Veteran Nigerian actress, Stephanie Linus, has always been known to be a woman and girl’s advocate. It’s no surprise that over a month ago, she gave a speech at an event put together by Pathfinder International, Catalyst Global Strategies, on providing improved healthcare for women.
Just recently, she announced she is spearheading an exciting film endeavor entitled “When Women Were Counted,” which draws inspiration from the monumental Aba Women’s Protest that took place in 1929. This forthcoming project seeks to present a captivating historical adaptation of this significant event. She has assembled a talented team of writers which includes Ibe Gerald Oluchi and Joy Isi Bewaji to contribute their expertise to the project.
Based on the insightful historical account by Ihuoma Elizabeth Obienusi, the Aba Women’s Protest of 1929, known as Ogu Umunwanyi among Igbo women, unfolded from November 23, 1929, to January 10, 1930. These women take to the street to demonstrate a powerful resistance movement led by women in the eastern provinces of the British Colony of Nigeria. Their primary objective was to challenge and reverse the oppressive colonial policies that encroached upon their political, economic, and social rights within their local communities.
She announced the project on her Instagram page:
“Hey, Amazonians and Warlords, When Women Were Counted- A film project by Stephanie Linus #upcomingproject. Working on this movie since 2018 has been a spiritual awakening of some sort for me and my team. It’s been six years, and I am glad to announce that we are ready!
Working with some of the best minds (a historian and my writer) to put this together has been a very emotional journey.
There’s a lot to tell about the women of that era – our foremothers. The ones whose voices were not diminished, they did not hide under patriarchy, they were communal, brave, outspoken, unashamed – and they fought for what they believed in.
Sisterhood started in the 1920s. A bond so strong even Europeans with guns acknowledged that women cannot be silenced. This is our story: When Women Were Counted.
This is our story, ” When women are counted.”
She also made a casting call announcement, signalling an incredible opportunity for actors and actresses to be a part of this remarkable film by signing up via @nollycasting to make history.
