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The movie “Nawi,” meaning “a daughter,” set in the arid landscapes of Turkana, Kenya, where child marriage is rampant, is the story of a 13-year-old girl who has been forced into marriage. At the helm of this film project is Michelle Lemuya Ikeny, 15 years old and playing the title role.
The critical reception of Nawi earned Michelle the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Promising Actor in 2024. This newfound recognition does not seem to have changed her, as Michelle remains humble and stresses that the message of the film is far more important than any personal awards. “I want the movie to spark conversations about this topic because it’s really not something people want to talk about,” she said in an interview with BBC.
The story of the film Is close to the heart of its writer, Milcah Cherotich, who got the inspiration from Turkana herself. Her sister was forced into marriage at 14 years and is still leading a life full of struggle with shattered dreams. “She ended up living a life that was not hers. A life that was designed by my parents and her husband. Those are things I wanted to change,” Milcah revealed.
“Nawi” is a name that doesn’t just start conversations but concrete actions, too. In cooperation with the NGO Learning Lions, a brand-new school opened in Turkana, so far registering 300 girls. It is a place which aspires to provide opportunities and an education to girls, breaking down the strict cultural expectations that fuel child marriage.
This has seen the film achieve major feats: from being selected as Kenya’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards to, though not going on to the shortlist, this recognition amplified its message on a global scale.
Child marriage remains an issue in Kenya, where 23% of girls are married off before their 18th birthday. With “Nawi,” Michelle Lemuya Ikeny and the filmmakers behind it would like to defy the status quo and encourage a future in which young girls can pursue their dreams without being tied down by forced marriages.
While “Nawi” continued to make waves in the local and international audience, it continued to remind all that storytelling was a potent catalyst for social change. Michelle’s journey from being a little girl in Turkana to an award-winning actress has been one wherein education and empowerment brought transformative change.
