A film by the University of Bath illuminates how the blatant colonialism of the past continues to have strong vestiges in the global tobacco industry of today.
Tobacco Slave is released by the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath and industry watchdog Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products (STOP).
It was made by award-winning filmmakers Roy Maconachie, Professor of Natural Resources and Development at the University of Bath, and Simon Wharf, a videographer based at the university.
Roy and Simon have previously produced films on exploitation in cobalt mining and gold and diamond mining in Africa.
Tobacco Slave won two communicator awards - for "Excellence in Documentary" and "Excellence in Causes and Awareness". It was also shortlisted in the 'Better Health and Physical Activity' category at the World Health Organization (WHO) Health for All Film Festival and shortlisted for the Learning on Screen Awards in the category of 'Educational Film (in-house)'.
The film explores the experiences of tobacco farmers in Malawi who work for tobacco leaf-buying companies for very little pay, and who have to endure poor working conditions. These companies supply their products to transnational tobacco companies that continue to fuel the global tobacco epidemic.
The film focuses on Bristol, United Kingdom, a historic hub of the transatlantic slave trade and the headquarters of cigarette giant Imperial Brands.
The title comes from Ellen, one of the four farmers featured, who says she doesn’t want her children to be “tobacco slaves.” While global tobacco corporations enjoy billions of dollars in sales, the farmers say they do not earn enough to buy furniture or pay for their children’s school tuition. They describe children working alongside their parents in unsafe conditions, being exposed to disease from handling tobacco leaf, and lacking education because they either can’t take the time to attend school or are too exhausted.
Industry experts and historians have examined modern-day tobacco industry practices that bear a disturbing resemblance to colonial-era exploitation in Africa.
Bristol, once a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade and the colonial tobacco industry, is in sharp focus. Imperial Brands evolved from the Wills company, a tobacco business founded in Bristol in 1786 and the first British company to mass-produce cigarettes.
It is one of two global cigarette companies facing a legal suit brought on behalf of thousands of tobacco farmers in Malawi, alleging that it facilitated or encouraged exploitative working practices.
The film was screened in Bristol on Thursday 2 November 2023 with Councillor Asher Craig, Roy Maconachie, Dr Lonjezo Masikini-Phiri and Jendayi Serwah as panelists.
Find out more about the film and details of screenings.
Filming was conducted in Malawi, Nairobi (Kenya) and Bristol (UK).
Screenings have been held in New York, Nairobi, Brazil, Bath and Jordan with future events planned. If you are interested in arranging a screening in your region, please email press@exposetobacco.org.
You can watch the full panel conversation from the Bristol screening here.
Find out more about how farmers grow debt while tobacco companies grow profit.