HOW WOMEN CHANGED THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

They say the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. This saying has been proven true for women in the entertainment industry. From basically starting from scratch to being continually limited, demoted, sexualized and stereotyped – all because of their gender, one can say the journey hasn’t been so smooth for the women in the entertainment industry.

But today, the flower has bloomed and the darkness is slowly seeping away to give light a chance. Yes, history is being made in this industry as more women ascend the positions of power. From the utterly helpless and sexualized figures usually acted out before, the narrative is being changed as these women in the positions of power continually seek to empower and motivate present and future entertainers.

Of course, the present successes achieved would not have been possible without the efforts of a few indomitable superheroines, someone such as: Oprah Winfrey, started her career in 1973 as Nashville’s first Afro-American TV correspondent and progressed to being the CEO of Oprah Winfrey Network in 2011. Oprah’s traumatic experiences and how she triumphed over them is testament to how powerful women really are, even in the face of insurmountable adversities. In the entertainment industry, she is one force to be reckoned with, as her life story continually impact millions of people around the globe. Oprah is phenomenal in the industry because of her passionate pursuit for inclusion and equality, which she upholds even in her own establishment. For her, people are paid and should be paid for their work output and not for their gender.

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is another renowned force changing the narrative in the entertainment industry. With her melodic voice, she pushes women beyond what they believe to be their limits; with her moves, she talks about freedom…about equality in a way nobody else has ever done; and with her wins, she rekindles hope that women can still win even in the direst situations…even in the worst patriarchal industry or society. What more, her well-staged musical protest outside the National Football League’s headquarters in New York against racial discrimination brought about the acceptance of black people through music. Beyoncé is iconic and has changed the entertainment industry through the apt way she passes the message of representation, inclusion, empowerment, diversity, independence and equality, paving ways for future entertainers in ways that is unparalleled. She writes, co-writes, dances and owns a record label; Parkwood Entertainment that produces her music. In her surprise album Homecoming, Beyonce redefines inclusion and pushes for black acceptance by opting for an all-black team where she showcased the strengths of the black heritage.

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Mosunmola Abudu, popularly known as Mo Abudu and aptly described by Forbes as “Africa’s Most Successful Woman” is truly living up to expectations with her network called the EbonyLife TV, which she started in 2006 and has grown so much that it is currently being aired in more than 49 countries across Africa, UK and the Caribbean. She is listed as the first African woman to own a Pan-african TV channel. With her TV talk show known as; Moments with Mo, she highlights the life and accomplishments of individuals (including women) as a way of motivating her viewers. In the oratorical aspect, she “gives Africa a voice” through her reality TV show termed; The Debaters. She is particularly an influential changemaker in the entertainment industry, where she fuelled her passionate desire to change the narrative about Africa, in producing movies (such as Fifty and The Wedding Party) which depicts the rich African culture and heritage. Through her, Africa has come to be known for what she truly is; a uniquely-positive and progressive continent.

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Tiwatope Savage, the unstoppable Nigerian artiste, is also actively contributing her quota to the waves of change in the entertainment industry. Initially taunted and ridiculed for wanting to step on to Nigeria’s musical landscape, she didn’t let that discourage her. An ardent believer of the phrase “Only YOU can stop you”, Tiwa has gone on to sign several multinational contracts from a local base. Her recent contract-signing ceremony with the Universal Musical Group; considered as one of the “Big Three” music companies globally, serves to inspire hope in every youth out there (especially the girl-child) that all dreams can be achieved with sufficient zeal and hardwork.

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Robyn Rihanna Fenty is also a Barbadian musician changing the entertainment industry through her musical styles. She has been recognized as the highest-selling individual artist based on certified units, having sold over 250 million records to date. She is the founder of the Clara Lionel foundation – an non-profit organization that pushes for education equality, the founder of the cosmetics brand; Fenty Beauty and the fashion house Fenty under Louis Vuitton Conglomerate. Her very humble background and early-life trauma of emotional and physical abuse fuelled her desire to make something of her life. What is iconic about Rihanna’s musical career is the message she passes across with her music, challenging the status quo and becoming the champion of swapping the stereotypical gender roles black female pop stars are often boxed into. She encourages creativity, diversity, inclusion and independence. In her eighth album Anti, she instigated phenomenal changes by depicting the walls and sufferings of prejudiced women, especially the black women. With her numerous successes, she not only sets the pace for future entertainers, but also opens doors which has been closed for so long against the female black pop artists.

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Madonna Louise Ciccone is another American singer, songwriter, and actress pushing the boundaries of the music industry. She is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the best selling female recording artist of all times, but what is phenomenal about her is her passionate remonstration against the blatant sexism and misogyny in the entertainment industry, which has led to a flurry of positive changes. Through her music, she redefines stereotype and castigates women’s oppression. Her 1991 tour documentary “In Bed With Madonna” is the precursor that paved way for the modern Reality TV and pushed the limits for what could be explored through the entertainment industry; a legacy that the present generation enjoys. Long before Beyoncé, Rihanna and the rest if the phenomenal female artists came into the picture, Madonna had always been there paving ways for females in the industry. In fact, her feminism and the flurry of changes it caused is so widely acclaimed even outsides of the entertainment industry, that the story of the fourth wave of feminism can never be fully told without a mention of her name.

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As these waves of change sweeps through the entertainment industry, one can only look on with undying hope and a lending hand; for if these changes continue to sweep through, the future is surely bright for the next generations.

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