AkeOnTheRocks - Day 4

The remaining days were busy with activities- book chat here, panel discussion there. Most of what I can remember is shuttling between both halls with place cards, water or manning the registration desk with Ope. So “ll stick to what I can.

Ramata

This French movie is about a beautiful woman Ramata, wife to the minister of justice, Matar Samb. She has a life of wealth and comfort till she encounters a weird character and ex-convict Ngor.

The movie starts with the death of an unknown lady, then a long boat ride which gets many of us confused. Ramata is then seen dressing up in front of a broken mirror and then her husband walks in making a joke that I am yet to understand. At this moment some of us began fiddling with our phones, tweeting and speculating that it would be a boring night. We were however made to change our minds as the story unfolds into a tragic and confusing love story. While returning from a visit to see her daughter from the hospital who had just put to bed, Ramata enters a cab purportedly stolen by Ngor who is driving and there begins her journey to either her redemption or woes. Ngor takes another turn deviating from her normal route home and Ramata just barks out orders from him to take her back home. Instead they end up in a bar where she gets drunk and raped by Ngor or should I say had her sexual appetite rejuvenated by Ngor.

While this was going on I imagined being in the cab with Ngor and practised all the Jackie chan moves with which I would have used to roll out of the car while in motion, or how my I would have activated my tracker or distress signal as a ministers` wife that I am.

Don’t blame me I watch too much NCIS and Gibbs has influenced my thinking a lot.

The story to me at that point was unbelievable.

Ramata goes back home to her bitter mother inlaw who sparks up a rebellious spirit making her go back to Ngor. We now see her in a different light. She is a broken woman with bottled up emotions, unhappy in her marriage and yet unable to speak up as she is meant to live up to certain expectations. Her affair with Ngor leads to their arrest and the ministers` involvement. Ngor disappears to save his skin and Ramata abandons her comfort in search of him till she meets her death. The movie ends as we realise the tale is being told to her grandson. This bit got me confused as I sat in shock. It felt like something was missing. I couldn’t decide if Ramata felt trapped in her marriage because of societal expectation or because her husband couldn’t satisfy sexually. I couldn’t tell if she had a good heart or if her beauty was just a persona. In other words I couldn’t judge Ramata or make excuses for her behaviour especially after learning that Ngor is the son of a man she murdered sometime in the past.  Then the nagging question at back of my head- why was she always touching and caressing the pendant on her neck as if it has some sort of significance to the developing story?

However, I do love how the plot was intertwined with nemesis, comedy, corruption, romance and irony that allowed the side comments, funny tweets and interpretations to emanate. That alone added spice to the movie and has enabled me relate this.

***

The Man Who Mend Women

The ills and damages brought upon by war cannot be over emphasized. Many a time we summarize this under death and destruction of properties, but the real damage is not to the house that got burnt for it could always be rebuilt. Rather it is to the little boy or girl who gets malnourished due to food shortage, it’s to that girl child or woman who is gang raped and rejected by the society whose original purpose is shelter and protection. Who would help rebuild or restore their dignity or even tell the story of their survival?

This film or documentary is set the Democratic Republic of Congo and tells the story of how a gynaecologist and his team helps to treat and rehabilitate women- victims of rape and societal rejection. At first when the film started I was bored and began to miss Ngor from Ramata but as I got absorbed by the sorrowful tale of some of these women, my interest piqued. We were to see different women of varying ages who have been gang raped and beaten by the militia fall to Dr Mukwege who attended to them physically and mentally. Performing corrective surgeries and organising psychological counselling. We listen to his story of how he had to exile himself when his life and that of his family became threatened. We also see him getting international recognition but no recommendation and accolade from his home country.

Nevertheless, he returns and continues this good work giving him the title “The Man Who Mends Women”. This resulted in the establishment of Panzi foundation which provides hospital services, shelter, counselling, vocational and literacy trainings. Over the years Dr Mukwege and his team have treated about 40,000 women, giving them a chance at redemption and restoration.

I remember the sad stories these women share during counselling sessions and take consolation in the fact that they are able to accept the help being offered. Another touching moment in this film is when some women gather and decide to help Dr Mukwege by selling their pineapples and farm produce. The dedication and optimism to survive in a country torn apart by war, sexual violence and corruption is an example of community service which is lacking very much in today`s society. We should learn from this and try to do much in our capacity no matter how little to always lend a helping hand.

By the time the film had ended we were all sad and close to tears. This was to celebrate a man who has done so much but yet the Congolese government put a ban on the movie in the country. In response to this Mukwege says “the decision to censor this film makes plain the will of the government to refuse the Congolese people the right of access to information, their history, and their right to collective memory and to tell the truth”.

In final words, I respect Dr Mukwege for all the effort and sacrifices made to provide hope and restore the dignity of so many women.

Rape should never be a weapon of war.

***

Saturday came soon and ended with a remarkable evening of palm wine and poetry. Finally I got to see Efe paul Azino perform (that deep baritone of his would surely do well as an alarm tone) and with that I was able to console myself that goodbye would not hurt. I still miss new friends and aquintances but we sure would have a way of connecting. I met interesting people who I would never forget in a hurry – Bisi Alimi, Taiye Selasi, Nnedi Okoroafor, Helon Habila, Imani da Slyvia, Mona Eltahawy, Chris Abani, Bibi Bakare, Molara Wood … the list is shaa getting long. All I am trying to say is that you shouldn’t miss AKE ARTS AND BOOK FESTIVAL, 15 – 19 NOVEMBER 2016.

Thank you LS and may God continue to push sponsors your way.

Ps: Abeokuta doesn’t really have sweet palm wine, it was cool though but if you ever find yourself in Owerri, don’t fail to holla. I would surely give a treat.

There’s going to be a fundraiser to support a $45,000 surgery for Binyavanga at the Freedom Park Lagos. AkeFest15 would have a bookstore available and 20% of the proceeds would go to his medical fund. Please be there on the 28^th of November, 2015 from noon to 6pm and help. Spread the news too.