Published on : 16/08/2022 – 00:01
Continuation of our series of reports “A child at all costs”… In Senegal, a television series tackles the taboo of infertility, and more generally issues related to motherhood. Yaay 2.0, which means “mother” in Wolof, has been on the air since the end of May. A project launched by Kalista Sy, screenwriter and producer of the hit series Mistress of a married man. With the same objective: to give a voice to women.
From our permanent special correspondent in Dakar
Kala and Sandiéry form an almost perfect couple. Beautiful, brilliant, in love, but following 3 years of marriage, they can’t have children. A delicate subject taken up by Kalista Sy:
“In Senegal or in Africa, when a child does not arrive in a couple, for many, it is because of the woman. This child is the child of society, it is a child who attests to the fertility of the man, and that the woman is in her reproductive role”.
It is the actor Roger Sallah who plays the character of Sandiéry. During several episodes, he refuses to go to consult.
« Sandiéry, I would say that he is a man who is afraid of discovering that he is infertile. This fear gnaws at him, his virility is called into question, whereas no, there is virility and fertility. It is typical of the Senegalese man. I address Senegalese men by embodying the character of Sandiéry. I tell them: “Hey guys, wake up and take care of your women!” “explains the actor.
In the series, mothers and mothers-in-law are omnipresent: with appointments with marregardings, beverages and other amulets. Constant pressure. A reality, underlines Kalista Sy, “ marriages, whatever one may say, are held by mothers. They don’t realize what it’s like for a couple to have this intrusion into their intimate life. ».
Around the main couple, other women and other backgrounds: Dibor, a fine career and still single, Mouna, mother of a large family and without resources, or even Réla, played by the actress Anna Guèye, rejected by her husband.
« Her child has trisomy 21. For her family, she is responsible for her son’s handicap, because according to her stepmother, she dressed any old way, she ate anything. There are Senegalese women who actually experience what Réla experiences in the series. The series, which will talk regarding their situation, which gives them a voice, is very interesting. We receive a lot of testimonials, there are a lot of comments on YouTube. We hope to be able to raise awareness even more », Explains Anna Guèye.
A committed and audacious series. With 32 episodes in total, Yaay 2.0 will be broadcast until September. You can find the series in particular on YouTube, in Wolof, with French subtitles.
