Tomorrow, March 8th 2015 is International Women’s Day and is honestly our favorite not-a-real-holiday holiday. And in the spirit of celebrating women, we are looking inwards to Nollywood.
We recently published a post here on NR about how nollywood is really a female run industry, however, our stories are still rather myopic. This article was originally intended to list 10 women-centric movies but I could barely find any after the #1 movie. The criteria for selection was a movie that elevated the woman and in which the woman was the superhero and the main focus of the story was not romance and deceit. So we were looking for a movie that passed the Bechdel test and elevated the woman.
#3 – Devil in the Detail
In all honesty, this movie barely made the list but we needed a number three. I can’t quite remember whether or not it passes the bechdel test but it is on here because it definitely elevated the woman. In the end of the movie, the female lead does something that most women cannot fathom. Even though her decision at the end was arguably the kind of decision that would be made by a suppressed woman, seeing her character making that decision with that level of control had a reverse effect.
#2 – Maami
Who can forget this Tunde Kelani blockbuster from 2012? Maami makes the list because it is a true against all odds type of movie but even bigger than that is the fact that it is the reality. Maami is the story of so many African mothers who fight against all odds to secure their children’s futures.
Journey to Self
Journey to Self is number one because… quite honestly, what else would be number one? There is not another movie in this genre and in this class. When many watched the movie we were too focused on the fact that it is not our conventional nollywood movie to realize the gem it was. It was five women in one movie and they were not constantly going to a native doctor to bring the other person down. They had their struggles, they had their battles, just like every woman in reality and they fought to overcome everyday.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Make it Happen”. We’ve all heard of the realities and the statistics. We are inundated with stories of female infanticide, widow oppression, lack of girl education amonst many other things. Now it’s time to stop talking and start doing.
Here on NR a certain percentage of all our profit since inception has gone to young girls and women around the world to fund their education and help start their businesses amongst many other things. You can make a difference too.
- As little as $10 a month can be the determining factor in whether a girl somewhere in the world gets to go to school (donate today at shesthefirst.org).
- Help a woman start a trade so that she no longer has to be oppressed (donate today at World Vision)
- Look around you and find a girl who is going down the wrong path and be a mentor today (this one is FREE)
Happy International Women’s day everyone!!! Read our IWD feature from last year HERE!
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