The purpose of the African Women in Cinema Blog is to provide a space to discuss diverse topics relating to African women in cinema--filmmakers, actors, producers, and all film professionals. The blog is a public forum of the Centre for the Study and Research of African Women in Cinema.

Le Blog sur les femmes africaines dans le cinéma est un espace pour l'échange d'informations concernant les réalisatrices, comédiennes, productrices, critiques et toutes professionnelles dans ce domaine. Ceci sert de forum public du Centre pour l'étude et la recherche des femmes africaines dans le cinémas.

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29 April 2013

This Colour that Disturbs Me | Cette couleur qui me dérange : Khady Pouye sounds the alarm on the practice of xessal (skin bleaching) | Khady Pouye sonne l’alerte sur le xessal by/par Mame Woury Thioubou


This Colour that Disturbs Me | Cette couleur qui me dérange : Khady Pouye sounds the alarm on the practice of xessal (skin bleaching) by Mame Woury Thioubou. SOURCE : LE QUOTIDIEN. IMAGE : Khady Pouye, laureate of the UEMOA (The West African Economic and Monetary Union) award for best documentary, Fespaco 2013. Translation from French by Beti Ellerson.

The practice of depigmentation has reached unprecedented levels in Senegal. Numerous women opinion leaders have even become promoters of this trend. This situation motivated filmmaker Khardiata Pouye to make the film entitled: Cette couleur qui me dérange (This Colour that Disturbs Me). This socially committed, evocatively-titled film, was recently screened at the Institut français de Dakar.

Ministers, company directors, stars, artists, or even intellectuals of renown...numerous are these Senegalese women opinion leaders who incidentally participate in the promotion of these skin bleaching products called "xessal". In light of such observation Khardiata Pouye Sall took up her camera to denounce this phenomenon. In this rather evocatively-titled 26-minute film, the filmmaker breaks the silence of authority around this devastating  practice. According to her, "xessal" causes tremendous suffering for the women who practice it. She thinks that this type of alert regarding the practice is not sufficiently given, beyond the few activities lead by medical associations, with little impact. Therefore, the documentary, Cette couleur qui me dérange has as objective to sound the alarm. Especially given the inaction of public authorities. "If the authorities, prohibit the entry of these products into the country, these women would no longer be able to use them," Ms. Sall states with outrage. In order to put the finger on the culprit, she gives voice to several key resource persons, such as a customs officer who clarifies, "the law only requires that the custom duties for these products be paid." So when will there be consciousness raised about it and the political will of the powers that be to stop it?

Furthermore, the documentary reveals tips from the women who practice "xeesal". Assisted by men attracted by easy gain, these women divert a number of natural products from their intended purpose as a means to lighten their skin. "To be lighter at any cost." This appears to be the motto of these women who never seem to run out of ways or the imagination to concoct dangerous recipes in order to attain this perceived beautiful skin. But what motivates them to participate in this self-destructive practice? "Women are often influenced by their entourage. They have a sister who does it. They attended a ceremony where they did not obtain the desired effect because of their black skin; or even still, their is a man out there who says that he prefers a woman with light skin. There are many reasons that these women practice "xeesal" without realising what they are losing" says Khady Pouye, who is also director at the Radio­diffusion télévision du Sénégal.

Cette couleur qui me dérange clearly shows that initially "xessal" provides these ladies a sense of pride. But it also reveals that over time its irreparable damage leads them to the dermatologist. To prove the point, the filmmaker takes her camera to the dermatology department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital where visits directly resulting from "xeesal" constitute 30% of the consultations.

Showing the terrible images of the physical wounds that are the result of this practice is also serves as a warning to the users. These wounds may cause skin cancer as well as Erysipelas, a skin infection which could be deadly. An added dimension to dissuade its usage, doctors emphasise its immeasurable psychological damage.

Ms. Gnagna Sidibé, the director of the national television, came in person to the recent screening of Cette couleur qui me dérange in order to encourage a wide dissemination and outreach throughout Senegal.
 
Source: http://www.lequotidien.sn/index.php/culture/item/13741-cin%C3%A9ma-projection-du-documentaire-cette-couleur-qui-me-d%C3%A9range--khady-pouye-sonne-l%E2%80%99alerte-sur-le-xessal NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE.


Cette couleur qui me dérange : Khady Pouye sonne l’alerte sur le xessal par Mame Woury Thioubou. SOURCE : LE QUOTIDIEN. IMAGE : Khady Pouye, lauréate du prix pour le meilleur documentaire de l’Uemoa (Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine), Fespaco 2013.

La dépigmentation a pris des proportions inégalées au Sénégal. De nombreuses femmes leaders d’opinion en sont même devenues les promotrices. Une situation qui a poussé la réalisatrice Khardiata Pouye à produire un film intitulé : Cette couleur qui me dérange. Ce documentaire engagé et au titre évocateur a été recemment projeté à l’Institut français de Dakar.

Ministres, directrices de société, vedettes, artistes ou encore intellectuelles de renom… Elles sont nombreuses les Sénégalaises, leaders d’opinion, qui participent incidemment à faire la promotion des produits de dépigmentation appelés xessal. Un constat qui a poussé la réalisatrice Khardiata Pouye Sall à prendre sa camera pour dénoncer le phénomène. Dans un film de 26 mn au titre assez évocateur, la réalisatrice a brisé le silence des autorités sur ce phénomène dévastateur. Pour elle, le xessal cause énormément de souffrances aux femmes qui s’y adonnent. Khardiata Pouye Sall, estime pour cela que l’alerte n’est pas suffisamment donnée, hormis les quelques activités menées par des associations de médecin et qui n’ont pas beaucoup d’impact. Cette couleur qui me dérange (le titre du film documentaire) s’emploie donc à sonner l’alerte. Surtout devant la passivité des pouvoirs publics. «Si les autorités bloquent l’entrée de ces produits dans le pays, les femmes n’auront plus le moyen de s’adonner à cette pratique», s’indigne Mme Sall dont le film donne la parole à plusieurs personnes ressources dont un douanier. Celui-ci, comme pour mettre le doigt sur le mal, précise même que «tout ce que la loi de­mande, c’est que ces produits s’acquittent des droits de douanes». A quand donc la prise de conscience et la volonté politique des gouvernants pour enrayer le mal ? ARTICLE À LIRE DANS SON INTEGRALITÉ : http://www.lequotidien.sn/index.php/culture/item/13741-cin%C3%A9ma-projection-du-documentaire-cette-couleur-qui-me-d%C3%A9range--khady-pouye-sonne-l%E2%80%99alerte-sur-le-xessal - N'EST PLUS DISPONIBLE

(Re)Discover Khady Pouye


Re(Discover Khady Pouye

Khady Pouye, laureate of the UEMOA (The West African Economic and Monetary Union) for best documentary, Fespaco 2013 for the film Cette couleur qui me dérange (This Colour that Disturbs Me)
 
Links to Posts on the African Women in Cinema Blog:
 
This Colour that Disturbs Me | Cette couleur qui me dérange : Khady Pouye sounds the alarm on the practice of xessal (skin bleaching) by Mame Woury Thioubou

https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2013/04/this-colour-that-disturbs-me-cette.html

Festival Films Femmes Afrique 2020 - Khardiata Pouye : Pour la danse et pour la vie (For dance and for life)
https://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2020/02/festival-films-femmes-afrique-2020_90.html

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2020

Image source : LE QUOTIDIEN

11 April 2013

Film Screening and Discussion on Female Genital Cutting (Zimbabwe)



Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe in cooperation with Women's Law Centre and Gender Studies Association present : Bondo: a Journey into Kono Womanhood by Sunju Kumba Ahmadu and The Cut by Beryl Magoko with an after-screening discussion of social issues portrayed in the film.


10 April 2013

Filmmaking and Motherhood by Zimbabwean Porcia Mudavhanhu


Filmmaking and Motherhood by Porcia Mudavhanhu (Zimbabwe). Source: icapatrust.org 

Who said that working moms could not have a successful profession and a happy family, I believe we working moms can have it all.

Juggling a career and a family is no easy feat, in fact it is pretty hard when your kids are still young like mine, eldest daughter is now eight years and my second born is one year four months. As it is very difficult to build a testimony you face a lot of temptations but if you put all your faith in God and continue being prayerful you will definitely win. The same applies to careers and families you sometimes reach a stage where you feel the need to step back and concentrate on your family. This may result in your career heading for the rocks but if you believe that you can have it all, you will yield good fruits of your perseverance that is a happy family and a career.

Filmmaking is stressful and exhausting but I like it because it is a piece of literature translated into moving picture, which will last for a long time. I believe as people we must make the best of our lives by doing what we love most and our kids will be proud of us. I admit that sometimes I became self-centred in my desires to find my success in the film industry. Last year I was working on a documentary on women cross border traders (Kuyambuka-Crossing borders, documentary, 54mins) as the director of the film I had to travel a lot during pre-production (research) and production, my youngest daughter was only three months then sometimes I had to travel as far as Masvingo with her. Culturally it is not good to move with a small baby around especially to a stranger' houses but I went against all these myths and beliefs for the sake of producing a documentary, celebrating women who carried our nation during the economic meltdown.The saying behind every successful man is a strong woman, for me translates to behind every successful woman is a supportive man. There are times when my husband's support meant a lot to me. The greatest challenge in my career was when my youngest daughter refused to breast feed at six months because I was away for five days on a shoot. It was painful for me to come to terms with it, as I felt I had let my daughter down. Read entire article:  ICAPATRUST

06 April 2013

Call for films | Appel à films : African Student Film Festival 2013 - Expresse Afrique


Call for films | Appel à films : African Student Film Festival 2013 - Expresse Afrique (8-12 October 2013 | 8-12 Octobre 2013)

Submission deadline | Date d'échéance
19 July 2013 | 19 juillet 2013

Download entry form | Télécharger les règlements et formulaire d'inscription : http://www.africanstudentfilmfestival.com/

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