Interactive Film Project - Nigeria, Kano State
As part of the USAID-funded IMPACT project (a global HIV/AIDS prevention programme implemented by Family Health International, or FHI), the Program for Appropriate Technologies in Health (PATH) has initiated an interactive film project in Kano State, Nigeria. The project involves working with a local team of film directors to produce three feature-length films, the first of which is called "Awakening". The initiative's central purpose is to to stimulate discussion within the community about HIV/AIDS, and to encourage young people in Kano State to take abstinence and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) more seriously.
Communication Strategies
The film depicts a male secondary school student who has multiple partners, including a young vulnerable girl who sells fruit. He finally finds the love of his life - only to discover that his risky past will now have a bearing on the present. The film is a "cliff hanger" in that it is designed to invite interest in the two sequels to follow.
A primary strategy of this project is addressing HIV/AIDS through communications channels - and in ways - that people in Kano State find acceptable. For example, "Awakening" was designed by two 25-year-old film directors, whose company is called 2 Effects Empire, to be sensitive to Muslim culture. In keeping with the wishes of religious leaders, there is no visible sex and the word condom is never mentioned. Instead, the film promotes abstinence and faithfulness.
Strategies for introducing people to the film include the following: A private film screening will be held for stakeholders and the media; a radio call-in programme will feature five-minute sound bites from the film and discussion by local partners; screenings for the public will be held in cinema houses where popular actors and actresses from the film appear along with representatives from local partnering organisations to discuss the film with the audience afterwards and to conduct exit surveys; audio cassettes will be produced that include the three hit songs from the film and communication messages recited by the actors (these cassettes will be distributed to long-distance truck drivers); and videocassettes of the film will be distributed to local partners for use in conducting peer education activities around the themes of the film.
The second film is currently being produced.
A primary strategy of this project is addressing HIV/AIDS through communications channels - and in ways - that people in Kano State find acceptable. For example, "Awakening" was designed by two 25-year-old film directors, whose company is called 2 Effects Empire, to be sensitive to Muslim culture. In keeping with the wishes of religious leaders, there is no visible sex and the word condom is never mentioned. Instead, the film promotes abstinence and faithfulness.
Strategies for introducing people to the film include the following: A private film screening will be held for stakeholders and the media; a radio call-in programme will feature five-minute sound bites from the film and discussion by local partners; screenings for the public will be held in cinema houses where popular actors and actresses from the film appear along with representatives from local partnering organisations to discuss the film with the audience afterwards and to conduct exit surveys; audio cassettes will be produced that include the three hit songs from the film and communication messages recited by the actors (these cassettes will be distributed to long-distance truck drivers); and videocassettes of the film will be distributed to local partners for use in conducting peer education activities around the themes of the film.
The second film is currently being produced.
Development Issues
HIV/AIDS, Youth, Family Planning.
Key Points
In Northern Nigeria, movies are very popular and attract a wide and diverse audience.
Feedback from the activities associated with the first film's release will have a bearing on the content of the second and third films, which will be released in six month intervals. Evaluations will be conducted in the first quarter of 2003.
"Awakening" was recently chosen for the 2002 Zanzibar Film Festival.
Feedback from the activities associated with the first film's release will have a bearing on the content of the second and third films, which will be released in six month intervals. Evaluations will be conducted in the first quarter of 2003.
"Awakening" was recently chosen for the 2002 Zanzibar Film Festival.
Partners
PATH, FHI, USAID, 2 Effects Empire.
Sources
Letters sent from Teresa Guillien to The Communication Initiative on December 9, 11, and 20, 2002.
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