The Return: A cinematic pilgrimage to Africa’s sacred heart, the film follows diaspora seekers as they reconnect with ancestral lands, healing technologies, and Indigenous wisdom to awaken a new global consciousness.

Greetings, family! We are a collective of storytellers, healers, filmmakers, and vision holders answering a deep call of the ancestors to create something truly sacred, a documentary called The Return.

This film is rooted in a journey back to the motherland — Botswana, one of the most spiritually and ecologically rich places on Earth. Two afro-indigenous medicine women bring a multicultural group in search of healing as they explore ancestral reconnection, decolonial education and African spirituality. The Return follows this group as they travel back to humanity's ancestral homeland to reconnect with Indigenous wisdom, plant medicine, the natural world and the memory of who we truly are.

We’re raising £30,000 to bring this documentary to life, and we urgently need £5,000 to cover travel expenses, costs of the ground, and equipment costs for our journey across Botswana. The remaining funds will ensure we complete filming and fully cover post-production, allowing us to share this important story with the world.

Why This Matters Now:

The world is in transition. We’re witnessing climate collapse, cultural alienation, and spiritual crisis — but also mass awakening.

“The Return” meets this moment with rootedness, truth, and healing.

This film isn’t just content — it’s cultural medicine.

Why This Is Important

This project matters deeply to us because it’s not just a film, it’s an offering of healing for the human collective. It’s a way of honouring the Earth, the ancestors, and the wisdom traditions that colonial systems tried to erase.

At a time when so many people feel lost, disconnected, and spiritually hungry, we believe this story can guide people back to truth, not through preaching, but through witnessing sacred ceremony, ancestral land, and real human transformation.

This is also for the diaspora, for those who feel the ache of disconnection and want to come home, spiritually and physically.

Meet the Visionaries Behind 'The Return'

An exceptional team bringing powerful stories to life.

Director: Nuakai Aru

An award-winning filmmaker known for bold, culturally resonant storytelling. Nuakai directed the critically acclaimed Nubian Spirit: The African Legacy of the Nile Valley, a landmark documentary exploring the legacy of ancient Nubia. His most recent project, Humanitree, won the People’s Choice Award at the Pan African Film Festival (U.S., 2024) — affirming his impact in global Black cinema. With The Return, Nuakai brings his signature depth and vision to the screen once again.

Producer: Muti Musafiri

Founder of Village101Studios and co-creator of Ubuntu Village, Muti Musafiri is a cultural changemaker and producer committed to telling stories that reconnect the African diaspora. With a deep focus on authenticity, community, and impact, his work serves as a bridge between generations and continents.

Cinematographer: Benji Mitchell

Of Dancing Lights Films, Benji Mitchell is celebrated for his emotive visual storytelling and masterful use of light and movement. His lens elevates The Return into a visceral journey, capturing both the grandeur of landscapes and the intimacy of personal stories with cinematic excellence.

How the Funds Will Be Used

Here’s how your donations will help:

✈️ £5,000 (Urgent) – Flights, crew travel, equipment hire, and production logistics while filming in Botswana.

£25,000 (Remaining) – Post-production, editing, colour grading, music licensing, and film preparation for festivals and distribution.

✨ 5 Ways You Can Support The Return Today

1. Become a Core Supporter

If you're able to contribute a larger amount (e.g. £5,000 or more), your generosity will help lay the foundation for this sacred film. These funds support travel, crew, production, and the groundwork for a story that reconnects us to land, spirit, and ancestral wisdom.

2. Support the Vision – Any Amount

Whether it's £10 or £5,000, every contribution brings us closer to completing this film. Each donation helps us move forward with clarity, care, and creative integrity.

3. Share with Aligned Souls

Pass this campaign on to those who care about ancestral healing, land, legacy, and truth-telling. A single share could be the spark that helps bring this project fully to life.

4. Offer Your Gifts or Connections

Are you a creative, connector, or organiser? Whether it’s helping with outreach, logistics, or spreading the word, your energy and skills are deeply welcomed.

5. Hold the Vision With Us

Even if you're unable to give financially, your presence matters. Every message, prayer, or word of encouragement helps keep this story alive and in motion.

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This is more than a film, it’s a movement of reconnection, healing, sovereign education and conscious awakening for people across the world. And the journey starts here.

Let’s build this. Together. If you feel called to support the journey of healing, to honour Africa, to restore its collective memory, we invite you to give what you can and share this widely.

"Thank you for helping us bring The Return into the world."

Let’s journey home together!

More life!

Nuakai Aru - Wisdom Foragers

Muti Musafiri- Village 101

Benji Mitchell - Dancing Light Films