In Soweto, South Africa, black women are organizing to build their own self-help groups in the face of an oppressive apartheid policy. The Zamani Soweto Sisters Council brings together six women's groups involved in training women, running cooperative businesses, supporting each other in the difficulties they must daily struggle to overcome. The word "Zamani" means "make effort." Financial support is given by the Maggie Magaba Trust set up by a white South African woman living in England, and run entirely by black South African women. Due to the regulations imposed by the South African government, the Maggie Magaba Trust itself has difficulties in fundraising.
Women from the Zamani Soweto Sisters Council have made two films: Awake from Mourning and Tsiamelo: A Place of Goodness, Awake from Mourning was their response to the violent police attack on a peaceful demonstration by black youth in Soweto against the policies of the South African government. The idea for the film came from the women's groups themselves and the women decided upon both the script and the images. It is a strong, positive film, showing women who refuse to be crushed.
The second film, Tsiamelo, was made by Ellen Kuzwayo, a 70 year old woman who has played a leading role in the work of the Zamani Sisters Council ; her 84 year old aunt, Blanche; and Betty Wolpert, the founder of the Maggie Magaba Trust. The film's title is the name of Ellen Kuzwayo's family farm which was taken away from them in 1974 by South African legislation preventing black people from owning land in South Africa. A personal account of this dispossession, the film has been praised for both its high quality and its moving message which shows women with pride and dignity, in spite of the violations of their human rights.
Ellen Kuzwayo has also written a book, Call Me Woman, about her life and the efforts of black South African women to organize themselves and overcome oppression. It was published in 1985 by The Women's Press, England. The following excerpts from the book describe some of the results of the first film, Awake From Mourning.
The film, Awake From Mourning, was the effort of Elizabeth Wolpert, Maggie Magaba trustees (Magdeline Mokgata, Joyce Seroke, Sally Motiana, Ellen Kuzwayo, the author fo this book), and the Zamani Soweto Sisters Council members. At the beginning, the idea of a film seemed far-fetched and very remote from all us in the Trust and in the Council. We planned and discussed it with Betty and finally accepted it as a very worthwhile project to work on. At that stage, it was nothing more than an idea in the air for some of us. However, there was no doubt that as black women in Soweto, becoming more and more visible as a group and with growing community responsibilities, we soon realised the importance of finding ways of generating funds for the Trust in particular, and for the Council. The film held great hopes for us at that level. The fact that the Maggie Magaba Trust had not been granted a fundraising certificate to appeal for and receive public funds made the need for the film more urgent.
Suffice to say, the release of this film, particularly after going through the Board of Censors, left all of us connected with its production with a deep sense of achievement. Its financial success has often brought home to us the pain of not being able to receive funds as a Trust because of the limitations of not holding a fundraising certificate, but we have not stopped appreciating the publicity it has generated about the work of the Trust and of the Council. Until we met Betty, the thought of making a film never crossed our minds. It has liberated us all the more as black women...
The film Awake From Mourning, has been a true instrument of communication at many levels within and outside South Africa. Through it we have made contact with groups of other women we had never thought of. One classic example is Die Kaapse Vrouwe Klub, a white Afrikaans women's group operating in Cape Town. They requested to see our film and invited some of us to come and speak with them. It was a very painful experience for some members of that group, who felt challenged at different levels. However, at the end of the day, after sharing on some very delicate issues, we agreed that the film was useful and truthful; further, that we should keep our links as women from two different racial groups who need to work together so as to know one another with less prejudice and suspicion and, hopefully, to explore the possibilities of a better South Africa.
There is no end to the development and growth of black women of this country. The pressing need is for these women to come forward to be involved in this process.
In the name of Zamani Soweto Sisters Council and the Maggie Magaba Trust, I express our deep appreciation for the chain of sisterhood which is gradually growing and expanding in several countries. Your moral and physical support means much to us.
Reprinted with permission from The Women's Press Limited, 124 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JE, England.