Breaking the Silence on Rape and Sexual Assault in Africa
A Powerful Play to Address the Culture of Silence
Under a spotlight in a pitch dark room, Oliva Ouedraogo holds up a piece of fabric that looks like it’s stained with blood.
The Power of Storytelling
She cries "Long live the girl!", her voice drowning out the loud hum of a generator, an unfortunate necessity as the city of Bamako in Mali lies in darkness due to power cuts.
The Story of the Play "Queen"
Ouedraogo’s play "Queen" (known by its French name "Reine") showed at the Acte Sept cultural centre on 15 October. It tells the story of a girl who defies her family and speaks out after being raped by her stepfather on the night he marries her mother.
A Call to Action
Ouedraogo, who comes from Burkina Faso, said she wrote the play to address the culture of silence about rape and sexual assault in Africa. "What pushed me to write this? It’s that even the victims accept this. I’m saying no, you don’t have to accept, to submit to this, to be trampled on," she said.
The Reality of Rape and Sexual Assault in Mali
According to official figures, almost half of Malian women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lives. The report by the Malian National Institute of Statistics noted that of those, 68 per cent had never spoken about the violence to anyone.
Breaking the Silence
Adama Traore, director of the Acte Sept cultural centre, said he proposed hosting the play because the silence surrounding rape is a huge problem. "All this rape and incest, whether it’s in Europe, Africa, the West, everywhere – the United States. It causes scandals, but we don’t talk about it often," he said.
Conclusion
The culture of silence surrounding rape and sexual assault is a widespread problem that needs to be addressed. Through the story of "Queen", Oliva Ouedraogo sheds light on the issue and encourages victims to speak out and not be ashamed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the play "Queen" about?
A: The play tells the story of a girl who defies her family and speaks out after being raped by her stepfather on the night he marries her mother.
Q: Why did Oliva Ouedraogo write the play?
A: Ouedraogo wrote the play to address the culture of silence about rape and sexual assault in Africa.
Q: What is the significance of the play’s performance in Mali?
A: The play’s performance in Mali raises awareness about the issue of rape and sexual assault and encourages victims to speak out and not be ashamed.
Q: When will the play "Queen" be performed again?
A: The play will be performed again next month at the Cesana Theatre in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
