This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
On July 4, 2020, a significant milestone was achieved in Hollywood when two more Kenyan women were invited to join the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This achievement comes as the global creative industry grapples with systemic inequalities that have been prevalent for decades.
According to a recent survey, over 83% of the top five American broadcast networks, talent agencies, and Hollywood studios are controlled by white people, mostly men. The Academy, responsible for the annual Oscar awards, has historically been dominated by white men in the film industry.
Not surprisingly, few black actors or films have received the prestigious golden statuettes. The #OscarsSoWhite movement, which began in 2016, forced the Academy to announce diversity strategies. This week, the Academy announced that it had surpassed its target of doubling the number of women and underrepresented ethnic and racial communities.
Among the new members are Kenyan directors Toni Kamau and Wanjiru Njendu. With Lupita Nyong'o, Judy Kibinge, and Wanuri Kahiu, Kenya has five representatives – all women – in the 819-strong Academy now.
Similar tensions have been ignited in Kenya under the hashtag #KECreativesDeserveBetter. Tens of Kenyan artists broke their silence to protest against discriminatory labour and payment practices, mistreatment, contract and fee withholding, lack of budget transparency, and intellectual property and copyright infringement by employers.
According to a recent Heva Fund survey, 68% of creatives work as individuals, not companies. Less than 15% of the companies have between one and 10 people on the payroll. The majority of employees are seasonal casual workers working on specific projects.
One in three creatives have experienced event, contract, and service order cancellations during this period. Some have had to reduce their overall expenses by 50%. In this context, the Sh100 million stimulus package announced by the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage was a drop in the ocean.
As Kenyan women break barriers in Hollywood, it is essential to address the systemic inequalities in the creative industry at home. The #WatchdogKE platform formed last month is a significant step towards protecting the self-interest and industry codes of conduct of creatives.
Actor Idris Elba argued recently that the exclusion and dehumanisation of black people on America's screens has fuelled the brutality against black people on the streets. Further, their silence as artists in the face of systemic racism is complicity.
A diverse range of Kenyan creatives have begun to actively call for justice in the cases of DJ Evolve, Yasin Moyo, and Samuel Maina among others. If there ever was a time for leadership to emerge and rally the creative industry, it is now.
Artists must not only organise to protect their collective interest but also to protect the rights of all Kenyans. As we congratulate the five Kenyan women on the Academy, let them also use their new status to accelerate leadership at home.
