiasi), Brenda Ngeso (Mpakani: Story of the North) and newcomer Pras Jadi.
According to Wainaina, known for directing Supa Modo and Kenya’s first sci-fi series Subterranea, Anam’s Wake was born out of his own journey through grief.
“After attending numerous burials in early 2024, I became fascinated by the way sorrow often stays hidden, only to return with overwhelming force later,” he says. “This film explores that terrifying truth: that unprocessed grief waits in the shadows, ready to consume us.”
Through Anam, a mourner who guides others while shutting down her own pain, Wainaina wanted to explore grief as a ritual, a burden and an inheritance.
“I also wanted to bring death to life, not as a distant concept, but as an intimate presence within communal mourning. This film is my attempt to capture the complex dance between death and grief and the dangers of postponing emotional truth,” he says.
For producer Wanjiku Njoroge, Anam’s Wake is the kind of story she’s always wanted to make, one that is “deeply rooted in African culture yet universal in its themes” as she describes it.
“We have created an authentic African story that speaks to audiences everywhere. I am incredibly proud of what we built together and the conversations it will inspire about family, truth and healing,” she says.
Following its 31 July premiere, Anam’s Wake will have additional screenings at Prestige Cinema from 1–2 August 2026.
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