WOMEN OF WAALO
A documentary-animation film about upcoming female leadership in Africa  (55 min. TV & 90 min. theater )

Film director: Aida Grovestins, The Netherlands
Animation artist: Machteld Aardse, The Netherlands

You can also follow us on facebook and on www.womenofwaalo.com

HOW TO USE IndieGoGo: IndieGoGo allows you to donate to our film project and in return we offer you our everlasting gratitude, and that's not all, DO have a look on the right site of the page here  >

What's this film about?

LOGLINE

One woman is running for president in Senegal for the elections in spring 2012. This woman, Amsatou Sow Sidibe, takes up the torch from her great grandmothers who in an ultimate act of resistance said no against oppression and slavery.

"My great grandmothers, the Women of Waalo, have taught me to be uncompromising. This is the era that we women are seeking peace and go to new ends to fight for it." (Amsatou Sow Sidibe)                                                                  

INTRODUCTION

"Women of Waalo" is a visually told documentary-animation film. With the camera we join Amsatou Sow Sidibe during all stages of her campaign and see how she - as an independent candidate - puts up the fight with the male political establishment of Senegal. We as a film crew have unlimited access to her. We will be there with her during her public appearances, behind the scenes, en route and at her home with her family as well, right up to and just after the day of the elections on 26 February 2012.

The film will picture her in the midst of the hectic pace of the political campaign up to the elections, in which the tensions underlying daily live in Senegal are felt. At home she can escape the whirlwind for a short while. In the film drawn and then animated elements of the story of Sow Sidibe's grandmothers, the "queen-warriors" of Waalo, will add an extra metaphorical layer to the story. It has been suggested that the story resists capture in a single version at the risk of reducing its mythical power. We wish now to research the strength of its symbolism for people in Senegal, with regard to the political campaign of one of the "granddaughters", Amsatou Sow Sidibe. We will examine how the momentous story informs her leadership as she takes up the torch from her ancestors to fight for the fundamental rights of Senegalese citizens, and women in particular.

AMSATOU SOW SIDIBE

Amsatou Sow Sidibe (57) and a troupe of politically engaged rappers constitute new and unexpectedly strong voices of protest against the incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade. His announcement to seek a third - illegitimate - term with his son as vice-president is causing strong uprising in Senegal. The sheer hunger for power of the overtly corrupt 86-year old president and his son Karim, drive Amsatou Sow Sidibe to relentlessly pursue a central role in Senegalese politics.

Sow Sidibe's popularity among the people of Senegal is growing steadily. She is a real community leader and is regarded highly as a lawyer/mediator in struggling peace negotiations between the people and the government. Sow Sidibe is a professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Dakar, the capital of Senegal.  President Wade twice offered her a position in his cabinet recognizing her knowledge and charisma, which twice she rejected as to avoid becoming a "marionette under abject rule". Sow Sidibe is in dire need of an effective campaign strategist as President Wade removes her public appearances from the national television channels while he attacks his political opponents with false accusations. 

As a film crew we have earned her trust and have her consent to attend all electoral gatherings: we see how Sow Sidibe conquers her political territory as independent female candidate within the male dominated political arena. During her moments of hope and victory we will witness elections evolve on February 26^th 2012, as much as the world may witness a second African nation to be led by a female president.

WOMEN OF WAALO - A STORY OF RESISTANCE

Amsatou Sow Sidibe enters the political arena at a time when most Senegalese have lost their faith in politics and politicians. Her principal inspiration stems from the story of her great grandmothers. In their day, in the 1820's, they were strong leaders and judges in the kingdom of Waalo in Northern Senegal. During a surprise attack by neighbouring Moors, the Women of Waalo decided to remain masters of their own fate. In an act of ultimate resistance they set themselves on fire next to a grand old baobab tree. In the fighting spirit of her great grandmothers, Sow Sidibe now strives for civil rights and against corruption.
The  history of Waalo is evoked in the film through animated drawings. The large solitary Baobab tree, witness of the act of defiance 2 centuries ago, acts as the conduit between then and now.

Long filmed shots of the changing of the light and of the clouds passing by in a fast pace above the earth will symbolize the cycles and passing of time. The colors, sounds and lights in Dakar and in the country during the campaign of Sow Sidibe will contrast with those in Waalo, underlining the conflict between different worlds of tradition and modernity in Senegal today.

RAPPERS

The film will use news clips and critical lyrics by the rappers of the protest movement "We are fed up" (Y'en a marre) - both visually and in the soundtrack - as further commentary on the current Senegalese political situation. The rappers give their views on the various political candidates, amongst whom Amsatou Sow Sidibe, in various "electoral raps".

Is Sow Sidibe offering a credible alternative to the Senegalese and is Senegal ready for a female president?

WHY THIS FILM NOW?

African women are increasingly getting involved as mediators in peace talks that have run aground. They negotiate for peaceful leadership and democracy in defiance of political, ethnic and class differences. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia is the first female president of Africa. Whilst zooming in on a single African nation, we address changes that are occurring across the African continent. In this film we will look for the sources of successful female leadership.

SCREENINGS & OUTREACH

From mid 2012 onwards the film will be shown on TV and at international film festivals, where we intend to accompany viewings by debates and workshops on female leadership. In addition we will distribute the film through mobile cinemas in West-Africa.

During our working and filming process, we have already started doing presentations, workshops and active networking on the topic of female leadership and self-determination.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP? WHY CROWDFUNDING NOW?

The change is happening now in Senegal and Africa and we want to be there with our camera to film the developments during the campaign of Amsatou Sow Sidibe in February 2012. Because of the time restraint, we need all the help we can get to pay our small film crew to be able to go to Senegal mid January till the beginning of March.

Your donation will go directly to the actual shooting of the film throughout Senegal and for Machteld Aardse to make drawings for the animation for two weeks on location in Waalo, in North Senegal.

SO please be a part of it!  And please pass this along to friends and family, post it on your blog, Twitter and Facebook pages... Help us get the word out!

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

One easy way to get involved is to friend the film on Facebook. Please take a few minutes to spread the word through Facebook, Twitter, or a quick e-mail to a few friends. Also, if you know of any organizations that might be interested in this film, please let us know.

If you have any questions about this film, feel free to contact us: contact @ womenofwaalo.com

You can visit the website of our film: www.womenofwaalo.com

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

The money we are asking for is specifically needed for 2 matters:
- in January and February 2012 Aida Grovestins will film the campaign of Amsatou Sow Sidibe in Senegal with a Senegalese and Dutch crew.

- in February 2012 Machteld Aardse will be drawing for 2 weeks in the North of Senegal for the animations.

IN ORDER TO START FILMING ON TIME, OUR MINIMUM BUDGET IS 30000,- dollars. ANYTHING WE MAY RAISE ABOVE IS WELCOME FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE FILM

(next to the amount that we hope to raise in a later phase through film funds)

TO OUR FRIENDS AND DONORS 

In addition to our everlasting gratitude, contributions will be rewarded in the following ways:  

MESSENGER OF GOOD WILL
$ 1,-: Anything you can give will help! For $1 you will receive a thank you email and our heartfelt gratitude.

ETERNAL GRATITUDE
$ 10,-: Your name will be listed on our website Women of Waalo and facebook page and you will receive updates of the filming process with pictures or drawings.

BEYOND ETERNAL GRATITUDE

$ 25,-: The above + a digital download of the film and a personal postcard from Senegal.

SMALL INVESTOR
$ 50,-: The above + a DVD + a photo of maybe the future president Amsatou Sow Sidibe.

COLLECTOR

$ 100,-: The above + 2 tickets for the screening of the film near you + 1 professional quality A3 print of a film image of your choice from our photo gallery. Your name will be added to the special thanks list on the website.

PHILANTHROPIST
$ 300,-: The above, but instead of the print, 1 original pencil-on-paper drawing from the animations in the film + your name on the film credits.

HERO

$ 500,-: The above, with a total of 3 original drawings from the animations in the film.

SUPER HERO

$1000,-: The above, with a total of 5 original drawings from the animations in the film in special artist box, 4 tickets for the screening of the film near you.

ELIGIBLE FOR SAINTHOOD

$2500,-: The above + your name on our credits as ASSOCIATE PRODUCER + a total of 10 original drawings from the animations in the film in special artist box + credit "This film was made possible by the generous support of (your name).

ABSOLUTE SAINT

$5000,-: The above, including your name on our credits as ASSOCIATIVE PRODUCER, + a total of 20 original drawings from the animations in the film in special artist box + private screening with Q&A in Europe.

TRULY DIVINE - DAKAR - A'DAM

$10.000,-: The above + your name on our credits as EXECUTIVE PRODUCER and your name goes up on IMDb + we will organize a weekend trip for 2 persons Amsterdam-Dakar with a meet&greet with Amsatou Sow Sidibe
OR
The above + your name on our credits as EXECUTIVE PRODUCER and your name goes up on IMDb + a private film screening with Q&A in Europe for 20 people with dinner.

TRULY DIVINE THE BAOBAB TREE

$10.000,-: (Exclusive) The above + instead of the trip a book signed by the author with all 80 drawings made for the animation of the Baobab tree (in a limited edition of 10).

Please mention your e-mail address and address for shipment.

We will confirm your payments by e-mail once received.