Breaking the Silence: A Powerful Play Sheds Light on Rape Culture in Africa

In a dimly lit room, illuminated only by a single spotlight, Oliva Ouedraogo holds up a blood-stained fabric, her powerful voice echoing through the darkness. The city of Bamako in Mali lies in darkness due to power cuts, but Ouedraogo’s words are a beacon of hope for survivors of rape and sexual assault. Her play, "Queen" (known as "Reine" in French), tells the story of a young girl who finds the courage to speak out against her family after being raped by her stepfather on the night of her mother’s wedding.

Ouedraogo, a playwright from Burkina Faso, wrote "Queen" to address the pervasive culture of silence surrounding rape and sexual assault in Africa. "What pushed me to write this? It’s that even the victims accept this. I’m saying no, you don’t have to accept, to submit to this, to be trampled on," she explained. Ouedraogo’s anger stems from the fact that victims of this violence are often shamed and forced to keep quiet to avoid family conflict.

Unfortunately, Ouedraogo’s play is not just a work of fiction. According to official statistics, almost half of Malian women between the ages of 15 and 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lives. A staggering 68% of these women have never spoken about the violence to anyone. Adama Traore, director of the Acte Sept cultural centre, where the play was performed, highlighted the importance of breaking this silence. "Rape and incest are huge problems that we don’t talk about often. We need to confront the audience with these dark sides of ourselves."

Mariama Samake, director of the Malian NGO "Girl in Distress," echoed Traore’s sentiments, stating that the culture of silence is widespread in Mali. "In every family, we have girls who have been victims of rape. Mali is a patriarchal society, and these victims are forced to keep quiet," she said.

"Queen" is a powerful call to action, urging audiences to break the silence and confront the reality of rape and sexual assault in Africa. The play will be performed again next month at the Cesana Theatre in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. As Ouedraogo’s words continue to inspire and empower audiences, her message is clear: it’s time to break the silence and give a voice to the victims of this violence.