I have written a few articles about unfair stereotypes normally associate with Africa and things from Africa. To be fair to the outside world, African cultures play a major role in establishing some of these formulaic conceptions.
One thing that easily comes to mind, and which worries me, is the pigeonhole role normally offered to the woman in most African movies. It has been a while since I saw an Africa film but the few that I can recollect had the same theme in all of them. The woman was for the most part depicted as the witch, the bitch, the maid, the weak, the evil, the cheated, the abused and others you can think of. ‘Role model’ roles were few, if any.
Has this changed? If it has, then please, pardon me. If it has not, then it has to change and it has to change fast. Our young girls will be grateful to us if we do.
Media construct our culture, and the media we use to communicate with one another shapes our perception of reality. When young girls see women in movies or read about them in books, they regard these women as lucky individuals, role models, celebrities in today’s slang. In response, they try to be carbon copies of these flattered, lucky individuals. They therefore begin to model what they see. What we show them is possible is what they grow up expecting to accomplish.
African women are the most hardworking among women. They are strong, resilient, and they never quit. It is summed up in the old Nigerian song “Sweet Mother’
It about time we saw the African woman portrayed as an educated entrepreneur, skillful international diplomat and a war hero. After all, what comes to mind when we think of Yaa Asantewaa?
It is just fair that the women play the ‘other roles’ too. Isn’t it?
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there are so many women doing so well in Africa that their lives can be portrayed in movies for the entire Africa to see. gone are the days when our mothers , sisters, mother-in-laws were witches. it is now for every woman of every home to wake up and empower herself. it does not take education to do this. woman empowerment starts from within the woman herself by herself. time has come for we African women to empower ourselves.
great article, and all women thank you for this. It is time that women also ask for bigger role. Don’t always accept the role of the ‘bitch’ or ‘witch’ as the author said.
Thank you for this article. I think most African societies are scared to see a woman rise to power. Some men are just insecured with a powerful woman so we do everything that will let the woman think she has to be a background underdog, or quiet person. Sad
Thank you very much!
Kwabena, you’re making a great point here. This is the same situation in Nigeria, and I think most African countries have the same issue. The picture we present to young girls about the role women play is society is a bad picture. There’s a need for big changes.