FRI’s five-part radio drama: Beans, a family affair

| June 4, 2018

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Rural radio broadcasters know that many women farmers deal with gender discrimination, abuse, and sexual assault, both on the farm and at home. Women are expected to take care of the home and children, as well as tend gardens or care for livestock—often without any say in how the income from these efforts is spent.

These themes are front and centre in Farm Radio International’s five-part radio drama called Beans, a family affair. This drama explores the relationships between members of a women’s village loan and savings group in Tanzania, where the women are growing common beans, in addition to other crops and livestock. From dealing with the middleman Sigi, who is eager to take advantage of any woman he encounters, to struggling with their own husbands to ensure their opinions are heard, these women face a variety of challenges in their day-to-day lives. But the women soon realize how strong they are when they stick together, supporting each other both in their home lives and in growing and marketing beans.

This five-part drama was published in English, French, and Swahili. You might want to modify the script to make it more relevant to your region. You can download all five episodes here: http://scripts.farmradio.fm/radio-resource-packs/beans-a-family-affair/