In much of Sub-Saharan Africa, women face a large number of challenges. These range from gender-based violence through to educational and economic inequalities. They all start with discrimination. Bias is deeply embedded, and the stereotypes are often ones carried over from traditional beliefs. Lots of outdated traditional views have been dropped in favour of modernity, but extreme misogynism persists.
IN UGANDA, 1 IN 5 WOMEN AGED 15 TO 49 HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE. LITERACY AMONGST WOMEN IS 12% LOWER THAN IT IS AMONGST MEN (BORGEN PROJECT). THE TEENAGE PREGNANCY RATE IS AT 25% (WORLD BANK). THESE STATISTICS ARE AMONGST THE VERY HIGHEST IN ALL OF EAST AFRICA. THE IMPACTS OF THESE CHALLENGES ARE STIFLING FOR UGANDAN WOMEN.
According to Brass for Africa Life Skills Officer Maria Nakabiito “Discrimination starts in households, where boys are elevated above girls, and when it comes to resources, the boys are prioritised. Traditional views are what parents teach their children; from there they become embedded into society.”
Whilst in Uganda the gender gap in education has been getting smaller, once again this year, fewer girls completed their senior exams. Secondary school completion rate was at only 25%.
According to Maria “Educational inequality is down to two main factors. Firstly, education is not free, and the cost of fees can be prohibitive for families, so once again, priorities go to the sons. Secondly, the high number of teenage pregnancies cause dropouts amongst mothers, and sometimes even their sisters”. Inequality not only denies opportunities, but it can also create serious danger for young women. According to analysis conducted by Kampala International University, social inequality is the primary cause of gender-based violence.
It is why we are unrelenting in our work to break bias and to put an end to gender inequality.
SO HOW DO WE TACKLE GENDER INEQUALITY THROUGH MUSIC?
Maria added, “Through Brass for Africa programmes, we give all participants equal opportunities regardless of gender. The programmes do several things which work to build a more equitable society, breaking discrimination down. This includes giving young women and girls an understanding of their rights and equipping them with vital skills to flourish. It also puts boys and girls on the same level; they work together, play together, compete together, with the girls empowered to take just as much leadership as boys. It teaches them that this is the only way that it should be, in band and in life outside”.
Acknowledging the role that young men play is fundamental to addressing inequality. It is central to our approach and so we empower boys to become advocates for equality in their communities. It starts in the band but its impact spreads much wider.
We spoke to one such boy, Gerald, from Kawempe Youth Centre, a partnering outreach which provides a safe space for young adults to develop skills. He says:
“Brass for Africa opened my eyes because before joining the band, I used to think that girls cannot do things as well as boys. I have learnt that girls have great ideas and I came to realise that women are very important in our communities. So, I am now an advocate for gender equality in my community.”
Gerald is one of so many who have turned their attitudes around. Every time this happens, girls are given more and more space to shine. This is represented perfectly through our female staff and teachers. They are true leaders, ambassadors and role models, almost all of whom came through our programmes in partnering outreaches.
Aisha is our media and communications assistant based in Kampala (in fact, she supported with the writing of this article, but, as such a perfect example of an ambassador, we wanted to share her story).
Aisha is an alumnus of GLONEVA, a partnering outreach that supports disadvantaged children and young mothers. She shared with us the discrimination that she has faced within her own family.
“I faced discrimination from my father, above all when it came to education. He would prioritise my brother before me and my sisters, paying his school fees and not ours. He thought even if we went to school, the end result is for us all to get married.”
Aisha joined GLONEVA in 2016 and began learning the tenor horn. She got the chance to go back to school and then was propelled on to complete a diploma at the Africa Institute of Music, (one of the best music schools in Uganda).
“Music and Life-Skills lessons game me the confidence and communication ability to face my father. I told him that ‘not only are boys important, but us girls can do amazing things too.’ I also denied his wishes for me to get married, ‘I have goals and will work to achieve them. That is my priority.’ Before Brass for Africa, I had lost hope, It think, without it, right now I’d be married and my life would be very different.” She recalled.
Aisha has inspired her bandmates at GLONEVA, which is now one of the top performing bands. Tackling these deep societal inequalities requires wide-spreading and consistent work. But there’s still a long way still to go.
