On December 10, 2009, CMFD participated in the launch of a new campaign, Score a Goal for Gender Equality, spearheaded by Gender Links and the Gender and Media Diversity Centre (GMDC).
Radio for Peacebuilding Africa recently awarded CMFD's six-part serial drama Crossroads winner of the Radio for Peacebuilding Africa Awards Special Category.
When a market trader becomes frustrated with the local police inspector who is more interested in lining his pockets than finding her missing daughter, a magic drink provided by the local alcohol brewer causes the trader and police inspector to switch bodies. Each has the opportunity to see how the other gender lives! - with hilarious results and eye-opening perspectives. All the while, the search for the missing woman continues - will she be found in time?
Crossroads is an exciting new six episode serial radio drama exploring issues related to the African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. Created to a high quality broadcast standard, each 20 minute episode delivers adventure and intrigue, as well as subtly interwoven messages around women's rights.
If you would like to download the guide or the dramas for use in your organisation, please click herefor our audio and publications library.
The Drama
Each episode of Crossroads is thematically related to an Article in the Protocol, specifically the right to peace, the right to freedom from violence, the right to marriage and divorce, to political participation, to education and reproductive and sexual health.
A lively original theme song accompanies each episode, and both complements the drama and stands alone as a powerful call to action for people to work together for women's rights.
The drama also includes a guide for radio presenters and community organisations, giving them ideas on how to take the drama further in their programming. The easy to follow guide gives presenters suggestions for questions to ask listeners or studio guests, as well as stories they can do that relate to the themes in each episode. It also contains key contacts and information about women's rights, and a simplified breakdown of key articles in the Protocol that relate to the themes in the drama.
Originally produced in English for Kenyan audiences, Crossroads has since been translated and reproduced into Swahili, French and Portuguese. For the French and Portuguese recordings, new theme music was conceptualised and produced, situating the rhythms, voices and lyrics in the West African and Luso-African contexts.
The English and Swahili productions launched in September 30, 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. The launch was preceded by a media workshop on September 29, organised by the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), that provided journalists with information and skills for reporting on the AU Protocol and women's rights issues.
Crossroads
