The Vagina Monologues event couldn’t come at a more significant and opportune time what with the increasing numbers of women getting killed, raped, battered, hospitalized, impregnated, HIV inflicted within the country.
A blessing in disguise for every one of us who needed a break from the cold reality that surrounds us. What a sigh of relief to be able to be surrounded by those best positioned to understand our pain.
This year’s edition of the highly successful and international event took place at the Kenya National Theatre (KNT) on 25th April uniting women from all walks of life and all ages in their fight and walk towards a more just world for them.
The Vagina Monologues is a play written by Eve Ensler in 1998 after interviewing 200 women from around the world.
Twenty years ago, her play gave birth to V-Day, a global activist movement to end violence against all women and girls (cisgender, transgender, and gender non-conforming).
The New York Times described the rousing monologues, as the most important piece of political theatre of the last decade. Since then, the play has been performed in theatres and campuses in various countries worldwide.
In the premises, many women could be seen seated, engrossed in expectant chatter for a show better than the last. This year’s event was a highly anticipated one especially after all the violence against young women we have seen within a short span into the year. From the brutal killing of university student Ivy Wangeci because she wasn’t interested in a man to many more.
Giving birth in Kenya should be added to the 1000 ways to die, because it is increasingly becoming a life-threatening ordeal bringing new souls into the world.
Maternal healthcare is still a huge problem in the country with many women dying before their time due to complications that could have otherwise been avoided with better services.
Chantelle Petit is one Kenyan who has bravely told her birth story which she survived by sheer luck and God’s grace. She developed complications due to ignorance from some of the best medics in the country, putting her life on the line. She has since won a Kortex ‘She Can’ Award for her bravery and strength.
These are just among the plights Kenyan women in particular encounter and they were wonderfully highlighted by the presenters who shared their stories.
Performers of the benefit are from all walks of life and have included radio presenters, lawyers, businesswomen, philanthropists, interior designers, educators, executives, and nominated Members of Parliament.
Each of the monologues intimately touched on an aspect of the feminine experience, touching on matters such as sex, sex work, body image, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the various common names for the vagina or simply as a physical aspect of the body.
Many clapped. They could relate. Someone speaking on the podium would be speaking exactly about them.
For many years now this event has offered relief to many women around the world, not just in Kenya.
The first edition of the Kenyan show was held years ago. Mumbi Kaigwa, an award-winning, actor first produced the script for local audiences in 2003. Since then, she has taken charge of the show in various capacities, producing and directing it in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2013 and 2017. She has also sometimes performed the monologues with the rest of the cast.
Last years enactment of the play write was directed by the ever so sassy Kaz Lucas while Mumbi produced it.
V-Day requires that every production of The Vagina Monologues worldwide donates 90% of profits raised to a local beneficiary and 10% towards ‘The Spotlight’ global fund in New York.
This year’s proceeds go to the Come Together Widows and Orphans organisation who are building a vocational training center and domestic abuse shelter in Juja.
The NGO was started by Dianah Kamande who survived a murder attempt from her husband who later killed himself. Proceeds from the Kenyan editions have supported Dianah and her organisation for three years.
Tickets to this amazing event were going for Ksh. 3,500 advance tickets and Ksh. 5,000 at the door.
Some of the cast members for The Vagina Monologues 2019 included;
- Mo – psychologist and sports-therapist-in-training
- Lorraine – language teacher
- Imathiu – HR professional, farmer and builder
- Hana – project management consultant
- Kijo – singer
- Nana – philanthropist and realtor
- Nini – acting coach and farmer
- Patricia – artist
- Savane – pr consultant
- Shazz – interior designer
- Wacango – educator
- Shiviske – actress
- Carol – journalist
- Nyawara – actress
- Ruby – filmmaker
- Pauline – actress
- Ayomide – consultant
- Mumbi – playwright/actor
- June – lawyer/singer