Filmmaker talks why there are fewer female directors

chibumga izuzu

December 1, 2016 3:55 PM

"It's not what people would think a female should ordinarily do. They feel you should probably be dabbing powder somewhere" - Tope Oshin.

Tope Oshin Ogun

Nigerian filmmaker

Speaking to BBC Focus on Africa's Mayeni Jones, the filmmaker revealed that there are fewer than 20 female directors in Nigeria.

She further explained that directing is not a job many think a woman should take up.

"We have currently under 20 female directors, from my research I found, and we have hundreds and hundreds, running into thousands of directors who are guys," says Oshin.

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On why women are still limited in the Nigerian film industry, she said, "There's this mindset that there's a place that women should be. It's African, and it's heavily Nigerian as well."

"We feel that there are some things that should only be done by men, that are tough jobs, roles that have to do with telling people what to do. For example, directing is considered a very technical job where you have to put together an entire crew, everybody looks to you, to listen to you."

"It's not what people would think a female should ordinarily do. They feel you should probably be dabbing powder somewhere. This is the reason why I feel like there are so few. The average Nigerian woman doesn't think that she should or can do it."

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Tope Oshin isan alumna of Colorado Film School, Aurora, Denver and multiple award winning filmmaker. She has worked in TV and Film as a Director, Producer, Actor, Dialogue Coach and Casting Director.

The filmmaker also studied Theatre Arts, TV and Film Production from the Lagos State University, Ojo and finished as The Best Graduating Student in year 2000.

She was the only female Director on M-Net’s multiple awards winning multi-cam daily soap opera ‘Tinsel’ in the first five seasons, and shot about 350 episodes of the show.

The filmmaker's works include "Amaka's Kin," "Shuga," "Hotel Majestic," "Fifty," "Hush" among others.

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