Abstract
Synopsis of Film:
As Marie-Madeleine beats the African drum on her enthronement day, the gentle sounds signal a break with tradition. It is the dawn of a new era in the village of Nkol Ngock I. A woman will be their traditional leader. This is an unusual occurrence in most African societies, where the position of chief is customarily handed down from father to son. This documentary presents a rare glimpse into a community undergoing change. Social attitudes toward gender equality are changing, as men openly acknowledge and speak about the importance of women in development. Even though some villagers consider Marie-Madeleine a “stranger” because she lives in the capital city of Yaoundé, she is determined to learn about her culture and integrate into village life.
In French and Ewondo with English subtitles.
As Marie-Madeleine beats the African drum on her enthronement day, the gentle sounds signal a break with tradition. It is the dawn of a new era in the village of Nkol Ngock I. A woman will be their traditional leader. This is an unusual occurrence in most African societies, where the position of chief is customarily handed down from father to son. This documentary presents a rare glimpse into a community undergoing change. Social attitudes toward gender equality are changing, as men openly acknowledge and speak about the importance of women in development. Even though some villagers consider Marie-Madeleine a “stranger” because she lives in the capital city of Yaoundé, she is determined to learn about her culture and integrate into village life.
In French and Ewondo with English subtitles.
| Translated title of the contribution | Marie-Madeleine: A Female Chief |
|---|---|
| Original language | Multiple languages |
| Place of Publication | Selected and screened at international film festivals in 12 countries including USA, Nigeria, Kenya, Greece, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Cameroon, Denmark, Ireland and Wales, and Tanzania. Selected festivals: International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra Awards, Greece; International Images Film Festival for Women, Zimbabwe; Wexford Documentary Film Festival, Ireland; Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), San Jose, USA; Twin Cities Black Film Festival, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cape Town International Film Market & Festival, South Africa; Mama Afrika Film Festival, Nairobi, Kenya; Cardiff International Film Festival; Africa International Film Festival, Lagos, Nigeria; Cascade Festival of African Films, Portland, Oregon, USA; Equality International Film Festival, Sacramento, USA; Cincinnati African & Asian Diaspora Film Festival, USA; Watch-Africa: Wales African Film Festival - 2021 |
| Edition | Original |
| Media of output | Film |
| Size | 66 minutes |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Jun 2018 |
Keywords
- Documentary film
- African Cinema
- Gender studies
- Ethnographic film
- Cultural studies
- Postcolonial studies
