Crisis Thinking – Free Money (2022) Documentary

Free Money is a 2022 documentary that was made available on Netflix on September 1, 2023. It explores an experiment supported by the charity GiveDirectly (one of the fastest growing non-profits of the 21st century), conducted in the Kenyan village of Kogutu. In this experiment, residents over the age of 18 had the opportunity to choose to receive a monthly universal basic income of $22 for a 12-year trial period.

This multimodal approach is an analysis of the Free Money experiment in the context of crisis thinking and humanitarianism. Is the Western world once again trying to ‘save’ Africa and diminish their agency? How equitable is this? Are there ethical implications to be considered? And isn’t this concept of free money too good to be true?

References:

Bradshaw, P. (2023). Free Money Review – The Great Experiment of Universal Basic Income. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/apr/19/free-money-review-the-great-experiment-of-universal-basic-income

DocHouse (2023). Free Money. https://dochouse.org/event/free-money/

Hilhorst, D. (2018). Classical humanitarianism and resilience humanitarianism: making sense of two brands of humanitarian action. Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 3(1), 1-12.

Madianou, M. (2019). Technocolonialism: Digital innovation and data practices in the humanitarian response to refugee crises. Social media+ society, 5(3), 2056305119863146.

Okiche, W. (2023). Kenya: ‘Free Money’ unmasks the often faceless recipients of foreign aid. https://www.theafricareport.com/296101/kenya-free-money-filmmaker-sam-soko-unmasks-the-often-faceless-recipients-of-foreign-aid/

Stanslaus Manthi (2023). “Free Money”: Direct from New York to Kenya’s Kogutu Village. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/art/-direct-from-new-york-to-kenya-s-kogutu-village–4365398

Video Content:

LBxAfrica (2023) – Free Money Documentary Official Trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8XnbHrqAoY

Sydney Film Festival (2023) – Free Money Clip SFF23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPurau96MiY

VOA Africa (2023). Documentary Film “Free Money” Examines Universal Basic Income Experiment in Kenya. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/documentary-film-free-money-examines-universal-basic-income-experiment-in-kenya/7308229.html