MOSCOW Seven people. Thats all it took to start a social movement.
Corruption and repression isnt uncommon in Dakar, Senegal but its not to say the citizens tolerate it.
Constant power outages across Dakar were part of the norm, but they also resulted in patient deaths in local hospitals. Disgusted with this lack of basic services from the government, the people of Dakar decided to fight back.
Denise Sow, 35, of Senegal, vividly remembers that fateful day four years ago, sitting with six other people frustrated with their government and wishing for change. Sow and the others, who had noticed elderly spiritual leaders protesting against the government, thought, We are not doing our duty if we dont stand up and help to fight for a solution.
Yen a Marre was born.
Yen a Marre, French slang for enough is enough, is the social movement and state of mind Sow and two other journalists, plus three Senegalese rappers helped coordinate.Sow is to speak Saturday as part of the Making Change Film Forum: Bootstrapping Social Change from Idaho to Africa at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre. It will screen the film Boy Soloum, which follows the beginnings of Yen a Marre.
The mission of Yen a Marre is to make our government authorities consider the peoples priorities to be their own priorities, instead of being occupied with things that arent important to the population, Sow said.
Sow has witnessed first-hand the positive change their words and peaceful protests have sparked.
In 2011, Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade tried changing the constitution so he could remain in power a move that was met with opposition from Yen a Marre and like-minded groups, Sow said. With organized rallies and public forums, the members of Yen a Marre joined forces with the citizens of Dakar to vote Wade out of office.
Now, four years later, Sow said the film forum serves as a milestone that shows the message of Yen a Marre is spreading globally.
What started as a movement among the 14 regions of Dakar evolved to a movement thats shared along almost all of western Africa, and even in Europe.
The movement has different names in different countries, Sow said. But were all allied.
The event will also show Through the Eyes of a Farmworker, a documentary about farmworkers in Idaho that was made by the University of Idaho student group Movimiento Activista Social.
Organizers say the two films will allow the audience to see common issues in Idaho and Africa, including migration and the economy.
If you go What: Making Change Film Forum: Bootstrapping Social Change from Idaho to Africa When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 Where: Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, 508 S. Main St., Moscow Cost: Students free; others $5