It was the first film from the United Republic of Tanzania to ever be submitted as entry to the Oscars.
Lead Actress, Amandina Lihamba sprained her ankle while hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro to shoot a scene for the film. Despite her injury she continued up the mountain and finished all her scenes.
For filming the scene "at the door to hell" in Bagamoyo, local extras were used. After filming of the scene was complete, the extras were paid. Immediately after some of the extras were beaten up and robbed of their pay by people who watched the filming.
Director Martin Mhando and several other cast and crew became ill with malaria while filming in Bagamoyo.