“We Are Not Crazy, We Are Just Not You”: Reclaiming the Power of Gender Equitable Storytelling
We Are Not Crazy, We Are Just Not You”: Reclaiming the Power of Gender Equitable Storytelling
For a long time, I felt alone in how I saw the world. As a seeker, curious about life, creation, and the divine blueprint, I arrived at a radical but deeply spiritual realization: dominion over the earth was not given to man alone, but to both male and female as co-heirs, co-creators, and co-governors.
The spirit within us, the essence that reflects the image of God is not gendered. It is only expressed through gendered bodies, and those bodies were never meant to compete, but to complement and collaborate.
Yet, society has spent centuries sidelining and misrepresenting the female experience, boxing women into stereotypes and denying them their rightful place in the grand narrative of humanity. In doing so, we’ve robbed generations of the divine wisdom, solutions, and innovation that the female gender was designed to offer.
The Lonely Journey of Seeing Differently
More than a decade ago, I began to see things differently. I started looking at my sisters and female friends with new eyes, eyes that recognized not just their presence, but their power. But in a world that was not conditioned to see what I was beginning to see, I often felt out of place. Misunderstood. Even ridiculed.
I remember being questioned for reading The Power and Purpose of a Woman by Dr. Myles Munroe. Male friends laughed. Some couldn’t believe it and called me a feminist. But I told them what I still believe today: Feminism is not about gender, it’s about mindset. It’s about fairness and justice. It’s about returning to the original intent of creation: equal dominion.
As a storyteller, my values often clashed with the stories people were willing to fund or produce. I thought I was the only one swimming upstream, until I joined the Gender Equitable Storytelling Producing Program at The Creative Economy Practice by Co-Creation Hub.
Finding My Tribe: The Gender Equitable Storyteller Residency
The GES Producing Program was a homecoming. Facilitated by the delectable, passionate and deeply insightful Isioma Osaje. The residency brought together 20 storytellers from across Nigeria who shared the same fire. Suddenly, I wasn’t alone. There were others, many who had sacrificed more than I ever had, to make space for truer, fuller, and more equitable stories.
Isioma’s leadership was transformative. She created a space where every participant felt seen, heard, and valued. Her ability to fuse passion with pedagogy was awe-inspiring. She reminded us that vulnerability is not weakness, but a tool of power, and that a good storyteller leads with heart, vision, and intentionality.
From her, we learned that gender equitable storytelling does not excuse mediocrity. On the contrary, it demands a higher level of craft, awareness, and purpose. Our characters don’t need to be saints, they need to be human: layered, flawed, and integral to the story’s movement.
Storytelling as Spiritual and Social Practice
Njoki Muhoho’s psychometric session was another defining moment. She said something that struck a deep chord: “We are not crazy. We are just not you.”
In a world that normalizes imbalance and injustice, clarity can feel like madness. But as she reminded us, those who challenge the status quo are not mad, they are merely different, and that difference is sacred.
We are not here to entertain bias. We are here to educate through imagery, because humanity is imagery-oriented. We act on the strongest images that impress our minds. What we see, we meditate on. What we meditate on, we become. This is why visual storytelling is a spiritual and cultural responsibility.
From billboards to blockbusters, every frame either builds or breaks someone’s worldview. As filmmakers, we cannot afford to be passive. We must be deliberate, intentional, and awake.
The Call to a Higher Standard
Gender equitable storytelling is not a trend, it’s a return. A return to divine design, to shared dominion, to truthful human expression. It is the restoration of balance in a world that’s long tipped too far.
To be a gender equitable storyteller is to say:
• We will no longer portray women only as props or plot devices.
• We will no longer write about men who think they must dominate and subjugate to matter.
• We will show both genders as whole beings, capable of love, rage, failure, brilliance, and leadership.
And in doing so, we will not only create better films, we will create a better world.
Final Word
We’re not crazy. We’re just not you. We are gender equitable storytellers, and we are reclaiming the power of story to reflect the truth of creation: Male and female. Co-heirs. Partners. Builders. Together.
I’m Kolapo Mustapha, and I’m proud to be a storyteller who champions gender equity. I’m not afraid to be myself, and I’m committed to telling stories that reflect diverse perspectives.
ABOUT US
Welcome to AFROFILM HERALD TIMES LIMITED, a premier media and entertainment company committed to celebrating and promoting the richness of African culture through storytelling. Our mission is to amplify African voices, preserve our heritage, and share authentic narratives with the world.
At AFROFILM HERALD TIMES LIMITED, we specialize in filmmaking, documentary production, content creation, and online entertainment journalism. Through visually compelling films, thought-provoking documentaries, and engaging digital content, we capture the essence of Africa’s past, present, and future.
Our passion lies in showcasing Africa’s diverse traditions, histories, and contemporary experiences in ways that inspire, educate, and entertain. With a deep appreciation for our roots and a forward-thinking approach, we strive to be a leading force in African media, bringing compelling stories to both local and global audiences.
We welcome and appreciate voluntary donations to support our administrative upkeep and continue our mission of cultural storytelling. To contribute, please reach out to us via +234 807 4441 391 (Available on WhatsApp).
Join us in our journey to redefine African storytelling and preserve our cultural legacy through the power of media and entertainment.
