Film – vroedvrou

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Directed by Prof Siona O’Connell, a professor in African studies and a member of UP’s School of the Arts, alongside Prof Loretta Feris, UP Vice-Principal: Academic, “Vroedvrou” emerged from Prof Feris’s research. The inspiration came from the Nama community in Namaqualand, who expressed concern over the fading knowledge of their ageing midwives. Prof Feris, driven by the community’s plea to preserve this invaluable knowledge, embarked on a mission to document their stories.

“This was a very personal project for me because I am from the Northern Cape,” Prof Feris reveals, “and I feel strongly about the role of women supporting community development.” She underscores the crucial contributions of these midwives, often providing emergency healthcare to mothers and babies without formal training or remuneration.

Vroedvrou (2023)

Directed by Prof Siona O’Connell and Prof Loretta Feris.

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