The 2016 International Women’s Day theme is ‘Pledge For Parity’ .
On the eve of the International Women’s Day KikeTele held an event, ‘Women Game Changers’.
These are my notes from the event.
First impressions:
Full auditorium.
Mixed audience.
Afro print aplenty.
Moderator introduces panel reading from a paper. Shouldn’t panelist introduce themselves?
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Saida Ali Mohamed (Consultant -Feminist analysis and women’s rights) opening:
What are the reasons for cultural practice’s
Context of pain as an African woman
Decision making at community level – household & community level
Dr. Faith Mwangi-Powell (Country Director for the University Research Company, Kenya) opening:
As a mother moved
Big up to Lightbox for aiding community telling story
It’s until community says no
Matter of choice – how can they be empowered to make choice
Dialogues with community – when you know why then your what changes
Convos shouldn’t happen at this table they should happen at village level
Let girls dream
FGM is an issue for global concern
Kennedy Otina (Coordinator Men to Men FEMNET) opening:
At times you wonder if you are doing anything
What happens if my daughter gets married in Samburu
(ModerateKenyan aside – Should it matter it’s your daughter/sister?)
FGM is impunity. Extreme patriarchy. Men deciding on women sexuality.
Power relations???
60 year old man marrying 12 year old – the men are weak, girl are red-blooded, (!!!!)
(ModerateKenyan aside – Rambling thoughts galore)
(My friend seated next to me – Do you want me to write my thoughts?
It’s really rich of him to talk about patriarchy and then go ham on the ‘our daughter’ nonsense)
What are we not doing?
Saida Ali Mohamed (Consultant -Feminist analysis and women’s rights)
Let’s talk about the silence, agency, power.
What are the practice’s impact on women
FGM confers ‘womanhood, respect, status’ in community
Understand nuances not to validate but for clarity and effective approaches to deal
Dr. Faith Mwangi-Powell
When you understand the why you get the what
Not every culture is bad
(ModerateKenyan aside – Can we give alternatives?)
Amref is already giving alternates – everything but the cut
Tell community about danger of FGM health wise
Not big stick but education of community is best
Narrative is changing
Create solutions with community
How have you addressed power issues
Dr. Faith Mwangi-Powell (Country Director for the University Research Company, Kenya)
Men pretend to know everything
Men pass buck
Power is in favour of men
Laws are hindered by enforcers who are part of community who turn a blind eye – chiefs come from same community that perpetuates.
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Notes exchanged between ModerateKenyan and a friend:
ModerateKenyan – NTV’S Rose Wangui recently did a story on morans who have stopped FGM. Chief Moran leading campaign. Anticut warriors.
My friend seated next to me – But do they have an NGO that knows how to use buzzwords?
ModerateKenyan – Hahaha! Wish she was here. She has done stories on Northern Kenya for a decade plus.
My friend seated next to me – I’d love to meet her… She sounds interesting.
ModerateKenyan – Actually her story on beading was the first one to lift the veil
My friend seated next to me – Write a blog post!!!
ModerateKenyan – Tutaona.
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Question time:
(ModerateKenyan aside – Reveals the many NGOs in Kenya – many in audience who stood to ask represented an NGO)
NGO talk is grating
The Girlchild vs boychild question came up
A question on what of communities who do FGM in hospital, in modern space to fulfill rite? NGOs have concentrated in the so-called marginalized areas but anecdotal evidence shows FGM happens in suburbia Nairobi.
Panel response:
Saida Ali Mohamed (Consultant -Feminist analysis and women’s rights)
Role for broader sexuality conversation for boys and girls
Crude abortion – should safe abortion be possible
Safe spaces for girls availability
Have sex. Do not get PG. How now?
Autonomy of woman body in context of societal
Dr. Faith Mwangi-Powell
Medicalization of FGM has to be checked. Doctors, nurses arrested.
Kennedy Otina (Coordinator Men to Men FEMNET)
What are the numbers to support boychild neglect
Human rights are gender blind
Men are jobless and still want to be powerful. Confusion.
Bringing forth a new generation of men
If we empower women it doesn’t mean that men are dis-empowered
More question time:
A Samburu warrior stood up and made a commitment that he will marry chic who ain’t cut
Same warrior asked Is there alternative to ‘fight against FGM’ – breakage of family/society, alienation of girl child have long-lasting impact
(ModerateKenyan – felt this was the crux. A shoewearer who could have provided great insight and also moved conversation from NGO-speak to real talk. Shame time run out and moderator ended discussion.)
Panel concluding remarks:
Saida – s/o to Samburu girls in audience
Dr. Mwangi-Powell – tell someone about dangers of FGM
Ken – men shout it that you are against it
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Felt the conversation ended abruptly.
Wanted to talk to the Samburu girls in the audience and hear their voice.
Wanted to talk to the Samburu warrior going against the age-old cultures also wanted to engage him on how he thinks the fight against FGM should be tackled.
Got thinking as a communicator why the FGM campaign is taking so long to reach the audience. Is culture chipped away slowly or at once? Are the works that have been done in last 20 years and that are being done now chipping away at the roots of FGM and results will come soon?
Got challenged as a man to check my privilege which sometimes is subconsious.
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Mwende Ngao who was moderating second panel began with spoken word
Politics of Womanhood – Women belong to every one apart from themselves
Kesho it’s international women day – pledge for parity
Parity is 117 years away – It’s serious.
Talk would centre on – Women artistes – portrayal of women in art
Moderator introduces panelists. Reading from phone. Why not let panel intro themselves?
Aleya Kassam (writer)
Began by saying ‘Such a chaste audience’
She read a blog post – brilliant vivid writing. Huge applause at the end.
Conversation on Aleya’s writing with moderator
Astounding how women are writing in plenty but are invisible
Moderator did question and answer instead of conversation
Also zero involvement with rest of audience/panel
As Monitah set up moderator read another spoken word piece
Monitah (musician)
Sang 3 songs
She looked she was enjoying herself a lot
She was being herself
Moderator – How do you deal with non-mainstream tag? Monitah – I do my music, I am me, That’s bottomline
Moderator – Challenge as a woman in media? Monitah – being hit on, want more women at the top
Moderator – Plans for your album? Monitah – working on it, follow me on social
Moderator – Arts place in society? Monitah – it’s key to give folk something to think about. Plant seed.
Question time:
Is there a point to your art
(ModerateKenyan aside -this question GRATES!)
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My friend, her friend and I had to leave at this juncture for various reasons.
As we left we chatted on the almost two hours spent at the event.
Authentic talk vs Talk for pay.
Heard one talk, heard all talks until it sounds hollow.
Whether one should have standards or whether one should accept standards do not pay bills and accept to be a mouthpiece for something they may not be very passionate about.
Additionally whether the talks really help or they are an echo chamber. No divergent views expressed.
I have talked about Talking Shops in Nairobi before.
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An aside from the conversation was self-publishing and the perils. With the bigger picture becoming whether as a friend one should harshly critique a friend’s creation or one should be ‘supportive’.
You read things or listen to songs and ask doesn’t the creator have friends? What if the friends are too timid to share harsh truths?
So my appeal as a creator is if something is good PRAISE it and if something is mediocre BASH it.
Moreso if it is done by a friend. Only way for our creativity to grow.
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Our exit conversation also tackled:
Afro print and Afro-centric wear which have become the uniform for creatives. Note to all ourselves: do not jump onto bandwagon 🙂
Moderating is HARD. Curious: Who is your favorite moderator?
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March 8 is International Women’s Day.
I gotta say:
Women are AWESOME!
I CELEBRATE all the women in my life.
Thank you all for being a BLESSING.
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GOD BLESS KENYA!
Moderate Kenyan 