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 AS OLD AS MY TONGUE
the myth and life of Bi Kidude
“impressive and engrossing”
Charlie Gillett
“A remarkable documentary unveiling a genuine legend of world music”
Simon Broughton,
 Songlines Magazine
“A delight from beginning to end”
Howard Male, The Independent
a documentary filmby ScreenStation Productionswith Busara Promotions
66minutes. © 2006
tel:+44 7960 393785 (Andy Jones)info@screenstation.netwww.asoldasmytongue.net www.mypsace.com/screenstation 
 
AS OLD AS MY TONGUE: the myth and life of Bi Kidude. A documentary film
Andy Jones tel:+44 7960 393785 info@screenstation.net
synopsis
An intimate portrait of living legend Bi Kidude, probably the oldest singer on the world stagetoday. Her home island of Zanzibar has long been a meeting point for black African and Arabicinfluence. The island’s music is its most potent expression.Bi Kidude beguiles audiences wherever she travels but domestically she continually courtscontroversy, her behaviour challenging perceptions of the role of women in a Muslim society.As Old As My Tongue reveals the dramatic contrasts in the life of this iconic musician andfeatures a classic soundtrack spanning one hundred years of Swahili music.
press and reviews
"A remarkable documentary that really unveils a genuine legend of world music. Bi Kidude is aphenomenon and As Old as My Tongue is a sympathetic and moving portrait.”
Simon Broughton, Songlines Magazine
“impressive and engrossing”
Charlie Gillett
 “Fascinating doc capturing every note of legendary Zanzibari singer Bi Kidude. The story is toldso thoroughly, her own words cross-cut with a variety of interviews. There’s also a pricelss twistwhich would have been impossible to stage”
**** Jason Richards. NOW Toronto
“As Old As My Tongue is a delight from beginning to end.- engrossing, amusing and moving.The impressionistic, fly on the wall film never judges…A loving portrait of an extraordinaryindividual who, between cigarettes and pints of lager, is still having to put up a fight to live howshe wishes to live.”
Howard Male, The Independent
“imagine Bet Lynch impersonating the queen”
Sandy Bettison, The Times
“As Old As My Tongue shows Bi Kidude to be a genuine larger than life character, a sharp wittedraconteur and a tireless performer. Where group identity is blurred and one is asked to defineonself it can make space for epic myth making. Stunning.”
Craig Duncan, Link Magazine, Prague
 
AS OLD AS MY TONGUE: the myth and life of Bi Kidude. A documentary film
Andy Jones tel:+44 7960 393785 info@screenstation.net
long synopsis
Bi Kidude is a living legend. What a woman: musician, leader, Muslim, rebel.‘As Old As My Tongue’ is a remarkable story with an amazing central character. The face of Bi Kidude(pronounced Bee Key-Doo-Day) tells its own story of almost one hundred years of hard living on theAfrican island of Zanzibar. Add a tongue, and the stories that emerge are full of life, humour, musicallegend and social history.Bi Kidude challenges our perception of age, of stardom, and of the role of women in Islam. She’d nevercall herself a rebel but neither has she ever conformed to stereotypical perceptions of a Muslim woman.She’s been breaking the rules since she was ten years old and ran away from Koran school to the StoneTown docks.To see a ninety three year-old woman drum, dance, drink, smoke and flirt is a unique experience. Towitness the transformation as she reverses the ageing process and changes from a wrinkled granny into avital shining star is nothing short of a revelation. To meet the patrons, pimps and personalities whosurround her is a unique trip to a hidden side of a paradise island.Over the last three years we have filmed with Bi Kidude and her extended entourage. From her humblehome in a township on the edge of historic Stone Town to the grandeur of the Theatre de la Ville in Pariswe have captured moments of love, jealousy, protection and exploitation of a witty and humble woman.Musical moments combined with highly personal observation form the trunk of our story. The music isextraordinary. From the seemingly poetic but really biting satire of the grand Taarab orchestras to thetelling rhythms of primal sexuality expressed in her x-rated Unyago the film is punctuated with sensationallive footage.In a world where the old are often seen as useless and dependent, Bi Kidude gives us a counterpoint.When she has money, which she often does after a concert tour or a recording session, she is surroundedby hangers-on looking for a handout. Those closest to her bemoan her generous nature while she herselfdraws strength from her ability to care for people around her, however tenuous their family connection.These characters and their stories populate our film. Their opposing agendas and personal spats bringhumour, jealousy and mystery to the Bi Kidude story.
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