DHUM 27A57 - Women in African Cinema

This course will consider the ways in which cinema has – and continues – to construct and reinforce gender norms on the African continent, themselves greatly impacted by European colonization. Tracing the history of filmmaking on the continent from its development during the colonial era to the birth of post-independence African cinema to the present, we shall examine the ways in which cinema shapes representations of African women, and their place and role in society, from Western stereotypes to African counter-representations.
Alternating the viewing and analysis of a corpus of feature films by leading African women filmmakers spanning different regions, epochs, and predominant themes and styles, we shall adopt a contextual and textual approach to understanding and analysing these works and their representations.

Computer and phone-free class

Melissa THACKWAY

Séminaire

English

Autumn 2025-2026

Assessment will be based on students' viewing of the film corpus, their ability to think about and analyse the works clearly, and to participate in collective discussions, demonstrating both personal reflection and informed research.
Class participation 10%
Oral presentation 45%
Final paper 45%

Weeks et programme*

Week 1: Introduction I
The arrival of cinema in Africa: a colonial history.
The (mis)representation of African women in Euro-American cinema: invisibilisation and stereotyping.
Gender and colonisation in Africa.
Film Glossary.

Week 2: Introduction II
The Birth of African Cinema: counter-representations.
Early male filmmakers' women centric films and progressive female representations: from La Noire de… to Moolade (Senegal, 1966 and 2004), the example of Ousmane Sembene.

Week 3: Pioneering Women Filmmakers I – Liberation struggles through a female lens
Introduction to and viewing of Sambizanga by Sarah Maldoror (France/Angola, 1972).

Week 4: Pioneering Women Filmmakers I – Liberation struggles through a female lens II Analysis of Sambizanga / student presentations: themes, characters, image, sound. The question of point of view.

Week 5: Pioneering Women Filmmakers II – Conventions, Girl Rebels, and the Female Gaze Introduction to and viewing of Mossane by Safi Faye (Senegal, 1996)

Week 6: Pioneering Women Filmmakers II – Conventions, Girl Rebels, and the Female Gaze.
Analysis of Mossane / student presentations: themes, characters, image, sound. Female conditions, and the female gaze.

Week 7: Witches and Female Spirituality I Introduction to and viewing of I Am Not a Witch by Rungano Nyoni (Zambia, 2017)

Week 8: Witches and Female Spirituality II Analysis of I Am Not a Witch / student presentations: themes, characters, image, sound. From precolonial female spiritual leaders to present-day patriarchy and ostracization.

Week 9: Women Loving Women I
Introduction to and viewing of Rafiki by Wanuri Kahui (Kenya, 2018)

Week 10: Women Loving Women II Analysis of Rafiki / student presentations: themes, characters, image, sound. LGBTQI+ issues and gender fluidity in Africa.

Week 11: Women's Documentary – Repair, Radicality and Subversion I
Introduction to and viewing of Four Daughters by Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia, 2023)

Week 12: Women's Documentary – Repair, Radicality and Subversion II Analysis of Four Daughters / student presentations: themes, characters, image, sound.
Documentry cinema. Subverting codes and norms. Film as care-repair.
Semester conclusions.
* For reasons of availability, the films announced may be subject to changes, but the themes of the programme will remain unchanged.