Literature as a Tool for Social Change

The Reading Sessions organized as part of our cooperation with Radio AWU are a key element of our Artist-in-Residence program. They offer women a safe space to discuss personal topics, reflect on societal challenges, and collaboratively develop solutions. Over the past few weeks, we have held three Reading Sessions that go beyond shared reading: they create a secure environment where women can voice their concerns, address societal issues, and support one another. We firmly believe that literature is a powerful tool for social change, especially in regions where many women lack access to education and societal taboos are rarely addressed.

In Burkina Faso, there are laws intended to protect women’s rights—yet in reality, there is often a lack of awareness and tangible measures for their implementation. Violence against women, forced marriages, and female genital mutilation remain everyday issues that many women face. Women without formal education are particularly affected by this societal inequality. They often lack the means to express themselves and assert their rights. Through this project, we aim to empower these women to voice their opinions and actively participate in societal discussions.

Each session focuses on a different literary work by a Burkinabé author: In the first session, participants discussed the novel La Bonne à tout taire by Bernadette Sanou, which addresses sexual abuse of domestic workers. The discussion centered on the question of accountability for such acts and the societal consequences often faced by victims in Burkina Faso. The second session focused on the story Une victime innocente by Catherine Manly, which tackled the taboo topic of menstruation. Conversations with participants highlighted the importance of openly discussing the female body to reduce misunderstandings and dismantle social stigmas. The third session featured the novel Une Histoire d’œuf by Monique Ilboudo, which brought the issue of female genital mutilation to the forefront. The women unanimously condemned this practice and discussed its health and psychological consequences, as well as strategies to eliminate it in their communities. 

The sessions held so far have already demonstrated the importance of providing women in the region around Opera Village with a platform for dialogue and exchange. Topics such as sexual violence, reproductive health, and gender equality remain largely taboo in these communities. Yet these are precisely the topics the women want to address—and they do so with great enthusiasm during our Reading Sessions. We have observed how the women’s self-confidence grows with each session. For the upcoming sessions, we plan to expand the Reading Sessions further and produce podcasts with the participants. A particular focus will be on translating literary works into local languages and making them available in the Opera Village library. Additionally, the thematic scope of the sessions will be broadened. Planned topics include women’s rights, reproductive health, education, and cultural practices. Men from the communities will also be more invited to participate, with the aim of raising awareness about societal issues and encouraging them to play an active role in their resolution.

This year’s Artist-in-Residence program is supported by: