A cup of tea and quiet conversations.

Earlier this month, one of my fondest moments was over a simple cup of tea shared with students from the Faculty of the built Environment (FOBE) at Ugandan Martyrs University,Nkozi. What began as an ordinary afternoon guest lecture turned into a deeply reflective exchange about tea as heritage, how its preparations, sharing and symbolism have been passed on through generations, and whether the same sense of continuity can be created in our cinema heritage. 

There was a lot happening around us, conversations, a small exhibition and discussions about the archival work page 4 is doing. Yet, amidst the lively energy, I was reminded that no everyone expresses themselves with the same volume. Some speak loudly, others more softly. Some prefer to listen first, then respond through quiet reflection rather than open debate.

A few students lingered afterward for small talk; others chose to write down their thoughts instead. Both gestures carried meaning. In their own ways, they each engaged with the question of how heritage is experienced, not only through grand narratives but through intimate, personal moments, like sharing a cup of tea or recalling a favorite cinema memory. 

That afternoon reminded me that dialogue doesn’t always need a stage. Sometimes, the most profound exchanges happen in stillness, in the warmth of shared tea, in the pause between words, and in the silent spaces where ideas slowly take root.