By Sulaymon Ruqoya
October 3rd, 2024
Nigerian theatre director and producer Bolanle Austen-Peters has highlighted the significance of the biopic Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, stating that it represents the potential every girl has to be an instrument of change, regardless of her circumstances.
Speaking at a special screening of the 2024 film, which chronicles the life of the renowned women’s rights activist and mother of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Austen-Peters emphasized the positive reception the biopic has garnered. The screening was organized by the U.S. Consulate-General in collaboration with Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions to commemorate the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos.
Reflecting on the impact of the film, Austen-Peters remarked, “If we are not telling these stories, you will never know that there was a formula or where to draw inspiration from. Women who came before us 56 years ago did great and powerful things, and we need to tap into that.”
Encouraging young girls, she added, “No matter what people tell you, no matter what situations and circumstances suggest, one person can change Nigeria, and that one person can be you.”