Media Focus on Africa is pleased to announce the commencement of a new phase of public screenings of the Filamu Dada films combined with interactive discussions. These public screenings and dialogue will take place in each of the 7 counties where the 7 women leaders who are subjects of the films hail from. These public screenings have been made possible by the support of the Canadian High Commission in Kenya via the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)
Media Focus on Africa (MFA) believes in the transformative role of creative media in achieving gender equality. In 2022/2023 MFA supported the Filamu za Akina Dada Uongozini program, popularly referred to as Filamu Dada. 7 pairs (a producer and director) of Kenyan female filmmakers were supported to produce 7 short internationally compliant Kenyan creative documentaries on 7 women leaders from across the country. The full list of the films and the filmmakers is as follows:
DONYA: Voice of The People- Hon. Donya Dorice Aburi (County Woman MP Kisii) produced by Irene Mukonyoro & Debra Ngeru
CHEPTIKONYOL- Hon. Cynthia Muge Rotich (County Women MP Nandi) produced by Miriam Koske & Cherotich Kibet
GENOWA- HE, Hon. Gladys Wanga (Governor Homabay County) produced by Sandra Ruong’o & Wendy Kirorei
Etomononi Nagol- Caroline Ncharo (Assistant Chief Kajiado) produced by Cynthia Abdallah, Ivy Kagai & Skeeter Imisa
The Nomads Daughter- Mumina Gollo Bonaya (County Woman MP Isiolo) produced by Gumato Denge & Aisha Hussein
Ma-itu- Sabina Chege (Nominated MP) Muranga County produced by Sally Ngoiri & Joan Rispa Kiragu
The Force Within- HE, Hon Cecily Mbarire (Governor Embu County) produced by Ashley Murugi & Joan Kabugu
The films were officially launched on 5th October 2023 at the National Museums in a ceremony attended by the women leaders among other dignitaries. Initial public screenings of the films followed with interactive discussions took place in Kitale and at Alliance Francaise in Nairobi. The films were also screened at the Movies that Matter film festival in the Hague, Netherlands.
The Rationale for Using Creative Media to Support Realization of Gender Equality in Political Participation and Representation in Kenya
The movie/film industry (creative media) is one of the most influential branches of media. It reaches billions of viewers across the world shaping the beliefs and opinions of people. Impactful as they are, movies/films tend to perpetuate gender inequality. Portrayals in films reinforce societal gender stereotypes. Roles played by women on screen that reinforce negative gender stereotypes can set back progress towards achieving gender parity. According to the World Economic Forum 2024 State of the Gender in the Film Industry Report, out of 100 highest grossing films for 2023 only 30 featured women and girls in lead or co-lead roles. Because of the role of films in popular culture and society, films largely reflect prevailing cultural attitudes about gender roles, norms, attitudes and expectations. This results in a vicious cycle as societal stereotypes influence filmmakers (mostly male) who in turn create art that adds to the said stereotypes.
These negative depictions have implications that reach far beyond the entertainment industry. According to a NORDICOM report “Beyond the Stereotypes? Images of Boys and Girls and their Consequences”, stereotypical gender portrayals and clear gender segregation correlates with preference for gender appropriate media content, toys and games, traditional perception of gender roles, occupations and personality traits and attitudes towards expectations and aspirations for future trajectories of life.
But creative/entertainment media can play a transformative role in achieving gender equality in societies. This is through gender sensitive and gender transformative content that breaks gender stereotypes and content that challenges traditional social and cultural norms and attitudes regarding gender. Content that shows/present women in leadership roles and as experts on a diversity of topics on a daily basis, not as an exception.
In a UN Women Discussion Paper Series No 42 “Social Norms, Gender and Development: A Review of Research and Practice” Cookson T.P et al make the case for combining the gender sensitive and transformative content with group discussions that foster engagement and debate. Further, they reckon that the involvement of men and boys, and influential actors such as faith and community leaders in the group discussions is critical for the construction of new gender norms.
Screening of the Filamu Dada films in the Counties where the women leaders hail from will increase the awareness about women and leadership. The films show/present the women leaders in their leadership roles and as experts on a diversity of topics on a daily basis, not as an exception. The facilitated dialogues that accompany the screenings are a platform for open and frank discussions that will challenge popular stereotypes about women and leadership. The involvement of men, faith and community leaders in the facilitated dialogues will foster debate and engagement critical for construction of new social and cultural gender norms and ideologies. Ultimately this will create an environment that is enabling of girls and women’s full enjoyment of their human rights and fulfilment of their fullest potential.
Despite improvement in the 2022 elections, women are still significantly underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making positions in Kenya. Following the elections, women make up 10.6% of all elected leaders (201 of 1882). This is a slight improvement on the 9.1% (172 of 1882) in 2017 and 7.7% (145 of 1882) in 2013. There’s need for more elected women leaders across the board in line with the constitution’s two-third gender principle for elective bodies. Creative media (films/documentaries) can play a part in this.
Media representation of women matter. If we want to see more women in leadership in the real world, girls need to see more women leaders in the world of entertainment. Having women as role models in popular media inspires girls to aim higher. This is the role that Filamu Dada plays.