COTONOU, Benin — Benin’s historic female
warriors known as the Amazons of Dahomey are legendary across West Africa, but
a Hollywood production is bringing them back into the limelight.
اضافة اعلان
The
Woman King, released last Friday and shown at
one Cotonou’s few cinemas on Saturday, is inspired by the story of the Agojie
women who protected the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey and fought against French
colonial troops in the 19th century.
The main character General Nanisca is played by the
Oscar-winning American actress Viola Davis, who trains the next generation of
recruits against a rival African kingdom and European slave traders.
The production directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and
mainly filmed in South Africa has won praise for its leading roles for black
actresses, but has also generated criticism that it glorifies slavery.
At the premiere in Benin’s economic capital, a
descendant of Ghezo, a King of Dahomey, who attended the screening at Canal
Olympia cinema, shed tears during the viewing.
“For the princess that I am, some of the scenes were
very touching. These brave women gave their lives to protect Ghezo’s heritage,
which is my own,” said 37-year-old Sylvine Senami Ghezo.
A younger viewer, 15-year-old Bahunde Efanam, was
also emotional and said the film gave her “shivers”.
The Amazons of Dahomey have been celebrated many
times before, including in the 2018 film Black Panther in which they inspired
Wakanda’s Dora Milaje warriors.
More recently, Benin’s President Patrice Talon unveiled
a giant 30m high bronze statue representing an Amazon in central Cotonou.
The government said it chose the figure as a symbol
of national identity and key part of its history to showcase in a bid to
attract tourists.
Tourism
Made by Chinese artist Li
Xiangqun, “the statue will be, for us and those who visit, a symbol of the
Beninese woman of yesterday, today and tomorrow”, the president said of the
display in July.
“What is important is that in Benin, the words
courage, bravery, strength, combativeness's, and honor are not exclusively
associated with men,” said the president.
For those working in the nation’s budding tourism
industry like Achille Remy Yelouassi who was at the premiere, the hope is also
that films like The Woman King “help put Benin on the map”.
Some though said the next film should be made in
Benin and not Hollywood since it concerns the country’s history.
In the US, some have criticized the movie for not
addressing the role Dahomey Kingdom played in the slave trade. #Boycottwomanking
has been trending on Twitter.
But for some Beninese women, the film can also help
tackle issues around women’s rights according to Senami Totin, a lawyer and
activist in the country.
“In a patriarchal
society like we have in Benin, you need a lot of courage and determination to
defend women’s rights,” she said, listing challenges from impunity for rape,
forced marriages, exclusion of women from inheritance rights, and a lack of
representation in politics.
“We no longer have to fight wars against enemy armies
but the fight for women’s emancipation is a daily one, and for that, we have to
have an Amazon spirit,” she added.
In addition to celebrating the Beninese woman,
actress Viola Davis said she hopes the film also inspires young girls around
the world.
“It’s for my six-year old self. ... the little girl
who was traumatized, the little girl who was called ugly, the little girl who
wasn’t seen, who was left invisible,” she told reporters before the Toronto
premiere earlier this month.
“I see you Viola. I see every chocolate girl who is
like you. I’m telling you to stop running. This is my gift to you.”
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