Discussion: « Role/Importance of Films for Women Activism » with the Zimbabwean novelist, filmmaker and women rights activist Tsitsi Dangarembga

On Thursday, 19 August 2010 at 2.30 p.m. AfricAvenir Windhoek in cooperation with Sister Namibia, with support of the American Cultural Centre, Kalahari Sands Hotel & Casino, and Whats On Windhoek, presents a discussion round with the Zimbabwean novelist, filmmaker and women rights activist Tsitsi Dangarembga.nDate: 19. August 2010
Time: 14h30
Venue: American Cultural Centre, Sanlam Building

First, we will screen two shorts films by T. Dangarembga. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Women Rights Activists Groups/Movement about the topic of Role/Importance of Films for Women Activism.
    
Movies:     
Kare Kare – Mother’s Day
Peretera Maneta (Spell my name)

About Tsitsi Dangarembga
“The role of African women has not changed much. We bear children, make and manage homes, earn our living, contribute to the running of society. […] Traditionally women have been excluded from economically viable positions in society, and women are having to challenge this exclusion constantly. […] I think one problem is a lack of unity amongst women. Women are still very afraid to raise their voices for fear of victimisation, or when they speak, they do not speak from their personal woman’s truth but say what they think possessors of needed resources would want them to say.” Tsitsi Dangarembga in an Interview with the BBC on 26/03/2005

Tsitsi Dangarembga is a writer and director, born 1959 in Mutoko, Zimbabwe. She studied at Cambridge University (Medicine) and when Zimbabwe was about to become independent in 1980, she returned to Harare to study at University of Harare (Psychology). Later she made her Diploma at the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (German Film & Television Academy Berlin), from 1989-1996, completed with distinction. nTsitsi Dangarmebga’s writing debut “Nervous Conditions” was the first novel to be published in English by a black Zimbabwean woman and won her the African section of the Commonwealth Writers prize in 1989.nIn 1992 she started Nyeria Films, a film production company in Harare, which she heads until today. She is the founder and director of International Images Filmfestival for Women, Harare, and member of Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe (WFZ). She completed her doctoral studies in the Department of African Studies at the Humboldt University Berlin.nMrs. Dangarembga is well known around the world for her outspoken fight for women rights, women empowerment and her support for the civil society in Zimbabwe. In her work and her public talks around the world she constantly campaigns against domestic violence, abuse of women, and stigmatisation of HIV-positive people.

In 2007/8 Tsitsi Dangarembga created a pan-African short film project for young filmmakers which then was carried out by the Goethe Institute. Two beneficiaries from this project were Oshosheni Hiveluah and Wanuri Kahui, who presented their results at the recently held Berlinale 2010. As the brainchild of this project, Tsitsi Dangarembga is closely linked to the filmmaker Kahui, who’s film will be presented by AfricAvenir Windhoek on 21.08.2010 at the Studio 77.

Works:Nervous Conditions, book, 1988n

• Passport to Kill, film, 1993
• Neria, script for movie by Godwin Mawuru, 1992
• Everyone’s Child, film, 1996
• The Puppeter, film, 1996
• The Elephant People, film, 2000
• On the boarder, film, 2000
• High Hopes, film, 2004
• Kare Lare Zvako, film, 2005
• Growing Stronger, film, 2005
• Pamvura (At the water), film, 2005
• Bira. Stopping the time (The book of NOT), book, 2006
• Peretera Maneta (Spell my name), film, 2006
• High Hopes, film
• Hard Earth – land rights in Zimbabwe, film
• On the boarder, film
• Mother’s Day, film, 2006
• Nyami-Nyami, film, 2010

nPrizes/Awards:n

• Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1989 (for her book “Nervous Conditions”)
• Winner of UNESCO Children’s and Human Rights Award, 2006 (for her film Peretera Maneta)
• Winner Zanzibar International Filmfestival, 2006 (for her film Peretera Maneta)
• Winner Gender, Equality & Media Award, South Africa, 2006 (for her film “Growing Stonger”)
• Winner of Golden Dhow Zanzibar, 2005 (for her film “Kare Kare Zvako”)
• Winner of Short Film Award Cinemaafricano Milano, 2005 (for her film “Kare Kare Zvako”)
• Short Film Award ZIFF, 2005 (for her film “Kare Kare Zvako”)
• Special Jury Mention Amakula International Filmfestival Kampala, Uganda, 2005, (for her film “Kare Kare Zvako”)
• Special Jury Mention Slowfood on Film – Corto in Bra Filmfestival, Italy, 2005 (for her film “Kare Kare Zvako”)