Echoes of a silenced girl
- Kaylo
- Nov 10, 2017
- 2 min read
Will they hear us when we ask – are we safe? Performance art, replaying some of the experiences womxn go through on a daily basis.Produced by Tutu Zondo and co-directed by Nandi Nhlapho, with performers, Mamodibe Ramodibe and Ulemu Moyo ,The Wombman movement kicked off at The Hive on 27 October , and again tonight at University Corner.
The performance is one that every female will be able to relate speaking to the compromises and conversations one has to have with oneself about one will wear in the morning in order to make sure you don’t attract unwanted attention, making sure that your shoes are comfortable enough to run in should an encounter on your way to school.
Mamodibe and Ulemu share their truths through theater placing their own experiences and those of many other black females in your face in a very raw and emotional way.
The audio in the background are thoughts that we’ve all had on our journeys from varsity to the taxi rank or from res to get groceries for instance – “ walk faster, don’t make eye contact, cat called again.” We almost foresee uncomfortable encounters with strangers from a distance before they even happen just by the way they size you up with their eyeballs.
Ironically, on the afternoon of this show , (27 Ocotber) I was groped on Mandela bridge, I violently pushed the guy and his friends out of the way and continued with my colleagues while other people had stopped to see why the person who had touched me without my permission was now shouting “hey don’t touch me!”
Watching the performance and hearing members of the audience ask if these narratives were indeed those of the actors made me ponder on the initial and closing question, will they hear us when we ask – are we safe? Because even afterwards there was a sense of disbelief. The experience of black women among strangers, family members and even partners is exactly what probed The Wombman movement which emerged as a response to femicide and #MenAreTrash upsurge in our society.
“We found that there are many unspoken narratives that we carry with us as black women and that the black female body in South Africa is voiceless and misrepresented,” says Mamo. As a result they bring forth truths by telling their stories of real events through theatre followed by a panel discussion which will make you laugh and cry at the same time.
If you missed out, a video recapping highlights will be released on my youtube channel in due time!
Don't forget to continue the conversation using #Iwas, along with your experiences. Follow The Wombman movement @AWombmanM
Love and Light!
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