The ladies of Ekoan Maria Messamendongo after viewing the film Invisibles
Esther Nyacke Ntah
Community Manager WWO, French-speaking Africa Zone
The screening of the film ‘Invisibles’ by the World Women´s Observatory (WWO) remains a very exciting event for the project's Community Manager, as it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the scourge of gender-based violence. Her emotions were still running high on Friday 28 June 2024, the day chosen by the ladies of the Ekoan Maria association, in Messamendongo area, to watch the film by Lia Beltrami.
Before the screening began, Mrs Philomène Evini, Zonal President of Ekoan Maria Messamendongo, asked the Ambassadress of WWO to explain the missions of the Observatory to her sisters in Christ. These ladies of the church were greatly pleased to learn that the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO), through its Observatory, was committed to the fight against the mistreatment of women in Africa. Galvanised by the WUCWO's salvific ambition to make visible women victims of violence, these ladies could not but watch the film ‘Invisibles’ with great interest.
At the end of the screening, they all regretted the fact that there were no scenes of violence in this documentary, even though its theme is violence against women. According to Ms Evini, Ekoan Maria delegate to WUCWO: ‘It would have been desirable for all the violence recorded during the WWO surveys to have been visible in this film, so that the world would have a clear idea of the extent of this scourge. Especially as women in our communities are often victims of such abuse, but prefer to keep quiet for fear of rejection’. For Marie Louise Abondo, the characters who impressed her in the film were Agnès the reflexologist and her ‘charming daughter’ Bénedicte. As much as Bénédicte is to be congratulated for her determination to cling to life despite her disability and frustrations, Agnès' devotion to her sick daughter is to be commended. While wondering about the nature of the actions that could alleviate the pain of these two beings, Marie Louise does not forget to thank WUCWO for unveiling their vulnerability to the world. However, she also hopes that their meeting with the President of this institution augurs potential assistance.
For Théodora Omgba, the WWO film Invisibles reminded her of the violence suffered by newly widowed women. She explained that women who have just lost their husbands are mistreated and humiliated during the so called ‘widowhood ceremony’. During this ritual, the husband's family undresses the widows and carries them around with heavy loads in front of the assembly, under the pretext that these are traditional rites. As these practices are highly dishonouring for women, she begs the Observatory to see to what extent it can reveal them to the world, so that they can be banished forever from our cultures.
As the mission of the World Women´s Observatory is to make the cries of African women heard by the rest of the world, it is now up to this institution to take these various requests into account.
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