Young Actress Brave Enough to Tackle Child Marriage in Powerful Film

The film, portraying the story of a schoolgirl escaping a forced marriage, is directed by Milcah Cherotich and aims to raise awareness about child marriage in Kenya, a region where many girls are married off before they turn 18.

Amidst the backdrop of North-Western Kenya, 15-year-old actress Michelle Lemuya Ikeny is making waves with her compelling role in a film about child marriage titled "Nawi." This coming-of-age movie, set in the rural Turkana County, highlights the challenges faced by young girls often sold into marriage, a harsh reality where, according to the UN, one in four girls is wed before reaching adulthood.

"I want the movie to spark conversations about child marriage, which is often shied away from," Michelle shares. As she portrays the lead character, Nawi, a 13-year-old girl sold into marriage for livestock, her performance draws on the real experiences of friends and peers who have faced similar bleak fates. Michelle's poignant embodiment of Nawi has already earned her an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Promising Actor.

The story escalates when Nawi learns her father intends to sell her to a man named Shadrack. In a desperate bid for freedom, she concocts a ruse on her wedding night to escape and pursue her educational desires in Nairobi. However, as she confronts the harshness of her family's expectations upon returning home, her bravery shines when she discovers her younger sister is also being promised to Shadrack.

The film was crafted from the writing of Milcah Cherotich, who draws from her own painful memories of child marriage within her family. Cherotich's sister was forced into a marriage at 14, a chain of events that led to her life being dictated by others. Cherotich hopes this film will change perceptions, especially after witnessing tears from a family member who once supported the practice.

While child marriage remains a pressing issue, not just in Kenya but across sub-Saharan Africa, the film "Nawi" aims to transform societal views. The prevalence of child marriage, though declining globally, saw little change over the past decades in certain regions, according to UNICEF data.

The film faced expected backlash in Turkana, but directors and the cast are optimistic about its impact. Recent screenings, including one at UN headquarters, have prompted discussions, notably among younger audiences. Efforts to reinforce these conversations involve setting up free screenings in communities and promoting education by building new schools for girls.

“The film is our chance to pull people from the shadows and confront societal norms,” states Apuu Mourrine, one of the directors. With plans underway for international distribution, the hope is to amplify its message even further.

As Michelle Lemuya indicates, “To understand Nawi's struggles is to empathize with the 640 million girls around the world facing similar fates.” It is through such narratives that change can emerge, fostering hope and dreams where so many have been lost.