Dr. Edgar L. Ngelela
Lecturer | Film & Television Director | Screenwriter | Academic Supervisor

Dr. Edgar L. Ngelela (PhD) is a seasoned academic and creative professional with over 15 years of experience in both higher education and the Tanzanian film and television industry. He currently serves as a Lecturer at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Dar es Salaam, where he has taught since August 2009.

His academic background includes a BA, MA, and PhD in Fine and Performing Arts, with a strong foundation in theatre arts, and growing expertise in radio, film, and television production. He is particularly passionate about guiding students through the entire production process—from pre-production planning to post-production editing—with a keen eye for both narrative and technical excellence.

Dr. Ngelela teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students in areas such as:

• Film and Television Production
• Research Methods in Media Studies
• Radio Production and Management
• Production Planning and Media Budgeting
• Photography and Photojournalism
• New Media Technologies
• Audio-Visual Editing

His MA dissertation focused on children’s television programming, and his PhD research explored video-film studies in the Tanzanian context.

In parallel with his academic career, Dr. Ngelela is also a film director, screenwriter, producer, director of photography (DOP), cinematographer, and actor. As the founder of Keen Insights Productions, he has contributed significantly to Tanzania’s creative landscape, producing a wide range of films, television programs, documentaries, and training workshops for aspiring filmmakers.

His creative and scholarly interests span

• Theatre and Performance
• Directing (Film, Theatre, TV, Music Videos)
• Photography & Cinematography
• Filmmaking Workshops & Mentorship
• Storytelling, Media Aesthetics & Cultural Representation

Dr. Ngelela welcomes supervision inquiries from students interested in any of the following areas:

• Film and TV production and criticism
• Theatre and performance studies
• Radio production and audience engagement
• Children’s media and educational content
• Cinematography and visual storytelling
• African media industries and cultural policy

He remains committed to mentoring the next generation of storytellers while pushing forward the dialogue between traditional arts and contemporary media practices in Africa and beyond