Deschutes Public Library

Witches of Gambaga

eng

videorecording

Witches of Gambaga

985037206

Originally produced by Collective Eye Films in 2011

55

The Witches of Gambaga is the extraordinary story of a community of women condemned to live as witches in Northern Ghana. Every year in this part of Ghana, hundreds of women endure communal and domestic violence as a result of traditional religious beliefs that demonize women. It́ђةs also assumed that it is in womeńђةs nature to harm others. These beliefs, combined with decades of poor health and educational standards, mean women inhabit a world where it is believed that nothinǵ ђا not even illness or deat́h ђا happens by chance. For over a century, women from all over the northern region have found refuge in a camp in the town of Gambaga, where they live under the protection of the chief, Gambarrana, the custodian of one of four places of sanctuary for women condemned of witchcraft. ..Made over the course of 5 years, this disturbing expose is the product of a collaboration between members of the 100-strong community of "witches" and womeńђةs movement activists determined to end abusive practices and improve womeńђةs lives in Africa. Painful experience and insight come together to create an intimate portrait of the lives of women ostracized by their communities. Told largely by the women themselves, their incredible stories and struggles are conveyed to a wide range of audiences by the directoŕђةs narration

live action