African Womanist Film

Gender Issues

The role of African films in the advancement of human rights is probably nowhere more important than in the advancement of African women towards their liberation. The concept of ‘Diaspora,’ therefore, takes on a double sense for the African woman, as she at once distances herself from patriarchal systems as well as the national identities in which they are embodied. Film plays a critical role in allowing the African woman her own identity vis-à-vis African men. Social change depends on role models. And clearly the movie industry is among the most prominent producers of role models, thereby playing a role of enormous strategic importance with respect to progressive social change towards women’s liberation.

In Nigeria, gender varies across tribal groups even within a single tribal culture; the meaning of gender varies over time. Applying the African womanist film shows that African women are speaking out and organizing around five key issues: "marital rights, reproductive health, female genital mutilation, women's role in the economy, and political rights"(California Newsreel, para. 1). Some Nollywood films are perhaps the clearest contemporary example of how African women are organizing at the grassroots level to insure participation in the continent's current move towards democracy. A film about African women is a rarity in the international film community. Yet, they do exist and some are even beginning to be made by African women themselves.

Many women have contributed tremendously in the development of the Nigerian videofilm industry and they have made an impact on videofilms in recent years. Some of those who have contributed to the industry are Lola Fani-Kayode, Amaka Igwe, Clarion Chukwura-Oduneye, Lucille Ayorinde and Ameze Imhariagbe. Uhakheme states that these women all share one thing: they are shining stars in the ever-growing Nigerian movie industry. Works like Mirror In The Sun, Mind Bending, Fuji House of Horror, Ripples, Flesh and Blood and Checkmate are some evidences of their great contributions to the videofilm business in Nigeria.