A Film showcase of women across time standing out as exemplary members of society.

Every year for the last 3 years, Griot Studios celebrates International Women’s Day by collaborating with different organisations to highlight women from across time, standing out as exemplary members of society.

This year’s theme, “Choose to Challenge” aimed at celebrating women breaking barriers and challenging the norms within their society. Griot Studios, in collaboration with PAGED Initiative and Amateur Heads Creative, displayed a documentary screening in Abuja titled: “He Named Me Malala”;

The event opened with a speech from PAGED initiative Creative Director, Ummi Bukar, concerning the significance of the Watch Women Win program and by extension women’s day/ history month, after which the film screening started followed immediately by an interactive group discussion.

The discussion highlighted the significance of education to both male and female children, and how important it is to have an opinion, or be it, a voice in today’s society.

The conversation also drew similarities between the Taliban, in Pakistan; and Boko Haram in Nigeria, such as how they initially appeared to have started with good intentions and were soon consumed with power and influence, turning into mediums or agendas of terror; predominantly fighting against supposed western ideals or ideology.

The discussion also illustrated how hard it could be for women in low-income households who often have poor education, embrace liberating new ideas, and adapt to social changes, rather they remain ‘conservative’ or silent.

This conversation also pointed out the role men play in supporting and encouraging women and how they can help influence progressive thinking by challenging the stereotypes and discrimination of women.

The session concluded with Griot Studios Executive Director, Ummi Yakubu instilling a few words of advice and encouragement. She tasked those in attendance to challenge issues they were not comfortable with; “Challenging does not always have to be in a big way.” she said.  She advised that people should not be quick to judge a conservative person because it is not known what context they are coming from and what they have been conditioned to believe.

Griot Studios believes that the media has the power and responsibility to influence the decisions of the present and coming generations, to break barriers and find their voice without fear of being stereotyped or discriminated against.