If you have not seen the Makemation film, there are spoilers in this piece.
My first interaction with the Makemation film was when I was invited to moderate a panel on ‘Storytelling as a Strategy for AI Adoption and Governance in Africa’. The precursor to the conversation was a thirty-minute screening of the film. While we watched the short clip, a close friend, whom I call my sister, was emotional to the point of tears.
Following some scenes, I would catch her wiping tears from her eyes. I understood why she had teary moments, but I could not relate. Boy, was I wrong. Then came the panel conversation, and a panellist spoke about how the main protagonist’s character (Zara) resonated. She talked about growing up in a family where her education was not prioritised. This made her growing up difficult, but she weathered every storm and surmounted every obstacle thrown her way.
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Currently, she has a Ph.D and is leading a Nigerian government parastatal. Even though I could not connect with that backstory, I understood how powerful it was to see women thrive regardless of their past. Especially when they are written off as unable to succeed for the singular fact that they are female. My sister/friend has the same backstory, she said her tears were because she saw herself in Zara. She knew what it was like to have your dreams reduced. To be resigned to marriage because it was more important to invest in her male siblings. Today, she is a very successful entrepreneur contributing to the education and business of several girls and women in Northern Nigeria. Her business has impacted lives beyond what some local governments in Nigeria have done.
Someone else said that she connected with the story because she was raised by a single mum who gave everything up to make sure she and her sister had everything they needed to thrive and succeed. While I understood these women’s stories, I could not relate to their backstories.
Read More From Tsema Yvonne Ede, The Cable NG Viewpoint: Makemation film: Using entertainment to tell social impact stories
