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SOUTH SUDAN / HENNA ARTIST
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / HENNA ARTIST
TRT: 03:40
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS / ARABIC
DATELINE: 30 OCTOBER 2020, MALAKAL, SOUTH SUDAN
1.Wide shot, hawa’s children and neighbors playing near home
2.Close up, hands mixing dye for henna
3. Close up, stirring the mixture for henna
4. Close up, Hawa pouring the henna into a cylindrical henna drawer
5. Close up, the henna customer happy and laughing
6. Wide shot, henna working room
7. Close up, face and zoom out
8. Close up, footage with henna
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hawa Adam, henna artist:
“These women come for henna making during weddings, also when there are joyful movements in the church, they come in big numbers like 20 or 30 people.”
10. Wide shot, Hawa mobile call
11. Close up, Hawa mobile call
12. Wide shot, lady with mobile
13. Med shot, henna work
14. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hawa Adam, henna artist:
“I charge them 1500 South Sudanese pounds each, [equivalent to 5 dollars]. However, some of them negotiate or others can’t afford so I allow them to pay less.”
15. Wide shot, henna work and customers waiting for their turn
16. Close up, both legs with fresh henna
17. Close up, fold hands and ladies observing the henna work
18. Med shot, henna work on the hands
19. Close up, drawing henna on a hand
20. Close up, fingernails with henna
21. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hawa Adam, henna artist:
“I have offered to teach many women how to do henna, but they usually opt out as they consider it tedious. actually, to do henna you need to like art and be creative, so it is a natural talent I can say. So sometimes they come to learn and then they end up asking me to do their henna instead.”
22. Med shot, hands raised up with fresh henna let to dry
Hawa Adam is a 38-year-old mother of six and a widow. She is using her talents in henna design to make a living to support her family which has sought sanctuary in the United Nations Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, in the northern part of South Sudan.
Using a dye mixture, she draws flowery designs on the hands and feet of women in a practice that has its origin in the Arab world but is common in South Sudan.
Residents in the protection site move freely to the town as well as engaging in small businesses within the camp. Hawa’s is particularly unique and demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit. She’s making the most of the busy time at the end of the six-month long rainy season where many local celebrations are held.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hawa Adam, Henna Artist:
“These women come for henna making during weddings, also when there are joyful events in the church, they come in big numbers of 20 or 30 people.”
Young girls and women alike enjoy the application of henna and pay what each can afford.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hawa Adam, Henna Artist:
“I used to charge them 1500 South Sudan pound each [equivalent to USD3 dollars]. I do bargain with my customers and just receive from them whatever amount I can. We compromise with them when it comes to payment.”
Acquiring the skills for henna design requires time and practice. Hawa is also training other interested artists.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hawa Adam, Henna Artist:
“I do ask some women to come and learn, to help them to get the skills, but some can’t manage it because it requires a lot of talent. Instead they sometimes just make bookings with me. They like my design and although I offer them my assistance, they say they just want henna from Hawa.”
Hawa is one of many women across South Sudan who are using their talents and motivation to build a brighter future for their children and generations to come.
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