Notes to broadcasters
In Africa in general and in Mali in particular, harmful attitudes and practices related to gender persist in some, if not all, communities. These attitudes and practices marginalize women and girls in society, and violate their rights. This situation must change in order for women and girls to fully enjoy and participate in society.
The following drama deals with the unfair division of roles between men and women.
In the village of Tènèbougou, there lives a man named Yayablé. Since he was young, he has embodied everything that, in his opinion, should characterize a man. He strives to put those values into practice in his home. His philosophy is: “To each gender their duty”. This year, with the scarcity of rain, the harvest was not fruitful and Yayablé’s family is in danger of starvation. So his wife Djôminè suggested that he sell firewood to meet the family’s needs. But Yayablé was offended by the suggestion because he perceives that selling firewood is women’s work. Just in time, Zanzou, Djôminè’s elder brother and friend of Yayablé, comes to Djômine’s rescue and helps Yayablé see reason. Yayablé is moved and begins to improve his relationship with his wife and family.
This three-scene drama can be performed on stage by professional actors and recorded for broadcast on radio stations. Alternatively, radio hosts can voice the characters during their broadcasts. The drama is designed to help audiences think differently about the roles of women, men, boys, and girls in the home and in the community.
The drama can also be used as a model for broadcasters to make similar programs. In doing local research for these programs, broadcasters should ask questions like:
- Between men and women, who is responsible for farming?
- What do women do at home? What do men do at home?
- How can men help their mothers, sisters, and wives, with tasks at home?
- What are the benefits of sharing different responsibilities between men and women?
Duration of the drama, with intro and extro: 25 minutes.
Script
Main characters:
Yayablé: Head of the family, Djôminè’s husband, and an important citizen of Tènèbougou
Djôminè: Yayablé’s wife
Sidi: First child and son of Yayablé and Djôminè
Dodo: Second child and daughter of Yayablé and Djôminè
Zanzou: Yayablé’s friend and Djôminè’s brother
The narrator
SCENE 1: Yayablé and his values
NARRATOR:
Yayablé educates his children to believe that men and women have different roles in the home. He teaches them his own philosophy of being human.
DODO:
Sidi, my brother, come and pound millet with me.
SIDI:
How can you ask me to pound millet? Is that a man’s job?
DODO:
Just say you don’t want to help me. But I know you, you are just too lazy.
SIDI:
I didn’t say it was women’s work, Baya did (Editor’s note: They call their father Baya out of respect). Look, here he comes.
YAYABLÉ:
Children, what’s going on here?
SIDI:
Nothing! I was telling Dodo that pounding millet is not a man’s job.
YAYABLÉ:
Exactly. In life, men and women have different roles. Providing food for the family is the man’s primary duty, and pounding millet is the woman’s role.
DODO:
(LAUGHING) So the woman comes into the world to eat what the man provides?
YAYABLÉ:
Exactly right. The woman has the least responsibility in this world and that’s the way it is.
DODO:
Baya, in families where there is no man, who takes care of the women?
YAYABLÉ:
(ANNOYED) You’ve never seen a family without a man. Leave me alone.
SIDI:
Baya is right. If there were families without men, the women would all die of hunger. (LAUGHING)
YAYABLÉ:
I tell you that God created man to do all the hard tasks. Therefore, he must not be dependent on the woman. Can a knife cut a log?
SIDI:
No, you need a cleaver or an axe.
YAYABLÉ:
Well, the man is the cleaver or the axe. And the woman is the knife.
SIDI:
So the man is stronger than the woman?
YAYABLÉ:
It is God’s work that the woman is weaker than the man.
DODO:
(STARTS TO CRY) Why didn’t God make me a man?
YAYABLÉ:
(SOOTHING) It’s alright, daughter. I didn’t tell you everything. You’ll be glad you were born a woman.
SIDI:
(SURPRISED) Really? What is the benefit of being a woman, Baya?
YAYABLÉ:
The main role of a woman is to support the family. Everything that is hard, like going to the field, going to war, or facing a snake, is the man’s responsibility.
SIDI:
So this is why mom is silent when you talk?
YAYABLÉ:
She must be silent because when the man speaks, the woman must not answer. Keep this in mind because your future well-being depends on it.
DODO:
If this is the role of a woman in the family, God did not share properly …
YAYABLÉ:
Don’t talk like that, Dodo. Can God be wrong? From the beginning of time, men have been taking care of women. What more do you want?
SIDI:
(LAUGHING) Sister, you have to respect me because I am your protector.
DODO:
Leave me alone.
YAYABLÉ:
You have nothing to be ashamed of, Dodo. According to our ancestors, boys must be like their fathers and girls must imitate their mothers. It’s been like that since the beginning of time.
DODO:
Well, I think that has to change.
YAYABLÉ:
Enough, Dodo! I can’t hear you talk anymore. You’re not the first, nor the last, to submit to our values!
DJÔMINÈ:
(COMING ON MIC) I was lucky to be born a woman. At least I don’t spend all my time sleeping … like some people around here.
YAYABLÉ:
(SURPRISED) Djôminè! I didn’t know you were there. Were you spying on me?
DJÔMINÈ:
I don’t have time to spy on you. I’m too busy for that. I only told you the sad truth.
YAYABLÉ:
Okay! But don’t repeat what you just said. Because I wasn’t talking about you.
DJÔMINÈ:
But we should teach justice to the children. Do you really think it’s fair for a boy to sit and watch his mother and sister work without helping them?
YAYABLÉ:
So you are humiliating me in front of my children?
DJÔMINÈ:
If I have offended you, forgive me.
SCENE 2: The mishaps of Yayablé’s family
NARRATOR:
Yayablé’s family lives by his philosophy of “to each gender their duty.” Djôminè and Dodo are continuously at the mill, without rest. After working in the field, Yayablé and his son Sidi spend most of their time sleeping and eating. When Sidi goes out, he returns to the family only to eat. After the meal, Dodo washes the utensils and sweeps the yard every day. Once, Sidi felt sorry for his sister and decided to sweep the yard. His father’s reaction was swift. It seemed that the boy had committed an irreparable fault. Djôminè, exasperated, began to cry and to implore his forgiveness.
SIDI:
Dodo, you are tired, stop sweeping. As soon as Baya leaves, I’ll clean the yard.
DODO:
No, that’s not a man’s job.
SIDI:
I don’t care. It makes me sick to my stomach to see you doing all these chores by yourself.
DODO:
So what do you want? According to Baya, these are women’s tasks, right?
SIDI:
Assume I’m traveling and I don’t have a woman around. What am I going to do if I don’t know anything about these so-called women’s tasks?
DODO:
You’ll be swimming in dirt (LAUGHTER).
SIDI:
Well, what can we do about it, with all these rules and restrictions that Baya imposes?
DJÔMINÈ:
Baya is like the other men in our village. It is very common to see men sleeping while the women work.
DODO:
It’s really a question of conscience.
SIDI:
That’s why I’m telling you to let me sweep the courtyard alone today, Dodo.
YAYABLÉ:
(Forcefully) Sidi, I heard everything and you have disappointed me! That’s not what I taught you.
DJÔMINÈ:
Baya, we didn’t say anything bad.
YAYABLÉ:
Why do you defend him? Aren’t you the one who tells them that I’m crazy?
DJÔMINÈ:
(SURPRISED AND FRIGHTENED) Baya!
YAYABLÉ:
Sidi, your behaviour disappoints me and shows that you have no respect for my rules.
DODO:
(SORROWFUL) Baya, forgive us. Until death, we will follow you.
YAYABLÉ:
(ANGRY) Get out of my sight. You think you are more docile than he is? As long as you listen to your mother, I will not agree with you. Raising children is not a woman’s business.
SIDI:
Baya, please, I’m sorry! I will behave like a man and I will honour you.
YAYABLÉ:
Then you must follow and respect my rules because they were handed to me from my forefathers. My duty is to teach you life’s lessons.
SIDI:
We will follow you, Baya, forgive us this time.
YAYABLÉ:
(SIGHS, PAUSES) I have nothing to forgive you, son. I only know that in life, each gender has its own duty. But … well, I’ve been thinking about what Dodo said …
DODO:
(SCARED) Baya, did I say something bad?
YAYABLÉ:
No, you didn’t say anything bad—though it was a bitter truth.
DODO:
(HESITANT) When I said that the discrimination between men and women should change?
YAYABLÉ:
That’s it … I have no right to condemn our customs, but when you cried a few days ago, my daughter, I felt … I felt …
DODO:
Baya … I know that you love me. You didn’t create the customs—you just feel you need to follow them.
YAYABLÉ:
(WHISPERING, AS IF TO HIMSELF) From what people say, the world was not always like this. So maybe things will change one day. But time is the best and only judge.
DJÔMINE:
(SYMPATHETIC) Yayablé …
YAYABLÉ:
(ANGRY, EMBARRASSED) Don’t look at me like that! Dodo, back to work! Sidi, don’t let me catch you doing women’s work again! And I don’t want to hear another word about this.
SFX:
DOOR SLAMS
SCENE 3: Djôminè’s tears—and Djôminè’s joy
NARRATOR:
As the harvest was not successful, Djôminè suggests to her husband that he sell the firewood to sustain his family. A fight ensues. Thankfully, Zanzou, Djômine’s brother and Yayablé’s friend, arrives. The discussion is tense but Zanzou succeeds in reasoning with his friend and calming him. Finally, Yayablé agrees to sell the firewood. Deeply satisfied with her husband’s decision, Djôminè expresses her joy.
DJÔMINÈ:
Baya, there is very little grain left in the granary. It will be difficult to go even another two weeks with what we have …
YAYABLÉ:
That goes without saying, since all you do is eat all day without producing anything. Nevertheless, you disrespect me. There is an adage that says that he who learns to eat a lot must prepare himself to suffer a lot. This moment seems to have arrived.
DJÔMINÈ:
Baya! There’s no need to speak rudely! I just alerted you so that we could make arrangements to deal with the situation.
YAYABLÉ:
(INTERUPTING) What arrangements? If our reserve is finished, then let’s expect famine. And God only knows when it will end. I have no solution.
DJÔMINÈ:
My duty is to inform you. The rest is not my concern. You yourself taught us that a man’s role is to feed his family.
YAYABLÉ:
To the extent possible!
DJÔMINÈ:
Baya … (TAKES A DEEP BREATH) we all know that the harvest was not good this year. So no one is to blame. I think that if we join our efforts, we can manage this situation.
YAYABLÉ:
What exactly are you thinking?
DJÔMINÈ:
(HESITANTLY) Well … I wanted to suggest that … well, you help me sell firewood to support the family during these difficult times.
YAYABLÉ:
(ANGRY) How dare you say such a thing? This time you’ve gone too far, Djômine!
DJÔMINÈ:
Yayablé, I only say this for your own good. Our family needs to eat!
YAYABLÉ:
(RAISING HIS VOICE) No, I understood your intention, Djômine. I wasn’t born yesterday! You’re asking me to do women’s work because I’m not a man anymore, right?
DJÔMINÈ:
(WORRIED) Baya, I swear, that’s not what I …
YAYABLÉ:
(YELLING) In the name of God, I won’t tolerate your insults! (HE STARTS YELLING AT DJÔMINÈ AND INSULTING HER)
NARRATOR:
Zanzou, who had come to visit Yayablé, tries to calm him down.
ZANZOU:
(SHOCKED) Yayablé! Stop!
YAYABLÉ:
Who called you?
ZANZOU:
My friend, if you don’t love your wife anymore, set her free instead of humiliating her in front of her children!
YAYABLÉ:
Is it because she’s your sister that you talk like that? Get out of my house now!
ZANZOU:
Calm down, Yayablé! Please! She is my sister and you are my friend. Our friendship is older than your marriage.
DJÔMINÈ:
(CRYING) I have done nothing wrong! I only advised him and this is how he responds. I can’t take it anymore …
ZANZOU:
I am sorry, Djôminè. I know that this is difficult for you. But believe me, I will make sure that you do not suffer such indignities in the future. Your husband will come to his senses.
DJÔMINÈ:
How can he treat me like this just because I advised him?
ZANZOU:
What advice did you give him?
DJÔMINÈ:
If I repeat it, he’ll insult me more.
YAYABLÉ:
(IN A FIRM TONE) Well, I’ll tell you myself. Listen carefully: She had the nerve to tell me to do a women’s work because I’m not a man anymore. Now, is that a polite thing to say?
ZANZOU:
Djôminè, is that what you said?
DJÔMINÈ:
Oh God, no! Do you think I would dare say such a thing about my husband? No! Since the crops didn’t do well, I only suggested that he help me sell firewood so that our family can eat! That was all I said.
ZANZOU:
I see … Yayablé, I am disappointed. If I were in your place, my friend, I would not have reacted like that.
YAYABLÉ:
(BITTERLY) Ha! You would have done worse than me!
ZANZOU:
No, Yayablé. I am not the same Zanzou anymore. I learned a lot while I was abroad. I understood that all the bullying that we subject our women and children to is just abuse.
YAYABLÉ:
So what? These are our realities.
ZANZOU:
They don’t have to be. We can and must do something about it.
YAYABLÉ:
What—you come back from abroad and you want to lecture me? These practices existed in our communities since before we were born! We must follow the path already traced by our forefathers.
ZANZOU:
Really, Yayablé? Even when their inheritance is abusive and only aims to keep women under our control?
YAYABLÉ:
(SCOFFS) And what do you mean by that?
ZANZOU:
I mean that we need to treat women as our equals! Your wife is supposed to be your partner in life. You are supposed to be a team! How can she live happily if you are dominating her? How can your family thrive?
YAYABLÉ:
But …
ZANZOU:
No, Yaya, listen. You said it yourself, you don’t know how your family will eat. Your wife had a solution. So you would rather your family starve? You have to change your mind about what women or men should or should not do—or your family will starve!
DODO:
(NERVOUS) Baya, remember what I said the other day? And you said you agreed … I know you agreed that mom and I shouldn’t have to handle everything on our own at home!
SIDI:
(REVOLTED) Baya, you really need to stop treating mom like this. Will you beat her again?
YAYABLÉ:
You shut up! It’s not for you to tell me what to do.
ZANZOU:
No, she’s right. He shouldn’t have to see his mother cry all the time!
YAYABLÉ:
It’s up to his mother to behave, that’s all. Instead of playing devil’s advocate, she’d better learn to be a good wife. (PAUSE) But Zanzou … if you don’t dominate your wife and children, you’ll lose control over your family for good, won’t you? This is the world upside down!
ZANZOU:
(DISTURBED) Nonsense! That’s how we abuse our wives. You can never love a woman by trying to control her. Look what you just did—your own son asks you to calm down and that’s your reaction.
YAYABLÉ:
(BECOMING UNSURE) Well … he asked for it! A child … a child should not interfere in parents’ business …
ZANZOU:
No, Yayablé. This is abuse. It hurts your wife and children. We must change our attitude.
YAYABLÉ:
We can’t change our culture, Zanzou.
ZANZOU:
Sure, but we can each change our own behaviour.
YAYABLÉ:
If you don’t have a problem with your wife, it’s because she listens to you!
ZANZOU:
I had to learn to listen to her too. So, do as I do and you’ll see.
YAYABLÉ:
Not all women are the same, Zanzou.
ZANZOU:
But they are all human. If it worked for me, there’s no reason it can’t work for you. You just have to try it. It is my experience that has allowed me to understand many things and to make corrections to my behaviour. That’s why I don’t make any decisions without my wife.
YAYABLÉ:
You and I are different. If you’ve been influenced elsewhere, that’s your problem.
ZANZOU:
It’s not about influence but awareness. Include her in your decisions and your lives will improve.
YAYABLÉ:
Why should I involve Djôminè in my decisions?
ZANZOU:
So that you live happily.
YAYABLÉ:
I am not unhappy! Besides, what you are asking me to do is not possible!
ZANZOU:
Leave your ego aside and help Djôminè sell wood. You won’t regret it.
YAYABLÉ:
Of course the situation demands that we do something, but not to the point of … of …
ZANZOU:
There is nothing contemptuous about selling wood, Yayablé, especially since you will earn money.
YAYABLÉ:
So why don’t you do it too? Was your harvest better than mine?
ZANZOU:
We are using our reserves. But if my wife had proposed it, I would not hesitate. It is better to sell wood and be a responsible man than to be incapable of feeding my wife and children.
YAYABLÉ:
(UPSET) But no man has sold wood in this village! That’s a job reserved for women.
ZANZOU:
Don’t worry about that. Think about feeding your family.
YAYABLÉ:
(CHUCKLING) Zanzou, I almost hit my boy Sidi for trying to sweep the yard. If I can stoop to that, who knows where it will lead?
ZANZOU:
Enough of “women’s jobs” and “men’s jobs.” That is a thing of the past, my friend. Sell wood to feed your family. And let that be the end of it.
SIDI:
(WHISPERING) Baya, do you want us to starve? Can you go a day without eating? All mama asks is that you support her efforts.
YAYABLÉ:
(A MOMENT OF SILENCE) I’ll think about it.
ZANZOU:
That will be wise. Goodbye, Yayablé. Djôminè, take care, my sister. I’ll talk to you soon. (HE EXITS)
DJÔMINÈ:
Baya … if what I said hurt you, I apologize.
YAYABLÉ:
(AFTER A SILENCE) Bring me the axe.
DJÔMINÈ:
Baya, what did you say?
YAYABLÉ:
I’m telling you to bring me the axe. If selling wood makes money, then this house will never be short of wood again.
SIDI:
Baya, are you really going to … ?
YAYABLÉ:
Sidi, my duty is to feed you. And if I have to sell wood to do that, I’ll do it.
NARRATOR:
Two weeks later, Baya is successfully selling firewood.
DJÔMINÈ:
Sidi, selling wood is not just for women. Here he comes with a big pile. Welcome, Baya!
YAYABLÉ:
Thank you! Here, take this pile from me, Sidi! I’ll be back soon with more.
DJÔMINÈ:
(JOYFUL) Who would have thought! My family is happy again. Yayablé was not crazy. He was a victim of tradition.
DODO:
Sidi, Baya scolded you for wanting to sweep up and he is doing worse than you today. What’s wrong with him?
SIDI:
Shush! He’ll hear you!
YAYABLÉ:
Dodo, everyone can sell wood. We’re a family, we all need to help each other. Your mother and I are cooperating these days for the good of our whole family.
NARRATOR:
Zanzou arrives to visit his friend Yayablé. He does not see him there but finds his sister happy and satisfied with her husband.
ZANZOU:
Hello, Djôminè, where is your husband?
DJÔMINÈ:
(SMILE) Hello, Zanzou, he has gone to the bush.
ZANZOU:
At this hour? (LAUGHING) He’s crazy after all!
DJÔMINÈ:
It’s not madness. It’s his new daily schedule. He’s ready to do whatever it takes to make sure his whole family is happy. We’re finally partners.
ZANZOU:
I told you he would change.
DJÔMINÈ:
He has. You see the big woodpiles? By the end of the day, it will all be sold. The demand is high and he hardly has time to rest.
ZANZOU:
You have to help him manage the money well!
DJÔMINÈ:
He can count on me.
ZANZOU:
You deserve happiness, Djôminè. In any case, my friend is making progress.
DJÔMINÈ:
You’re right. We lack nothing since he started helping me. And with me as cashier, we have already bought groceries for the next few months.
ZANZOU:
Wonderful. And here he comes!
YAYABLÉ:
Hey Zanzou, how are you?
ZANZOU:
I’m fine.
YAYABLÉ:
Ah Zanzou, I am busy now with work. The demand for wood is so high that I hardly have enough time.
ZANZOU:
Djôminè told me! I’m very happy for you both.
YAYABLÉ:
Your sister was right. Selling wood really does make money!
ZANZOU:
I’m happy to hear that. It’s important for you to trust each other and work together. Like true partners.
DODO:
Who would have thought it was possible? Life is full of surprises!
SIDI:
It’s true! And thank God! Now we can live in peace.
Acknowledgements
Contributed by: Drissa Fomba, President of AMTRAD (Association Mali Traditionnel), Bamako, Mali
Reviewed by: Maimounatou Touré, Gender specialist at Marie Stopes Mali
This story was produced through the “HÉRÈ – Bien-être des femmes au Mali” initiative, which aims to improve the well-being of women and girls in terms of sexual and reproductive health and to enhance the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in the regions of Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti and the district of Bamako in Mali. The project is being implemented by the HÉRÈ – MSI Mali Consortium, in partnership with Farm Radio International (FRI) and Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) with funding from Global Affairs Canada.