REPORT ON THE TFD ACTIVITY FOR MAJELISSA MATAR MANOMA
HELD AT
GWAGWADA DEVELOPMENT AREA, CHIKUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KADUNA
FROM 23/04/09 to 02/06/09
BY
NYAGER, ELIZABETH .A (DR)
Theatre For development is a community oriented communication activity that uses inter-personal and horizontal channels of communication for effective development communication. It is participatory, and therefore relevant, inclusive and effective for development communication.
The inclusion of TFD as one of the strategies for the implementation of the GENARDIS project in Gwagwada village of Kaduna State is therefore, an important decision made clear to us on our first day in the village. We observed that, although previous contacts through research were made to this settlement, attitudes towards this project needed to be changed if any impact was to be made in implementing the project.
TFD uses a specific format for reaching out to communities even though each given situation determines approach. TFD may take the following format:
- Researching Community (target community).
- Identifying development Issues
- Prioritizing these issues
- Developing drama skits to capture these issues through rehearsals
- Performance of developed drama
- Follow up activities
At all the levels of this format, participatory learning is enhanced so that message dissemination becomes a concrete and enduring agent for attitude change.
The TFD work in Gwagwada village however, started at the second level in our format. A baseline research had already taken place and some development issues identified. We still needed to identify and confirm these issued through participatory and instigative discussions with the community. Also, we needed to identify members of the community with whom we would be working.
The first day of our contact with the community was therefore, geared towards identifying these groups. Through the assistance of a contact person in the community, we first mobilized the women and then the men. We enlisted fifteen women and six men for the activity.
Day one therefore, afforded us a familiarization tour of the community. We first visited the area administrator who was very supportive of the work. He directed us to a women’s leader who became our contact point with the women.
DAY 2: MONDAY
Having previously arranged to meet by 10a.m daily, we arrived the village to begin the exercise of the day; a mini workshop. This was to acquaint participants with each other and with the project goals. It was kind of plenary so introductions were made and video taped. We seized this opportunity to both break barriers and begin to introduce ICT by inviting one of the women to use the video camera. Assisted by one of ARDA’s program assistants, she did a portion of video recording of that day. The project was introduced by making reference to previous contacts e.g. Melissa’s work and Dr. Sola’s baseline research. They were made to understand that this was a build up on previous efforts. Since TFD uses cultural forms of the people for communication, we invited a local musician who played traditional tunes for warm up exercises. This local music with its accompanying dances became part of the TFD activity for the rest of the week. A few drama skits were tried out around the identified development needs of the village. Some of these were lack of fertilizer, lack of water, lack of access roads to fertile farmlands etc. From our discussions with the women, we however perceived that the most pressing issue was to tackle their basic attitudes towards perception of ‘development’. Other issues identified were the issue of deforestation and gender roles and relationships. This day, being the day in which we consolidated our planning of the activity, we succeeded in identifying two groups to work with; a women’s group composing of 15 women and a men’s group of 6 men. It was agreed that the women’s group would meet daily from 10a.m while the men’s group will work from 2p.m. Thursday’s meeting with the women was however cancelled, as the village weekly market-day falls on that day. It was decided therefore, that we would use that day to do a public performance at the market square using the men who would meet by 10a.m, rehearse and go on to the market square to perform.
DAY 3: TUESDAY
Rehearsals intensified for both the women’s group and the men’s group.
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY
Rehearsals continued for both groups
DAY 5: THURSDAY
This was market day. Rehearsals were held with the men’s group from 10a.m. Performance held later at market place. Attendance was good.
DAY 6: FRIDAY
Rehearsals for both groups; Fine-tuning of messages for the grand performance.
DAY 7- SATURDAY
Brief rehearsals and Grand performance; the performance again took place at the market square. Attendance was not as good previously. However, since this event was covered by Kaduna State Television (KSTV), it was assured of a wider audience when broadcast. Again, because TFD offers learning opportunities even during rehearsals a greater audience is ensured throughout the whole process. A question and answer session followed this performance when the audience was given the opportunity to seek clarification on issues raised in the drama.
FOLLOW UP
The TFD activity can be an on-going process for the entire duration of this project. Any of the various levels in the format identified above can be used as opportunity for the application of forum Theatre, an active component of TFD for instigative discussion and development of drama skits. These may not necessarily end up in a public/grand performance but will be used to entrench and emphasize needed and identified development messages. This is what comprises the follow-up component of TFD.
SUGGESTIONS
- Future engagement with the community should endeavour to build upon the gains made in building relationships with both the women and men’s group. These have all been mobilized through their participation in the TFD activity and so have become acquainted with the goals and objectives of the project. They could therefore become channels for reaching out to the whole community with the project’s goals and objectives.
The gap created by an absentee extension worker in the community should be filled if possible. This gap may be responsible for the observation we made on the very first day we arrived the village. We observed that although previous contacts through research etc had been made to this settlement by ARDA personnel, very little was ‘visible’ by way of impact and awareness. We therefore realized that attitude towards the project was the overarching challenge to be tackled through the TFD activity. We believe that the TFD, to a great extent, succeeded in placing the project‘s feet more firmly on Gwagwada village.
GLOSSARY OF SKITS DEVELOPED AND PRESENTED
Both groups had four skits each. The idea was that two working groups should complement each other as well as reinforce some of the ideas raised in discussions to be tackled in the drama. Identified issues were therefore to be tackled from differing gender perspectives. The skits also emphasized the idea of embracing innovation and development.
THE WOMEN’S SKITS
A development sensitive woman meets various women; inviting them to a development forum. Many are not interested but she continues to persuade.
COMMENT: This skit actually attempted to capture the various attitudes we encountered in the village on our arrival.
SKIT 2: At the forum-a meeting of women. We see the same women but changing attitudes are reflected as some are more open and willing to the issues being raised. One central issue; the issue of starting a cooperative club was discussed. Some of the women are still skeptical.
SKIT 3: At the home of an elderly female farmer who did not attend the meeting. She is visited by almost all the other women. They come in turns, but it turns out they all try to give her various views about the forum meeting. They share with her the issues raised one of which was the promise of a cell phone to the group.
COMMENT: This was conceived to sensitize the women towards the next activity and planned goal of the project.
SKIT 4: Two women come back from the river with dirty water. They are encountered by two other women who ask them why they are only just coming from fetching water. Did they not get up early? They are asked. They go on to discuss the difficulties of getting water which generates into pointing out the number of chores they cover in a day thus drawing up a virtual work diary for women in the village.
COMMENT: This among other things was to highlight the issue of water scarcity and its problems for the women thus leading tp a discussion of gender disparities.
THE MEN’S SKITS
SKIT 1: A visitor is arrives the village (presumably Gwagwada). His name is ‘DEVELOPMENT’. With expansive gestures, he introduces himself, also stating his purpose for coming to the village. He is looking for men of like-mind to partner with so they could bring ‘development’ to the village. He attempts to reach out to various types in the village; various trades and occupations. He meets a trader, a blacksmith, a carpenter and a farmer. Again like the women, they display various attitudes most of them rejecting his invitation to a meeting. Only the farmer is receptive towards Mr. Development and promises to try and convince the others to come to the meeting.
SKIT 2: At the meeting; the various trades and occupations attend again as represented above. The same variety of attitudes is captured but ‘again’ some attitudes begin to be changed towards ‘development’.
SKIT 3: Farming and climate change issues are raised and through acting out approaches, suggestions are proffered for tackling the matters arising. For example, the issue of deforestation is demonstrated as a problem to be tackled by afforestation.
SKIT 4: Two boys at a street corner discuss the issue of women being given a cell phone to use. They deride the idea openly until the elderly farmer who is open to ‘development’ arrives and educates them on the usefulness of this phone to the women. He becomes the spokesperson for ‘selling’ this project objective of giving a voice to the women in Gwagwada village.
FINAL WORD
Since all stake-holders are supposed to be part of the evaluation of this project, and since the TFD activity was also a training opportunity for some members of the team, TFD can continue to be used to at the level of the listener’s club meetings. Cultural songs and dances can continue to be used to mobilize the women. The women could even be encouraged to get their own musical instruments.
