Sam Nzima
A Journey Through His Lens
Going behind the lens, Sam Nzima’s life unfolds against one of history’s most recognised photographs, the haunting image of Hector Pieterson during the 1976 Soweto Uprising. Through the events surrounding June 16, 1976, the film chronicles Nzima’s life, from his early days in rural Transvaal to his rise as a key figure in South African journalism, at the frontlines of media that forever changed the political landscape of South Africa. Nzima’s historic photograph, which laid bare the brutal truths of apartheid and shattered the government’s carefully crafted propaganda, led to his forced exile. Despite this, Nzima did not retain copyright of his images until decades later, revealing a new wave of exploitation and control of the black narrative Through exclusive interviews, rare archival footage, and intimate personal stories, Sam Nzima: A Journey Through His Lens reveals the complex, unspoken power of one image, one man, and countless sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom and justice for all.