With a recent Netflix film credit to her name and a successful exhibition, Esther Nakaziba’s star is surely ascending. The Janzi award-winning Ugandan special effects makeup artist and costume designer is more than ready to make a mark on the film industry.
“What I really love about special effects makeup is the creativity it provokes in me that I don’t even understand. I find myself doing something I can’t comprehend. And when someone looks at what I have created, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, is this true?’ Now, that’s what I want.”
As we jump on a Zoom call, fresh from her inaugural E-Nakaziba Film and Makeup exhibition, Esther is wearing a satisfied and relaxed look. She is taking a much-needed mini break from film sets and a hugely successful makeup and costumes exhibition she recently held.
The two-day event, held at Motiv, brought together makeup and costume designers. Besides showcasing their works, they attended workshops facilitated by makeup prodigies from East Africa.
“I love the fact that the world of Ugandan art lovers came to know about the exhibition. I would call it a success as a first edition.”
Esther says the exhibition was inspired by the need to bridge the gap between the ever-evolving and growing film industry and talents to meet the exponential demand.
“I’m in the industry, so I know what we lack. As a department of makeup and costume, we are very few. Many people want to acquire the skills, but they don’t know where to get them. If you notice, we do not have a film makeup school or a film costume school. So whoever is in the business is self-taught or has learned by observing someone else.”
Esther was inspired to start a career as a special effects makeup artist after watching Shakirah Kibirige, one of the prodigies in the field.
“Having had an art background, I loved seeing Shakira do what she was doing on set. I loved it so much that I pleaded with her to teach me. She was a bit busy, so the only way I could truly understand and learn was to assist her on the set of ’27 Guns.’ Later on, I met Kenyan makeup artist Grace Marema, who gave me practical lessons for achieving different looks on the same set. I think the fact that I love makeup and I’m so passionate about it made me willing to go the extra mile and learn it at any cost.”
She then ventured out to become a fully-fledged special effects makeup artist, establishing a career that is undoubtedly paying off. She is currently working on the set of the prestigious TV series in Uganda, ‘The Honourables,’ as a costume designer. Most notably, she served as a makeup artist for the Netflix film ‘Katera of the Punishment Island’ by Loukman Ali, which was launched last month.
Esther credits technology for contributing to the exhibition’s success and promoting her work as a creative.
“I use my phone to record the process of the makeup looks that I create and post them daily. Without posting my work, people wouldn’t know exactly what I do. I think it was very easy for people to relate to the exhibition because they knew exactly what I do through my posts.”
She says this has helped her reach audiences beyond her circle.
“I believe if I cannot reach everyone physically, I can use social media. So I joined every app that can help me promote what I do.”
Post-exhibition, Esther harbors ambitious plans, including starting the first film makeup and costume creative school.
A UNESCO 2022 report estimates that Africa’s film industry has the potential to create over 20 million jobs and contribute US$20 billion to the continent’s combined GDP.
With Africa’s content demand at an all-time high, Esther believes there’s a greater need for capacity building to tap into this opportunity.
“I believe we need to increase the number of makeup artists and costume designers because the market and demand are there. Makeup and costume design are careers that can provide a living. We have opportunities to travel the world, work with big companies, and participate in international projects because of our skills.
“So right now, I’m trying to create the school so that those who want to acquire the skills and be trained know where to go. I receive a lot of inquiries from people who want to learn, but I don’t have a place to start the classes. The only option I have right now is to have them at the National Theatre.”
And as she nods with conviction and steely determination, you can tell that not even the sky will limit her.
