Behind the Lens: The Women Changing African Cinema

Shattering the Status Quo

For years, African cinema was a boys’ club. Women in film were often relegated to acting roles or support positions, rarely given creative control over the stories being told. But women like Safi Faye, often called the mother of African cinema, began changing that as early as the 1970s. Her groundbreaking Senegalese film Kaddu Beykat (1975) highlighted rural women’s struggles and earned international acclaim.

Fast forward to today, and the movement she helped spark has gained unstoppable momentum. Female directors, writers, and producers across Africa are telling stories that center women’s experiences, address social issues, and explore identity in bold, innovative ways.

Pioneers and Trailblazers

Across the continent, several women have emerged as visionaries pushing African cinema into new territory:

• Wanuri Kahiu (Kenya): Known for Rafiki (2018), a tender love story between two young women that challenged Kenya’s censorship laws, Kahiu has become a global voice for African creativity and LGBTQ+ visibility.

• Jenna Bass (South Africa): With films like Flatland, Bass brings a feminist and subversive edge to the Western genre while addressing gender violence and injustice.

• Nadia El Fani (Tunisia): Through provocative documentaries, she examines religion, secularism, and women’s rights in North Africa.

• Loukman Ali & Kemiyondo Coutinho (Uganda): Though often recognized for directing, Kemiyondo has also written and produced powerful stories spotlighting African women’s resilience.

These pioneers are not just making films; they’re building pathways for the next generation of African women storytellers.

Telling the Untold

What makes the work of these women so impactful is their commitment to telling stories that have long been marginalized:

• Women navigating patriarchal societies.

• Survivors of violence finding their voices.

• Queer Africans claiming space on screen.

• Everyday joys and struggles of African girlhood and womanhood.

By expanding the narrative scope of African cinema, they ensure that audiences—both on the continent and globally—see African women as complex, dynamic, and fully human.

More Than Directors: Building Industries

Beyond making films, many of these women are working to transform the industry itself. They mentor young filmmakers, create platforms for women’s work, and advocate for fair representation and funding. Festivals like African Women in Film Forum (AWIFF) and collectives like Black Women Disrupt have grown out of these efforts, providing community and visibility for women in African cinema.

Why It Matters

Representation matters—not just in front of the camera, but behind it too. When women tell their own stories, entire societies benefit. Cinema shapes perceptions, influences policy debates, and fosters empathy. And when African women control the narrative, the stories become richer, more truthful, and more transformative.

Looking Ahead

The women changing African cinema are just getting started. As streaming platforms make African films more accessible to global audiences, the demand for authentic, diverse stories continues to grow. New voices are emerging every year, proving that the future of African cinema is not only female—but also fearless, imaginative, and unapologetically African.

These filmmakers remind us that stories hold power. And when women take the reins of that power, they don’t just change cinema—they change the world.