Who runs the world? We all know that women run the world and Fight Like a Girl is a vivid illustration of female strength and resilience. Women’s stories are the threads that weave together the tapestry of human experience.
By Tshegofatso Tube
On Thursday 26 September, the screening of the movie Fight Like a Girl took place at Nu Metro, Hyde Park. The event celebrated the wonderful production of a movie that speaks about the spectrum of issues that women in Africa are fighting against such as the patriarchal system and sexual violence. This movie transcends mere entertainment, serving as a work of art that celebrates black women and gives a voice to the voiceless. It sheds light on overlooked narratives. Fight Like a Girl has a powerful message that women all around the world need to hear.
Fight Like a Girl is based on a true story and its focus is central to the life of a Congolese woman, Safi played by South African actress, Ama Qamata who is widely recognised for her amazing role in the popular series, Blood and Water. We follow Safi’s journey from the moment she is kidnapped by rebels and forced to work in an illegal mine to her transformation from a fighter to a boxer. Safi finds herself in a heart-wrenching ordeal when protecting a woman from abuse escalates into sexual violence against her.
Fortunately, Safi manages to escape from the rebel camp and find refuge in the city of Goma. To make ends meet, Safi sells sardines to the locals. When a woman is sexually assaulted in the town, Safi comes to her rescue and fights the perpetrator with all her might. This event changed Safi’s life because it led her to a legendary boxing champion, Balezi Bagunda played by Nigerian-British actor and producer, Hakeem Kai-Kazim. Bagunda takes her under his wing and trains her to become a boxing champion. Safi’s story symbolises the true strength and courage that women possess in the face of adversity. We get to see women rise and reclaim their power. ‘Where women rule, streams run uphill’- a powerful mantra that is perfectly embodied by the powerful women in the movie.
“I think it was very challenging for me and that is exactly what drew me to the story. As an artist I was very drawn to the fact that this experience will change me and it changed me in a way that I did not expect. It was literally a sink or swim situation and I swam.” expresses Ama Qamata as she reflects on the transformative journey that she embarked on while filming Fight Like a Girl.
Read more: https://www.filmlinc.org/films/fight-like-a-girl/