YEP Crew Blog Post – Golda: Movie Time! A review of ‘Moolaadé’

In all honesty, I find it difficult to explain the complexity of sexuality and body autonomy when discussing sexual health in an African* context (*defining African in itself is complex, but for the purpose of this blog post, I shall use the term as a blanket cultural and racial description). There are so many intersecting factors, namely the continuous fight between religious dogma versus antiquated cultural practices. Majority African cultures are patriarchal, there is a huge and continued stigma surrounding female sexuality which often neutralises womens’ basic human rights. To further explain I would like to examine one of my favourite films of all time: Moolaadé. I hope it’s a good read.

Directed by acclaimed godfather of African cinema, Ousmane Sembène, Moolaadé is a masterpiece that explores the controversial topic and cultural practice of female circumcision. Sembène artistically documents the ancient tradition in context to sexuality and how that forms views on the black female body within the societies that enforce the ritual.

Set under the bright Burkina Faso sun, the film begins with three distressed young girls wrapped in white cloth running through the village screaming ‘mother Collé, mother Collé, and we are then introduced to the ingeniously crafted heroine Collé Ardo. Collé embodies Sembène’s argument against the cutting custom and the strength of the black woman. We soon learn that the girls have escaped circumcision, asking Collé to offer them moolaadé (which poetically means sanctuary) – a right she chooses to exercise.

The circumcision is the cornerstone of the film, but through precision and subtlety, Sembène also disassembles themes of deeply entrenched patriarchy within African societies, the influence of colonisation and how that has further cemented extreme views of how to remain ‘cultural’ or ‘religiously pure’. We learn that Collé’s own daughter hasn’t been circumcised and as a result she is in the circle of ‘impure’ women – this is an important commentary which I will explain soon – and being impure consequently creates a rift between mother and daughter. The film focuses on two choices presented to our heroine: revoke moolaadé (to which the children will be circumcised and risk death) or keep moolaadé (and be subjected to a public lashing for disobeyed her husband and embarrassing the elders until she utters the words that revoke moolaadé).

The topic of purity and what that means for women in particular is a constant theme in the film, Burkina Faso is a predominantly Muslim country. Most communities believe female circumcision is right due to religious grounds (even though Muslims theologians have stated otherwise), Moolaadé explores this duality subtly but truthfully. I do admit though, it was hard for me during some points of the movie. There were moments that I really wanted to scream IT’S A LIE! When I knew the women were being manipulated and were forced into feeling guilty as the men knew religion was a foundation that was hard and controversial to argue on.

I know this blog post is seemingly bleak, but I assure you it is a really good beginners source to start to understand why sexual health is so complicated in a cultural, and by extension, religious context. I wanted to write this post because I love this film, as grim as the premise might be, but it is also inspiring and humorous. Sembène didn’t depend on shock value by showing the circumcision,  but he relied on the characters to tell their stories using their voices. This film is so close to my heart as it doesn’t try to hide the devastating ritual and its impact on the community. To me Moolaadé captures all topics sexual health related from a different perspective.

Moolaadé is a loud cry for urgency. It is not only a compelling piece of African cinema, but there are elements that resonates with everyone. If my argument is not enough, just read the reviews from the Cannes Film Festival. If you want to watch the movie just search it up, it’s in French so be prepared for subtitles, but I promise you it’ll be worth it!

147 thoughts on “YEP Crew Blog Post – Golda: Movie Time! A review of ‘Moolaadé’”

  2. Thank you for any other informative website.

    The place else could I am getting that type of info written in such a perfect approach?
    I’ve a project that I am just now operating on, and I have been on the look out for such information. adreamoftrains
    web hosting reviews

  3. Heya! I’m at work browsing your blog from my
    new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward
    to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!

  4. Definitely believe that which you stated.
    Your favorite reason seemed to be on the internet the simplest thing to be
    aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people think about worries that they just don’t know
    about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also
    defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people
    can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  5. Wow, amazing blog layout! How lengthy have you been running a blog
    for? you make running a blog glance easy. The overall glance of your website is magnificent, as smartly as the content material!

  7. Greetings from California! I’m bored to tears at work so I
    decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break.
    I enjoy the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m surprised at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, amazing blog!

  8. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of
    any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter
    updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have
    some experience with something like this. Please let me know if
    you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look
    forward to your new updates.

  9. Genuinely no matter if someone doesn’t know afterward its up
    to other viewers that they will assist, so here it takes place.
    2CSYEon cheap flights

  10. I have read so many articles or reviews on the topic of the blogger lovers however this paragraph is really a fastidious article, keep it up.
    3gqLYTc cheap flights

  11. Hello my family member! I wish to say that this post is amazing, great written and include almost all important infos.
    I would like to peer extra posts like this . 3gqLYTc cheap flights

  12. Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve keep in mind your stuff prior to and you’re just too magnificent. I really like what you’ve obtained right here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way wherein you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a terrific site.

  13. hey there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up anything new
    from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this website, as I experienced to reload the site many times previous to I
    could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
    Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times
    will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords.
    Well I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out
    for much more of your respective interesting content.
    Ensure that you update this again very soon.

  14. Hello there, You have done a great job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally suggest
    to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this
    website. 2CSYEon cheap flights

  15. Hi there it’s me, I am also visiting this website on a regular basis, this site is
    really good and the visitors are really sharing good
    thoughts.

  16. I believe what you said made a great deal of
    sense. However, what about this? suppose you added
    a little information? I am not saying your information is not good, but what if you
    added something to maybe get people’s attention? I mean YEP Crew
    Blog Post – Golda Signal: Movie Time!
    A review of ‘Moolaadé’ | YEP – Youth Educating Peers is a little boring.

    You ought to look at Yahoo’s home page and watch
    how they create post headlines to get viewers interested.
    You might add a related video or a related pic or two to grab readers excited about everything’ve written. Just my opinion,
    it might make your posts a little bit more interesting.

  17. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text
    in your post seem to be running off the screen in Chrome. I’m not sure
    if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser
    compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
    The style and design look great though! Hope you get the issue
    resolved soon. Many thanks

  18. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to claim that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Any way I will be subscribing in your feeds and even I success you get right of entry to persistently fast.

  19. After exploring a number of the blog posts on your web page, I honestly
    appreciate your technique of writing a blog.
    I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my website as well and let
    me know what you think.

  20. I got this web page from my pal who shared with me about this
    web page and now this time I am browsing this site and reading very informative posts at
    this place.

  21. Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for
    a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
    I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept

  22. I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I am not sure
    whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my
    problem. You’re amazing! Thanks!

  25. I think other web site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and wonderful user friendly style and design, let alone the content. You are an expert in this topic!

  26. My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different web page and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking at your web page repeatedly.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

What's happening at YEP

YEP at Fairground 2016

Read more »

YEP Youth Sector Summit: Technosexual World. Call for Abstracts.

Read more »

Meet the team

Page not found

Meet the crew »

Let's keep in touch

or

Subscribe and receive monthly updates on news and our latest resources.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Where are we?

Our offices are with the friendly team and YACWA

4/196 Oxford Street, Leederville 6007, Western Australia

T: (08) 9227 5440 T: 1800 670 231
F: (08) 9238 7446 E: yep@yacwa.org.au

Follow Us