Nigeria has created a globally accepted industry in the film medium but has failed to harness it for national development . This is what Ford Foundation has done
October 2, 2015 – The importance of marriage in the life of man cannot be over emphasized. It comes with real blessing when it comes at the right time and it can also be a source of pain for those involved if the step is taken at a very wrong time.
The story of Nafisa, Halima and Grace in the film, Unspoken put together by Singing Tree Films in conjunction with the Ford Foundation calls for sober reflection on religious and cultural oddness in the society.
The central figure is Idris who is married to two of the three major characters in the film, Nafisat and Halima. Idris got married to Nafisat when she was just 11 years old. The union produced a girl at such an age that her pelvis were not developed enough for her to have a baby. The result is complication, leading to Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) . She started urinating on herself and fouling the home. She is locked up in a room for becoming a menace to her immediate environment.
But it seems Idris learnt little or nothing from that experience. His search for underage girls took him to Halima, a thirteen year old girl full of dreams of wining Spelling Bee competition and traveling abroad. She is forced into marriage against her will. Although she was lucky not to have suffered VVF, she lost her womb during labour and becomes barren for life.
The third character, Grace has to pay for her waywardness. She had sex with his boyfriend at the age of 13 and got pregnant. Her attempt to terminate the pregnancy landed her in the hospital and had to be forced into labour when the baby was barely 7 months.
Grace intended to talk to her very busy mother when she discovered that she was pregnant, but she was busy on call and when her mother was ready for her, she was just not ready to talk and sought advice in a wayward girl who advised her to go for abortion.
But the fact that she carried the pregnancy for 7 months without her parents’ knowledge raises a lot of questions about the film. But a gynecologists and Medical Director of Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Dr. Ajoke Ashiru said girls are capable of hiding pregnancy even eight months from their parents using belt, girdle and all other means.
The film also takes a swipe at government which has continued to pay lip service to the healthcare sector culminating in too many strikes and death in many cases. Besides, the paucity of medical personal is another issue. In Nigeria, doctor to patient ratio is put at 1 : 53.333 and nurse to patient ratio of 1:1.066 against a World Health Organisation(WHO) ratio of 2:5.
The cultural issue of underage marriage in the northern part of Nigeria and failure of parents to discuss issues relating to a child’s sexuality are other issues addressed by the film, with recommendation for parents to pay more than usual attention to their children, especially the girl child, listen to them when they want to talk irrespective of time and situation since there may not be another time.
It is no doubt a film that has wild audience appeal. Already, the producers have taken steps to translate it into Hausa with a promise translate it into other indigenous languages in order to make the intended impact. Besides, Ford Foundation is also offering to make it available to all via mobile theatre at no charge, Programme Officer, Ford Foundation, Professor Paul Nwulu said at the media preview session.
He also spoke passionately about the role of film as a tool for driving change. He expressed optimism in the power of the film to hit the right chord. For him, the theme is quite apt, able to address unfortunate challenges confronting the society.
He argued that Nigeria has created a globally accepted industry in the film medium but has failed to harness it for national development . “This is what Ford Foundation has done”, he said.
For the Co-Chairman, Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, Dr. Saheed Timehin, the film will strike the right chord if efforts are made to translate it into Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.
Produced by Chichi Usuegbu Ipeama and directed by Remi Vaughan Richards, credit must be given to the producers for creative use of shots to tell stories that have become a source of headache for many. In the words of Richards, Unspoken is a story that needs to be told, adding that parents, youth and society at large should be made aware of the emotional and health risks of early sex and pregnancy in young girls. “Unspoken is a story that is based in Nigeria but the message crosses continents”, she said of the film.
It parades array of stars like Chris Ebbie, Ufuoma Ejenebor, Funky Mallam, Gregory Ojefua, Yinqi-Cent Harry and 13 year old Zainab Mohammed who played Halima.
Contributed by Emmanuel Ukudolo
