Vagina Monologues takes centre stage in March
Funlola Aofiyebi
Seyi Gesinde writes that a Nigerian adaptation of Vagina Monologues, an instructive play on violence against women written by Eve Ensler will be staged in March.
Violence against
women, apart from
being a global phenomenon, has its peculiarities in different countries.
In African nations for instance, research has shown that three out of every nine women suffer, or is liable to suffer some sorts of violence or abuse in their lives.
And despite campaigns against these abuses which include domestic/conjugal violence, rape, trafficking in women and girls, indecent assault, child marriage, widowhood practices, Sharia penal codes, and female genital mutilation, majority of women still suffer in silence because of ignorance.
To break this silence, and pave the way for a better orientation towards ending this menace, the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), in collaboration with Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Media Concern for Women and Children, Ajegunle Community Project and Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has announced the staging of this year’s edition of Vagina Monologues, Eve Enslers’s award-winning play decrying violence against women.
The play, which has been re-arranged to tell the story of African women and the violence meted against them, will be directed by Wole Oguntokun, world-class film director, seasoned poet, playwright and columnist to give it a creative touch.
The play, scheduled to be staged in Lagos and Abuja in March will thus have a distinct Nigerian flavour just as it promises to be interesting and educative. It will also feature narratives of women who have gone through different forms of abuses such as rape, battering and sexual slavery.
The Programme Manager, KIND, Amy Oyekunle, speaking on the staging of the Nigerian version of Vagina Monologues, said there was the need for women to be well mobilised on the negative effect of violence against them.
He said: “Over the years, we have realised that many women fail to achieve their highest potential because of violence or the threat of violence against them. We will continue to raise awareness on the negative effects of violence against women with an aim to discourage further occurrences not only in Nigeria but in Africa in particular.
Kate Henshaw
“The programme will be a unique experience and a must-see event. This year, we have a collection of over 150 women telling their own stories. It was from these stories that the ‘play’ was written. Some of these stories are humorous, sober but all real. With Wole Oguntokun directing the play, it will be interesting to see the male perspective to women issues.”
Last year’s performance was viewed by an audience that cut across genders. After this, astounding reviews and criticisms were received from across the country. And naturally, some few people took exception to the title.
Oyekunle, however, assures that this will not be so this year. “The title for the upcoming play has been changed to accommodate the peculiarities of our society but the message will remain the same until the violence stops,” he said.
Previous editions of the play were directed by prolific and gifted female directors like Najite Dede (2006) and Ifeoma Fafunwa (2007), with inputs from seasoned and talented women like Joke Silva, Funmi Iyanda, Funlola Aofiyebi, Ireti Doyle, Bukky Ajayi, Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Omonor Imobhio, Elvina Ibru and a host of others.
|
