Peace Anyiam Osigwe

It is hard to break into a male dominated field, but for Africa Film Academy (AFA) chief executive officer Peace Anyiam Osigwe, there is nothing alarming because of the environment she grew up in. As one of the most influential persons in the African film industry, she set up the Africa Film Academy (AFA), which organises the successful African Movie Academy Awards (Amaa) and trains filmmakers from all over the world. A television talk-show presenter and a film producer. Anyiam Osigwe is a recipient of Unesco’s African Vision Award for Innovation.  CHEU MITA talked to this creative woman.

Who is Peace Anyiam Osigwe?

I am a poet with three highly regarded poetry books to her credit. I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law and Political Science (Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, U.K) and I am a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple for Barristers.

Are you married?

I was married for 10 years but I am now divorced. I couldn’t stay in a relationship where my husband abused my trust. So, I walked away to keep my sanity. My father died when I was 13 (October 16 1998) and he came to me in a dream and kept beating me. It was then that I realised he was telling me to leave that relationship. Marriage is about love and it should be built on partnership.

Do you have any children?

I have many from my seven brothers. But I have none biologically.

You studied law, how did you end up in film?

I studied law for my mother, because she wanted her daughter to be a lawyer. But I love the film industry that’s why I am working on ensuring that Africans all over the continent tell their stories through the Film in a Box Training and the Amaa awards.

What made you venture into African film promotion?

I started working as a creative person at the age of nine. My mother (teacher by profession) always gave me books to read and I would always write poetry and fiction. At 16, I published my first magazine and I have been a talk show host and even produced documentaries.

I started low but have always been someone with creative energy. When I came to Nigeria (from the United Kingdom)I got involved in the film industry. I realised that at that time our film industry was greatly funded by the French and the films we produced about Africa were what our donors wanted to see.

When I attended film festivals around the world I noticed that there wasn’t much of African cinema being invested. Then I told myself that as Africans we must learn to celebrate ourselves in a way that we knew what we were saying. We are the ones that can change perceptions of Africa. I want to present Africa in a different light, different from the beggar continent that we have been known to be.

You ventured into a male dominated field, what challenges have you faced?

What is interesting is that I was brought up in a family of seven brothers and I grew up as a tomboy. Of course, people tend to disrespect women or see them as objects of sexual pleasure but I have managed to stand out because I educate myself where I feel I do not know so that the men have nothing to say about me. I work with a lot of strong women and we are a force to reckon with. I also learnt early from my dad that with God all things are possible. Now I know there is only one person that can stop me and that is God.

Another factor that makes me succeed is the fact that I have always been an independent person and I have great confidence in the fact that I know my craft and I know what I am doing. For instance, if I am working with a new camera, I ensure I learn how to use it. I make myself knowledgeable about what I am doing. That’s what women must do to stand out from the crowd.

What lessons can you give to Malawian women and young girls who aspire to venture into male dominated fields?

You must believe in yourself and know that you are the temple and God lives in each one of us. No one said that women are the weaker sex. In Africa the reality is actually different, women are stronger. They farm. The strength is about being a partner and understanding that you can achieve as much as any man. But I also believe that we have to find a way to work as African women so that we can exchange ideas and inspire each other. I am sure Malawian women can learn a lot from Nigerian women who have been very successful in business as groups.

Malawian girls must know that there is more to life than just having children. In the world today women are more successful. We need to get more education and get interconnected with other African women. What women should know is that we are not in any equality battle. I don’t know where they are but I do know where I am. The girls should know they are lucky to have a role model in President Joyce Banda.

What roles do you think parents have in the way their daughters are raised?

Mothers and fathers have a big role to play in raising their daughters. Fathers should realise that daughters are not negative energy as has been the thoughts on the continent.

What about the role of fathers?

I had the most interesting relationship with my father; he was my best friend.

He taught me so many things. One of them being that if you do something bad to someone, it will come back to you. With him whether you were a male or female child there was no difference. It’s sad that Africans believe a male child is more important. I remember while in law school I called my father one day that I was dropping out, there were just too many books and I couldn’t do it. He got on the next plane to the UK from Nigeria and met me in London. While there he taught me that I must learn to read law as a novel because every law is a story. Not many fathers would have made that sacrifice but my father did.

What about the role of mothers?

Mothers must have an interest in their children’s lives. Don’t pretend to be too busy for your children. I remember when I came back from boarding school my mother would always go through my suitcase to see if there was anything new, and ask me where I got it from. Do mothers still do that? As African mothers we need to become each other’s keeper. We need to go back to the old ways of mothering where each mother raises everyone’s child.  This form of living has respect and dignity. Everyone is trying to be Western which is why I am careful of what I do with African cinema. It must portray our culture. Miriam Makeba told me that the reality is that Africans need to know where they are coming from because we have forgotten our culture.

What hopes do you have after planting the seed of cinema in Malawi?

I hope that Malawi will have Mallywood and I know there is potential in film industry.  With the film industry Malawi can change its GDP drastically and even employ as many as 3 million people in all stages of film production.