WOMEN TALK PEACE: Radio Productions on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 SIERRA LEONE
This radio series was produced in Sierra Leone and stems from three workshops where women’s organizations in Freetown and rural and low-income women’s groups in Makeni and Kailahun provinces worked with IWTC to conceptualize the issues and outline scripts that best reflected their realities. Women participants from Freetown were also instrumental in giving voice and shape to the characters that make these three dramas come alive. Information about international and regional legal mechanisms (SCR 1325 and the African Protocol, for example) is woven into the stories and each program is available in Krio, Themne and Mende.
KULA GO SKUL (Kula Goes to School) Based on the realities of women’s lives in Sierra Leone
and the themes of literacy and empowerment, this program tells the story of
Kula and Bindu – two childhood friends who grew up to very different
futures. Bindu finished her studies and
is a professor while Kula was forced to leave school when she was very young to
marry a much older man. Bindu has kept tabs on Kula through a family member and
is aware of the tragedies and turmoil that she has experienced in life. Bindu
comes to Kula’s home to convince her to join an adult literacy program and
throws open a whole new world for her friend.
Click on the name of the track you want to listen to (all tracks are in .mp3 format). Krio(14:36 minutes) Temne (15:00 minutes) Mende(14:02 minutes) Download the script: [Word][PDF]
UMAN WAHALA (Women's Troubles) An exploration of the theme of violence against women,
this program tells the story of Hawa, a woman who is beaten mercilessly by her
husband while his family and neighbors do nothing to stop him. At this moment
in the story, Hawa is battered for failing to sell enough wares and her friend convinces
her to approach the police for help. After
much cajoling, Hawa arrives at the police station only to be turned away
because issues such as these are traditionally handled within the family. On her return home, Hawa is assaulted yet
again for shaming her husband before strangers. Bruised and bloody in body and
spirit, Hawa is finally delivered in the hands of a social worker who makes
every attempt to help her.
Click on the name of the track you want to listen to (all tracks are in .mp3 format). Krio(10:35 minutes) Temne(15:50 minutes) Mende(16:00 minutes) Download the script: [Word][PDF]
SIDE BY SIDE A meeting unfolds in this drama where powerful women
advocates and women from the community sit across the table from men to discuss
the essential issue of political participation, in particular the women’s demand
for 50% representation in all governing bodies. Discussions cover a number of gender and
development issues and culminate in an exuberant celebration of the realization
that men and women need to act as partners for progress, side by side.
Click on the name of the track you want to listen to (all tracks are in .mp3 format). Krio(15:00 minutes) Temne(15:00 minutes) Mende(15:00 minutes) Download the script: [Word][PDF]
These dramas are
collaborative productions by the International Women’s Tribune Centre, the
50/50 Group, Campaign for Good Governance, SLANGO, Thorough Empowerment and
Development for Women in Sierra Leone, the Mano River Women’s Peace Network,
Network Movement for Justice & Development, Women’s Partnership for Justice
& Peace, Women’s Forum and Talking Drum Studio.
For more information, write to Joeyta Bose at joey@iwtc.org.
This radio series was produced in Sierra Leone and stems from three workshops where women’s organizations in Freetown and rural and low-income women’s groups in Makeni and Kailahun provinces worked with IWTC to conceptualize the issues and outline scripts that best reflected their realities. Women participants from Freetown were also instrumental in giving voice and shape to the characters that make these three dramas come alive. Information about international and regional legal mechanisms (SCR 1325 and the African Protocol, for example) is woven into the stories and each program is available in Krio, Themne and Mende.