麻豆社

The kekeh 鈥� a motorised three-wheeled vehicle 鈥� is a common sight on the streets of communities in Sierra Leone, where they are an important form of commercial transportation, and almost exclusively driven by men.

But journalist Sombo Angelina Fullah learned how to drive one in just three days - not to transport people or products, but to conduct interviews for Docket en Lappa, a 30-minute radio programme produced by 麻豆社 Media Action in partnership with Radio Wanjei in Pujehun, in the southern part of the country.

Now, Sombo and her kekeh have become a symbol for women in Sierra Leone, as a strong statement about what women are capable of.

Docket en Lappa - a Krio term for a purse worn with a wrapper, mainly worn by women - is part of the project Women Arise and Shine, funded by World Vision International. It鈥檚 aimed at promoting women鈥檚 participation in social, economic, and political space and rights.

The weekly programme is recorded on a kekeh, where the presenter interviews female and male experts on topics that aim to support women to be more self-reliant, independent and able to make their own decisions. As background sound, the listeners hear the presenter riding on the streets and the kekeh鈥檚 engine.

The project is also hosting group listening sessions in four communities around the country, where neighbours gather together to listen to the programme.

In a male-dominated society such as Sierra Leone, where many people usually think women should be at home, the radio show is helping to slowly change that mentality.

鈥淲e ask questions [in these communities]. Sometimes when the women answer, they say 鈥榦ur leaders are not creating space for us鈥�. Then we take those questions to the leaders,鈥� Conteh says.

With 18 episodes planned before the project finishes next January 2024, the radio programme is beginning to shift societal expectations around women.

Now, Conteh says, people are aware of the importance of female representation when discussing topics related to their communities.

鈥漌hen you see them in groups, you will hear them saying 鈥業 think we should be equal鈥�. They find a way to include women to be part of meetings, or whatever engagements they are having,鈥� Conteh said.

Having a kekeh play a central part in the radio programme came from a team brainstorm before the production started. The kekeh is a symbol of how women can 鈥榯ravel鈥� from one point to another 鈥揻rom not having confidence, to being braver, making decisions and having a say in what happens in their communities and families.

Adding to the symbolism is that women in Sierra Leone usually only see men riding a kekeh 鈥� and the kekeh is not yet common in some communities.

鈥淏ut when they [women] see this kekeh, they want to get the experience of sitting in it. The kekeh is a symbol of a safe space where women can feel comfortable in discussing issues affecting their communities and also how they, as women, can take up decisions and make brilliant contributions to whatever is going on or happening in their communities,鈥� says Conteh.

 Docket en Lappa is part of the project Women Arise and Shine, funded by World Vision International and back-funded by the UN.