The Mwanahiti short film project and an ongoing dialogue explores an evolving tradition--serving as both an archival resource and a reflective commentary, the film invites audiences to consider how Mwanahiti practices intersect with modern methods of teaching sexual and reproductive health education. Through personal interviews, cultural narratives, and community storytelling, the documentary underscores the importance of preserving certain values and lessons embedded in the Mwanahiti tradition, even as it adapts to contemporary life.

The Mwanahiti Project is a short documentary film and an ongoing dialogue that delves into the evolution of a longstanding cultural tradition. Serving both as an archival resource and a reflective commentary, the film prompts viewers to consider how Mwanahiti practices intersect with contemporary approaches to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education. Through personal interviews, cultural narratives, and community storytelling, it highlights the importance of preserving the core values embedded in Mwanahiti traditions, even as they adapt to modern life.

Since its release in 2021, The Mwanahiti Project has sparked meaningful conversations on SRH, reaching more than 20,000 adults and students, including over 2,000 who attended in-person screenings. The documentary has been featured at the 2023 Zanzibar International Film Festival and the 2024 Accra Indie Film Festival, and is now part of the Tanzania National Museum’s permanent collection. Most recently, it was screened at the Humboldt Forum as part of the Histories of Tanzania exhibition.

While acknowledging that cultural change is both natural and inevitable, the film encourages viewers to reflect on what is lost when traditions fade. Mwanahiti practices once offered guidance on health, sexuality, community values, and personal identity—lessons that remain relevant even in the modern world. Rather than presenting tradition and modernity as opposing forces, the Mwanahiti Project seeks to highlight how they can inform and strengthen each other.

By examining this unique cultural practice, the Mwanahiti Project invites a broader conversation on how to preserve, adapt, and learn from the past. Ultimately, it encourages a thoughtful consideration of how we might retain valuable cultural insights, ensuring that essential traditions persist and continue to shape future generations in positive and meaningful ways.