Playwright Oliva Ouedraogo is breaking taboos with her new play, “Queen,” which sheds light on the pervasive issue of sexual assault in Mali.
The play, performed at the Acte Sept cultural center, tells the fictional story of a girl who is raped by her stepfather and decides to speak out.
Ouedraogo, who began acting at a young age, said she was inspired to write the play after witnessing the silence and shame experienced by rape victims in her community.
“It’s unacceptable that victims are blamed and ostracized,” she said.
The play’s director, Adama Traore, emphasized the importance of addressing sexual violence, which is often underreported in Mali.
“We need to confront these dark sides of ourselves,” he said.
Statistics from the Malian National Institute of Statistics reveal that a significant number of women in Mali have experienced sexual violence, with many perpetrators being family members.
The culture of silence surrounding these crimes creates a barrier for victims to seek help.
Mariama Samake, director of the Malian organization Girl in Distress, echoed Ouedraogo’s concerns about the lack of support for victims. “These girls are forced to keep quiet,” she said.
Ouedraogo hopes that her play will spark conversations about sexual assault and encourage victims to come forward.
She called for stronger laws to protect victims and greater access to psychological support.
“We need to create a space where victims can find each other and get the help they need,” she said.
