An overview of the film industry, in Africa and globally, reveals that it is still a male dominated industry and stories are told from a male perspective, directed and produced by men. Most female actors remain in the shadow of their male counterparts and are restricted to traditional roles of mother, wife, lover or prostitutes. A new generation of women filmmakers is slowly making a mark in the industry, and their work is gaining well -deserved exposure. These women describe the world through their eyes and tell their stories from a fresh perspective- a woman's perspective.

In an interview conducted by Agenda editor, Kristin Palitza, three members of this new generation of women filmmakers are South African Zulfah Otto-Sallies as well as Zimbabweans Tsitsi Dangarembga and Dorothy Meck. Speak about their survival in the male dominated industry. Their films investigate women's lives and their rights and they also spoke about gender stereotyping in films.

Zulfah Otto-Sallies feature film ‘Don't Touch' investigates a young woman's rebellious behaviour against authority figures. It explores the story of 16-year-old Layla who find out that her father has married a second wife under Muslim law; she feels betrayed by his actions and for the first time, questions patriarchal structures. Otto-Sallies also produced Raya, a film that talks about a young mother beginning to understand the pains and responsibilities of  motherhood when she gives birth to a baby-girl in prison.

In her interview Zulfah Otto-Sallies revealed that with her films, she hopes to tell stories from a female perspective. She said she sees herself as an activist for the voice of women in her Muslim community. She added that the African film industry has a few women's voices and it becomes difficult for women filmmakers to have their voices heard. Otto-Sallies said only 5 percent of feature filmmakers are women while other are involved in documentary making. She said policies would go a long way to secure more films made by women. She continued to say that very little has changed in the role played by African female filmmakers over the last 2 decades. She also explained that her films highlight the issues that women struggle with but also focuses on how women can their own worst enemy. She concluded by saying that most films portray women as objects of desire, a view she wants to change by making film that show women in strong roles and who do not use their sexuality to entice. She also said she thinks movies are exceptionally powerful given that people relate to what they see, meaning films are effective in changing perspective about women's rights and their role in society.

Womanhood is also the theme of Tsitsi Dangarembga's film Growing Stronger. The film tells the story of Tendayi Westerhof, model and ex-wife of the former coach of the Zimbabwean national football team. Thendayi stunned the nation by becoming the first public figure to openly disclose her HIV status in 2002. Dangarembga is also the author of award-winning novel Nervous Conditions that questions identity as a social construct and inferiority of women after independence in Southern Africa.

Dangarembga said her films tell good stories in a visually interesting and groundbreaking way. She finds it difficult not to become a women's rights activist since she wants to tell stories that are important to women. Dangarembga adds that her film represent the truth as she sees it and that a lot still needs to be done in order to address the theme of women's rights. Dangarembga concluded that gender stereotyping and sexism lead to expectations, and that movies are very effective in changing perceptions on women's rights and their role in society.

Another investigation of female identity is Dorothy Meck's Tanyaradzwa, which takes the viewer on a young woman's journey for survival. The film deals with the patriarchal and oppressive structures, communication between parents and children, husbands and wives, and gendered treatment of girls and young women. Meck's male co-director, Tawanda Gunda, originally wrote the script but when Meck read how Gunda portrayed women as dependent, lazy, she knew that the script had to be rewritten from a female viewpoint. She transformed Tanyaradzwa, the film's main character, from the ‘bad girl' into the heroine of the film. Tanyaradzwa is transformed to a woman who fights for her rights while viewing the men's rather critically. Meck said she aims to portray women as real and important entities in society. She also said she wants to get the message across that women should not be looked down upon.

Meck said there are only a few female filmmakers in her country, but women in her country are now becoming very determined to bring about change in the film industry. She said some of her work includes a documentary on women and martial law in Southern Africa that closely investigates inheritance and relationships between wives and husbands. She also added that as a filmmaker, she wants to change the way women are portrayed since they are usually portrayed as disempowered human beings, prostitutes, witches, victims, virgins or mothers. Meck also said that the film industry is now changing and women are now realising that it is time to stand up for themselves and change who they are. She also explained that it is good to find that there are men who do not depict the world in the same way as ‘dominant' cinema. In conclusion, Meck said films are a very effective means of communication and people get the message quickly if a character they can identify with depicts it. She also said that women should rise up and speak for themselves rather than letting men talk on their behalf and letting them tell women's stories.

"Uma singazikhulumeli thina akekho omunye ozosikhulumela"

Ucwaningo olwenziwe kwimboni yezamafilimu emhlabeni jikelele luveza ukuthi lomkhakha usagcwele abesilisa nokwenza ukuthi iningi lezindaba ezixoxwa kumafilimu zibegokweso labesilisa.  Abesimame kuthi noma benikezwe ukuthi badlale indawo ethile bAnikezwa eyokulinga ukuba ngumama, unkosikazi kumbe benziwa abathengisa ngemizimba.  Kodwa ke noma kunjalo selikhona idlanzana labesimame eliyibeka induku ebandla kulomkhakha.  Kwinkulumo yabakwa Agenda nabesimame abathathu abangabenzi bamafilimu nokungoyedwa wakuleli uZulfah Otto-Sallies kanye nabase Zimbabwe Tsitsi Dangarembga beno Dorothy Meck, laba besimame baxoxa ngobunzima kanye nezinselelo abahlangabezana nazo kulemboni yezamafilimu.

Umdlalo ka Zulfah Otto-Sallies obizwa ngele ‘Don't Touch' uxoxa ngempilo yowesimame  ophila ngendlela ephikisana nemithetho yomphakthi ebekiwe.  Lomdlalo ukhuluma ngentombazane ethi uma ithola ukuthi ubaba wayo uganwa ngunkosikazi wesibili oyisulumane ingakwamukeli lokhu kodwa ibone lesenzo sikayise njengechilo kuyona.   Kwinkulumo ngxoxo naye uZulfah Otto-Sallies uveza ukuthi imidlalo yakhe ibheka impilo ngeso lowesimame.  Uzichaza njengesishoshovu esizwakalisa imibono yabesimame emphakathini.  Ukhala ngokuthi njengoba bembalwa abesimame kulemboni lokhu kwenza kubenzima ukuthi kuzwakale uma bekhuluma.  Uphetha nokuthi zimbalwa izinguquko esezensekile kulemboni yezamafilimu. 

Ifilimi ethi Woman Hood kaTsitsi Dangarembga yona ikhuluma ngowesimame ongu Tendayi Westerhof, nowayeshade nomqeqeshi weqembu lebhola lesizwe eZimbabwe.  Lowesimame wamangaza isizwe ngokuphumela obala eziveza ukuthi uphila negciwane lengculazi.  UDangarembga uhlonishwa kakhulu ngeqhaza lakhe kulomkhakha njengoba aze wahlabana nangendondo ngencwadi yemidlalo yakhe ethi Nervous Conditions nokuyincwadi ebheka kabanzi ngokuhlonishwa kwabasimame kulelizwe eminyakeni lapho seluzuze ukuzimela.  

Dangarembga uthi kubanzima kuyena ukuthi angakhulumi ngamalungelo abesimame kwimidlalo yakhe ngoba naye uyisishoshovu esilelwa ukuhlonishwa kwabesimame.  Unanela ngelokuthi imidlalo yakeh ikhuluma iqiniso ngokwenzeka emphakthini nalapho ebala ukuthi kusekuningi ekumele kwenziwe ekuqinisekiseni ukuhlonishwa kwabesimame.

Esinye isishoshovu esilwela ukuhlonishwa kwemisebenzi yabesimame ngu  Dorothy Meck's Tanyaradzwa, okhuluma ngohambo lwempilo yowesifazane . lomdlalo wakhe ubheka izihlaka zomphakathi ezicindezela zibukele phansi abesimame.  Uthi kweminye imidlalo yakhe wake wanikeza uMeck okungowesilisa asebenzisana naye.  Ukhala ngokuthi kwathi lapho esewubhekisisa lomdlalo wajabha uma ethola indlela lomlingani wakhe ayebhale ngqayo ngabesimame ebachaza njengabantu abangamavila nabathanda ukwenzelwa izinto.   Uthi wawuguqula lomdlao ekugcineni waveza owesimame njengeqhawe lingcina selinqobe konke.  UMeck ukhaa ngokungabikho kwababhali bamafilimu abenele ezweni lakubo.

Ukhuthaza abesimame ekutheni basukume bazithathe kuyona yonke imikhakha bangazibukeli phansi ngoba uma bona bengaxoxi ngezimpilo zabo akekho omunye oyokwenza kancono lokho.

"Xa singawabalisi amabali ethu, akekho oya kwenza njalo"

Xa kujongwa ushishino lwemiboniso bhanya - bhanya, kwiAfrika nakwihlabathi jikelele, kubonakala ukuba olu shishino lusalawulwa ngamadoda ikakhulu, yaye namabali abaliswa ngendlela ekholisa amadoda, ekwaveliswa kwangawo. Uninzi lwabadlali bhanya - bhanya baseTyhini lusithwa ngamadoda, lukwabekelwa ukudlala iindima ezifana nokuba ngoomama, amakhosikazi, izithandwa kungenjalo abathengisa ngomzimba. Isizukulwana esitsha sabaseTyhini esingabenzi bemiboniso bhanya - bhanya, siye sizibonisa ubukho baso kolu shishino, yaye umsebenzi waso uye unikwa ingqwalasela oyifaneleyo. Aba baseTyhini balichaza ilizwe ngendlela abalibona ngayo, bekwabalisa amabali abo ngendlela ngendlela ebonelisayo.

Kudliwano - ndlebe lomhleli waseAgenda uKristin Palitza, amalungu amathathu esi sizukulwana sitsha sabaseTyhini abangabenzi bemiboniso bhanya - bhanya, owakweli loMzantsi Afrika uZulfah Otto-Sallies, uTsitsi Dangarembga kwanoDorothy Meck baseZimbabwe, bathetha ngendlela abasebenza ngayo kolu shishino lugcwele amadoda. Imiboniso bhanya - bhanya yabo iphanda ngobomi babaseTyhini amalungelo kwanendlela ababoniswa ngayo abaseTyhini kwiboniso bhanya - bhanya. 

Umboniso bhanya - bhanya kaZulfah Otto-Sallies othi "Don't Touch", uphanda ubundlavini begqiyazana elithile kwabomthetho. Uqwalasela ibali lentwazana eminyaka ili 16 ubudala egama linguLayla, efumanise ukuba uyise utshate enye inkosikazi ngokomthetho wamaSilamsi; uziva engcatshiwe ngesi senzo, ze okokuqala ebomini bakhe azibone ezihlaba amadlala iindlela zokuphatha kwamadoda. UOtto-Sallies ukwavelise iRaya, umboniso bhanya - bhanya othetha ngomzalikazi omtsha, oqala ukuqonda iintlungu nokudlala indima komzalikazi ngethuba abeleka umntwana oyintombazana entolongweni.

Ngethuba lodliwano - ndlebe uZulfah Otto-Sallies uchaza ukuba kwimboniso bhanya - bhanya yakhe uzama ukubalisa amabali ngokweembono zabaseTyhini. Uthi uzibona njengolwela ukuvakala kwamazwi abaseTyhini kuluntu lwamaSilamsi. Wengeze ngelithi bambalwa kakhulu abaseTyhini abangabavelisi bemiboniso bhanya - bhanya nokwenza kubenzima ukuvakala kwamazwi abo. Uthi uqulunqo lwemithetho, lungadlala indima enkulu ekukhuthazeni imiboniso bhanya - bhanya eyenziwe ngabaseTyhini.

Uqhuba athi, isencinane kakhulu inguqu kwindima edlawa ngabaseTyhini baseAfrika ekwenziweni kwemiboniso bhanya - bhanya kule minyaka ingama 20 idlulileyo. Uchaza ukuba, iboniso yakhe iqwalasela iimeko abasokola phantsi kwazo abaseTyhini, ukanti ukwagxila nakwindlela abangaba ziintsaba zabo ngayo abaseTyhini. Ukwathi, uninzi lwemiboniso bhanya - bhanya luveza abaseTyhini njengezixhobo zeenkanuko, iimbono afuna ukuziguqula ngokwenza imiboniso eveza abaseTyhini kwiindima eziphambili nezilawulayo. Uthi ucinga ukuba, imiboniso bhanya - bhanya inamandla kakhulu, yaye inganceda ukuguqula indlela abonwa ngayo amalungelo kwanendima edlalwa ngabaseTyhini ekuhlaleni.

Ukuba ngowaseTyhini ikwangumongo womboniso bhanya - bhanya kaTsitsi Dangarembga othi "Growing Stronger." Lo mboniso ubalisa ibali likaTendayo Westerhof, ongumbonisi weempahla nowayesakuba yinkosikazi wowayesakuba ngumqeqeshi weqela lebhola laseZimbabwe. UTendayi waba ngowokuqala umntu odumileyo ukuchaza ukuba unentsholongwane kaGawulayo ngo2002. UDangarembga ukwangumbhali wencwadi ethi "Nervous Conditions" esele ifumene iimbasa, necubungula ubuyena bothile eluntwini kwanokungabonakali kwabaseTyhini emva kwenkululeko kumazantsi eAfrika.

 UDangarembga uthi, iboniso yakhe ibalisa amabali amnandi ngendlela ebonakalayo nenomdla. Ukufumana kunzima ukungabi ngumququzeleli wamalungelo abaseTyhini, kuba efuna ukubalisa amabali abalulekileyo kwabaseTyhini. UDangarembga wengeza ngelithi, umboniso bhanya - bhanya wakhe umela inyaniso ngendlela ayibona ngayo, ekwathi iseninzi into into efuna ukwenziwa ukuze kulungiswe umba wamalungelo abaseTyhini. UDangarembga ulebele ngelithi, indlela ezesini ezivezwa ngayo ikhokelela ekujongeni okuthile, yaye imiboniso idlala indima enkulu kakhulu ekuguquleni indlela abonwa ngayo amalungelo abaseTyhini, kwanendima abayidlalayo ekuhlaleni.

Olunye uphando lwendlela abazichaza nabazibona ngayo abaseTyhini, nguTanyaradzwa kaDorothy Meck, nothabatha umbukeli amse kwintsokolo yegyiyazana elithile. Lo mboniso bhanya - bhanya ujonga umbandela wokuphatha kwamadoda neendlela zengcinezelo azisebenzisayo, unxibelelwano phakathi kwabazali nabantwana, abayeni namakhosikazi, nendlela aphathwa ngayo ngokwesini amantombazana kwanamagqiyazana. Umcedisi kaMeck oyindoda uTwanda Gunda, wabhala indlela engahamba ngayo umboniso lo, kodwa akuyifunda uMeck wafumanisa ukuba uGunda uveze abaseTyhini njengabaxhomekekileyo kwanamavila, waqonda ukuba, kufuneka ubhalwe ngokutsha lo mboniso ukuze ubalise ibali ngendlela ekholisa abaseTyhini. Waguqula uTanyaradzwa nongumdlali ophambili ukusuka ekubeni ngumntu ombi  ekubeni liqhawekazi kulo mboniso. UMeck uthi injongo zakhe kukuveza abaseTyhini njengababalulekileyo ekuhlaleni, ekwadlulisa umyalezo wokuba abaseTyhini bangajongelwa phantsi.

Naye uMeck uthi, bambalwa abaseTyhini abakweli shishini kwilizwe lakowabo, kodwa ngoku bayazimisela ukuzisa inguqu kolu shishino. Uthi umsebenzi wakhe ubandakanya ukwenza amabali ayinyani ngabaseTyhini nomthetho wemitshato kumazantsi eAfrika, naphanda ngamafa nobudlelwane phakathi kwamakhosikazi nabayeni. Wengeze ngelithi njengomenzi wemiboniso bhanya - bhanya, ufuna ukuguqula indlela ababonwa nabavezwa ngayo abaseTyhini ekuhlaleni. UMeck ukwathi, olu shishino ngoku luyatshintsha yaye abaseTyhini bayaqonda ngoku ukuba lithuba lokusukuma benze iinguqu. Uthi, kuhle ukubona ukuba akho amadoda angalikhohlisiyo ihlabathi njengoko lusenza uninzi lwemiboniso bhanya - bhanya. Ukwabethelela ukuba, imiboniso bhanya - bhanya yenye yendlela ezibalulekileyo zokunxibelelelana nabantu. Ukwathi abaseTyhini kufuneka basukume bazithethele bangayeki amadoda athethe egameni labo abalise namabali abo.   

"Ha re sa phete pale tsa rona, ha ho motho ya tla di pheta"

Tlahlobo ya indasteri ya ditshwantsho tse teng Afrika le lafatsheng ka botlalo e supa hore e ntse e ele tlasa taolo ya banna mme dipale/ditshwantsho di hlahiswa ho ya ka pono ya banna, hlophiswa le ho hlahiswa ke banna. Bongata ba basadi ba dibapadi ditshwantshong/dipaleng ba dula ka mora banna mme ba fuwa karolo tse tlwaelehileng tsa ho ba bomme, bafumahadi, baratuwa kapo barekisi ba mmele.  Ho se ho ena le basadi ba etsang ditshwantsho ba hlahang kajeno mme ba bonahatsa bonono ba bona indastering ena ya ditshwantsho.  Mosebetsi wa bona o fumana phatlalatso e ntle.  Basadi bana ba hlalosa lefatshe ho ya ka moo ba le bonang mme ba qoqa dipale tsa bona ho ya ka leihlo la bosadi.

Ha Agenda e buisana le motshwai, Kristen Palitza, basadi ba bang ba etsang ditshwantsho ba kajeno, ke maAfrika Borwa jwaloka Zulfah Otto-Sallies le wa Zimbabwe Tsitsi Dangarembga ha mmoho le  Dorothy Meck. Basadi bana ba bua ka ho phela indastering ena e tlasa taolo e hodimo ya banna.  Ditshwantsoho tsa bona di hlahloba bophelo ba basadi le ditokelo tsa bona, hape di bua ka karolo ya basadi ditshwantshong e dutseng e hlahiswa ka mokgwa o itshetlehileng lehlakoreng le le leng.

Zulfah Otto-Sallies ke sebapadi setshwantshong sa ‘Don't Touch'. Setshwantsho sena se bua ka boitshwaro ba mosadi ya lwantshanang le baokamedi.  E bua ka pale ya ngwanana ya lemo di 16 Layla ya fumanang hore ntatae o nyetse mosadi e mong tlasa molao wa Muslim.  O ikutlwa a swabile haholo ke ketso ena ya ntatae mme o qala ho phephetsa matla ao esale a beilwe banneng.  Otto-Sallies hape o hlahisitse ‘Raya', pale/setshwantsho se buang ka mme ya monyane ya qalang ho utlwisisa bohloko le boikarabelo ba ho ba motswadi ha a ba le ngwana wa ngwanana a le tjhankaneng.

Puisanong ena le Agenga Zulfah Otto-Sallies o hlahisitse hore ka ditshwantsho tsa hae o tshepa ho re qoqela dipale ho ya ka leihlo la mosadi.  O re o ipona e le mohlabani ya buellang basadi setjhabeng sa habo sa maMuslim.  O tlatsitse ka hore indasteri ya ditshwantso ya Afrika e na le basadi ba mmalwa mme ho boima hore basadi ba hlahisang ditshwantsho ba mamelwe.  Otto-Sallies o re basadi ba hlahisang ditshwantsho ba etsa pesente tse 5, ha ba bang ba etsa di ‘documentary'.  O re dipolisi di ka thusa haholo ho bulela basadi kgoro ya ho etsa ditshwantsho tse ngata.  O tlatsitse ka hore ho na le phetoho e nyane fela lehlakoreng la basadi ba Afrika ba hlahisang ditshwantsho dilemong tse 20 tse fetileng.  O hlalositse hore ditshwantsho tsa hae di tshwaya tshotlo ya basadi, hape di bua ka moo basadi ka nako e nngwe ba ka ippolayang bo bona.  O phethile ka hore ditshwantsho tse ngata di hlahisa basadi e leng dibapadi tsa takatso, mme o batla ho fetola sena ka ho etsa ditshwantsho tse hlahisang basadi ba bapala karolo tse ba hlahisang ba le sebete, ba le matla mme ba sa sebedise bosadi/motabo ho hohela ba bang.  O re o nahana hore ditshwantsho di matla haholo hobane batho ba di shebellang ba bona maphelo a bona ho tsona. Ho bolelang hore ditshwantsho di na le matla a ho fetola dikelello tsa batho mabapi le ditokelo tsa basadi setjhabeng.

Bosadi ke e nngwe ya dihloho tsa setshwantsho sa Tsitsi Dangarembga ‘Growing Stronger'.  Setshwantsho sena se bua ka mmabotle Tendayi Westerhof, ya hladilweng ke mokwetlisi wa bolo wa sehlopha sa naha sa Zimbabwe.  Tendayi o tshositse setjhaba ka ho ba motho wa pele wa bua phatlalatsa hore o na le tshwaetso ya kwatsi ua bosolla hlapi (HIV) ka 2002.  Dangaremba ke e mong wa bangodi ya fumaneng kgau ka bua ya hae ‘Nervous Conditions' e phephetsang ho itlhalosa (identity) setjhabeng le monyenyane ba basadi ka mora tokoloho ya Afrika e ka Borwa.

Dangarembga o re ditshwantsho tsa hae di bua ka dipale tse ntle ka tsena e hohelang e kgakgamatsang.  O fumana ho le boima ho se lwanele ditokelo tsa basadi hobane o batla ho qoqa ka dipale tse bohlokwa basading.  Dangarembga o tlatsa ka hore ditshwantsho tsa hae di emetse nnete ka tsela eo a e bonang le hore ho sa le ho holo ho lokelang ho etswa ho lokisa taba ya ditokelo tsa basadi. Dangarembga o phethile ka hore taba ya ho sheba bong ka kelello e hlakore le leng, e isa ditebellong tse itseng, mme ditshwantsho di na le matla a ho fetola kelello tsena haholo mabapi le ditokelo tsa basadi le karolo ya bona setjhabeng.

Tlhahloso e nngwe ke ya ho iponahatsa (identity) ha basadi setshwantshong sa Dorothy Meck ‘Tanyaradzwa', e tsamaisang mmohedi leetong bophelo ba la mosetsana ya itseng.  Setshwantsho sena se sheba karolo ya banna le kgatello, ho buisana pakeng tsa batswadi le bana, basadi le banna, le tshwaro ba basadi le banana ho ya ka bong.  Mohlahisi mmoho wa Meck wa monna Tawanda Gunda, o ne a ngole pele ka empa ha Meck a bal pale ena a bona ka moo Gunda a hlahisitseng basadi ba itshetshetlehile bathong ba bang, ba le botswa, o ile a tseba ha hang hore pale ena e lokela ho ngolwa botjha ka leihlo la mosadi.  O ile a fetola pale ya ‘Tanyaradzwa', a tlosa sebapadi se ka hlohong ho ba ngwanana ya itshwereng hampe a se etsa mohlabani.  Tanyaradzwa ke mosadi ya lwanelang ditokelo tsa hae a ntse a beile leihlo le ntjhotjho ho tsa banna.  Meck o re o ikemiseditse ho hlahisa basadi e le bona le dikarolo tsa bohlokwa setjhabeng.  O bile a re o batla ho fetisa molaetsa wa hore basadi ha ba lokela ho nyatswa.

Meck o itse ho na le basadi ba mmalwa ba hlahisang ditshwantsho naheng ya hae, empa basadi ba naha ya hae ba ntse ba tsoha molota wa ho tlisa phetoho indastering ya ditshwantsho.  O re o mong wa mesebetsi ya hae ke ho hlahisa di dipale tse buang ka bophelo ba basadi le molao wa sesole (martial law) Afrika e ka Borwa. Dipale tsenaa di hlahlobisisa ditaba tsa mafa le dikamano tsa basadi le banna ba bona.  O tlatsitse ka hore jwaloka ha e le mohlahisi wa ditshwantsho o batla ho fetola tsela eo basadi ba hlahiswang ka yona ka ha ba dutse ba hlahiswa ba se na matla, e le batho ba rekisang ka mmele, baloi, mahlatsipa, batho ba so ye motabong, kapo bomme.  Meck hape o re indasteri ya ditshwantsho e ya fetoha jwale mme basadi ba se ba bona hore ke nako ya ho ikemela ba fetole seo ba le sona.  O bile a hlalosa hore ho hotle ho bona ho le teng banna ba sa hlahiseng lefatshe ka tsela e tshwanang le e tlwaelehileng ditulong tsa ho shebella ditswantsho.  O phethile ka hore ditshwantsho ke tsela e matla ya ho bua mme batho, ba fumana molaetsa kapele haeba sebapadi seo ba itshwantshang le sona se tlisa phetoho.  O re hape basadi ba lokela ho ema ka maoto ba ipuelle ho ena le le ho dumella banna ho ba buella le ho pheta pale tsa bona.