The CNA, Cinéma Numérique Ambulant Afrique (Mobile Digital Cinema-Africa) : facing the challenges of/face à la COVID-19
From the CNA Newsletter August 2020 (translation from French): Le Cinéma Numérique Ambulant Afrique (Mobile Digital Cinema-Africa) : facing the challenges of Covid-19.
Interviews with the CNA Afrique president Kadidia Sidibe, who is also president of CNA Mali and Stéphanie Dongmo, president of CNA Cameroon.
Interview with Kadidia Sidibe
The CNA is an international network of not-for-profit associations. The CNA Afrique, headquartered in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is present in 10 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Central Africa and France). Committed to the rights of the artist (copyright laws) CNA Africa is dedicated to the distribution of (subtitled) African and European cinemas as it relates to Culture and Development.
Presentation of the structure and the different activities currently in progress.
Established in Mali in 2004 with a European Union-grant, the CNA Mali is a cultural association that presents films to populations, in both rural and urban areas (cities and villages, in public spaces or university campuses, etc.) regardless of the social status of the beneficiaries. Its motto is “CINEMA FOR ALL, CINEMA EVERYWHERE. "
What has been the impact of Covid-19 on your activities?
Our activities have been on pause since the start of Covid-19 in March. Gatherings of more that 50 people are prohibited, as a result our projects have been postponed or actually cancelled. We are obliged to limit our spending to essential expenditures only. If these measures continue to be enforced based on the evolution of the situation, a technical layoff will have to be imposed on half of the staff, and they will be given notice in time to adjust to the situation.
What strategies employed currently as a result of the health crisis?
There is not much work at the moment. We made proposals to our various partners but due to the [Covid-related] measures adopted by the authorities, there has been no favorable response at the moment. We have tried to be innovative but the feedback from donors is rather hesitant, not to go as far as saying non-existent.
What are some of the proposals to remedy the situation and to work better in this context?
Among other things, we have submitted scenarios for the production of short films to raise awareness regarding Covid-19. There are ongoing discussions but we are still waiting for something concrete. As for future projections, they are slow to come. Nonetheless, we are continuing to discuss possible research for solutions so that common projects can be implemented but that too seems to have not garnered results.
Interview with Stéphanie Dongmo
Presentation of the structure and the different activities currently in progress.
Created in January 2012, the CNA Cameroon is headquartered in Yaoundé. It organizes an average of 150 screenings per year for audiences who do not generally have access to the arts and culture.
Since September 2019, the CNA has led the “Cine-debate for peace” project with the support of "Culture at Work" and the co-financing of the European Union in the regions most affected by the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon, in particular the North-West, South-West, West, Littoral and Central. The first phase of this project consisted of the creation of "micro-sidewalks" in which the populations of the five regions of the project give their opinion on this crisis which has lasted for three years, and talk about how their lives continue to be affected. These "micro-sidewalks" were then broadcast in forty localities of the target regions, which triggered debates on cultural diversity, living together and peace.
The second phase entails the organization of three conferences on peace. The first in Yaoundé, the second in Douala and the third in Dschang. Professionals in the culture sector, community leaders, heads of organizations working in the field, religious leaders… will reflect on solutions to end the crisis and the construction of peace, beyond lines of division.
The second project we are working on is an awareness campaign on sexual and reproductive health in the Noun department, in western Cameroon, in partnership with the NGO Médecins du monde Suisse. This project was interrupted due to Covid-19, but we are working to relaunch it.
How has Covid-19 affected your activities?
Because of Covid 19 we were forced to stop all our activities. We can no longer meet deadlines, we are obliged to resort to amendments. For three long months, we could not work and our projection team came to a standstill.
What are strategies employed currently as a result of the health crisis?
We plan to organize screenings in movie theaters starting in August, with a maximum of 50 participants in order to adhere to the measures enforced by the Cameroonian government. We will respect social distancing by placing the spectators at least 1 meter apart, by requiring that masks be worn in order to participate in the activity and ensuring that everyone washes their hands when entering the space. We will also integrate Covid-19 awareness into our activities.
What are some of the proposals to remedy the situation and to work better in this context?
Digital technology and social networks have proven to be a powerful tool for communication and for maintaining social ties during this period. This should be taken into account in our future projects.
