BBC Explores The Politics of Gender Equality for Women in Africa

It was a chilly morning in Nairobi but the audience drawn from not just Kenya but all over Africa was already at the Jeevanjee Gardens, ready to board the buses to Bomas of Kenya.

Once we arrived, the amazing student volunteers from Daystar University welcomed us warmly and in style, making sure we were comfortable.

After lunch at Utamaduni Restaurant and in-house production briefing, we made our way to the older wooden foyer of the Bomas of Kenya hall. The word Bomas was derived from “Boma” -a Swahili word for enclosed homestead. There are several different “Bomas”, each one representing one of Kenya’s major ethnic groups.

We sat at the front row watching the BBC team swing into action. The level of professionalism was evident in that well illuminated hall. When it comes to a live recording, every director and producer demands perfection.

As we took our seats, so did the panel. It seemed like a scene out of a boxing match right in the ring. The panel of decision-makers and opinion former face-to-face with a live audience.

Zeinab Badawi, the English moderator, then took to the stage, seemingly fully aware of the magnitude of her responsibility with this discussion. This was a chance for people to put tough and frank questions to those who run their lives.

On her right, sat Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and former Nigerian Health Minister; and Fuambai Sia Ahmadu, co-founder of African Women are Free to Choose (AWA-FC) and Health Advisor for the Vice President of Sierra Leone.

To her left sat Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Hon. Louise Mushikiwabo; Junet Mohamed, a Somali opposition politician who believes African women need to put more effort in for their empowerment and Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u, a Supreme Court Judge who is renowned for her efforts delivering the Sexual Offences Act.

 

Zeinab Badawi said:

“People in Africa are increasingly holding their leaders to account and demanding a better response to their needs from their government. The role of the media is critical to these efforts: so it is important for me that we help facilitate this process through helping raise farther the voice of Africans by enabling them to question their leaders and opinion formers about issues that matter to them. This is a vital tool for promoting good governance and Global Questions is the ideal platform to uphold this aim not only in Kenya or Africa, but globally.”

The crowd put to task the leaders on hard questions of women empowerment, sexuality, finance and credit for women and the future of an African woman.

“Islam allows me to marry four women,” Honorable Junet tried to crack a joke that was quickly countered by DR. Babatunde, “Islam also dictates that you love these women equally. That is where the issue is.”

“For me am a proud circumcised Sierra Leone woman. I have issue on why people call it Genital Mutilation,” Fuambai Sia Ahmadu’s confession shocked the audience.

The heated debate a times would open a can of worms especially on issues of women circumcision and polygamy that seemed to divide the crowd.

From questions raised online to the live audience, Global Questions gave ordinary African citizens the access to question those who lead them. The Swahili panel was moderated by Gertrude Mwongela.

The programme will be broadcast on the BBC’s international news channel, BBC World News on 14th November. It will also feature on BBC World Service Radio, BBC Swahili and bbc.com.