WeOwnTV: Idriss Kpange Filmmaker Fellowship

Hello to all of our wonderful supporters!

We are excited to share an update from the field from Tyson, one of the WeOwnTV Filmmaker Fellows. His project is titled, “AN’BONDO BEYKY” - a Temne title, which means "Stop Female Genital Mutilation" (FGM). The film is a very personal look at a heated social issue in Sierra Leone. Fatmata, a close friend of Tyson's and a member of his media collective, the Future View Film Group, died after going through an initiation ceremony. She bled to death after having been initiated to the Bondo society. The Bondo society is a popular all-female society in West Africa. Though efforts have been made to modernize the ritual and stop FGM, many societies still require this practice for initiation into the group and to adulthood.

Tyson has completed production on the powerful film and is now editing the material. He is also working to develop strategic partnerships to make his film a transformative awareness building tool in the region.

Here is a message from the Director: "FGM initiations are a tragic cultural practice and I strongly believe that films like AN’BONDO BEYKY can sensitively address the topic and change minds. We recently connected with the nurse who was giving medical assistance to Fatmata before she passed away. The nurse is also a member of the Bondo society and offered a lot of wisdom to our project and insight into how we can use it to change minds. We do not need to abandon our culture to sensibly modify how we practice and change can come from within. My experience as a WeOwnTV fellow has been life changing. I believe my understanding and my confidence has improved and I can say I am a better filmmaker because of the WeOwnTV Fellowship."

- Tyson

We are thrilled to have Tyson in our inaugural class of Filmmaker Fellows. The story in his film is one that needs to be told and the message has a very real potential of changing and saving lives. We would greatly appreciate your support by sharing this project and any donation you can make to help support West African filmmakers share important stories like this one.

Thank you for your support!

Banker White and the WeOwnTV family