At just 15 years old, Michelle Lemuya Ikeny has become the voice of countless young girls forced into child marriage through her powerful portrayal in Nawi, a film about a schoolgirl defying her community’s traditions to pursue her dreams.
Despite the risk of being ostracized in her north-western Kenyan community, Michelle is passionate about the film’s mission to spark conversations on a topic often shrouded in silence.
“I want the movie to spark conversations about this topic because it’s really not something people want to talk about,” Michelle told the BBC.
Set in Turkana County, where the United Nations reports that one in four girls are married before the age of 18, Nawi tells the story of 13-year-old Nawi, who rebels against her father’s decision to sell her into marriage to a wealthy man in exchange for livestock.
Instead of accepting her fate, Nawi fakes a period on her wedding night, flees to Nairobi to pursue education, and later bravely confronts her family upon learning her newborn sister has been promised as a replacement bride.
The film, written by Milcah Cherotich and inspired by her own childhood in Turkana, reflects the harsh reality of child marriage in the region.
Cherotich shared how her sister was married at just 14, had a child by 15, and suffered devastating loss when her baby died. “She ended up living a life that was not hers.
A life that was designed by my parents and her husband,” Cherotich said, her voice heavy with emotion.
Despite potential backlash in Turkana, Cherotich sees the film’s impact firsthand. She recalled how her staunchly traditional uncle was moved to tears during an early screening, a moment she described as a breakthrough. “I realised the importance of storytelling, the power it has,” she said.
Michelle, who grew up in Turkana and had never acted before, channeled the struggles of friends who had been forced into marriage to portray Nawi’s emotions.
Her performance earned her the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Promising Actor in November 2023.
While the story shines a spotlight on Turkana, the issue of child marriage extends far beyond Kenya.
According to UNICEF, sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest rate of child marriage, with one in three girls married before 18.
Though global prevalence is decreasing, progress in regions like West and Central Africa remains alarmingly slow. At the current pace, it could take over 200 years to eliminate the practice there.
“When you watch the movie, try to put yourself in the shoes of Nawi,” Michelle urged. “When you are young, you have so many dreams. When somebody takes that away, it’s the worst feeling ever.”
Directed by Toby Schmutzler and Apuu Mourrine, Nawi has already garnered international attention, including a screening at the UN headquarters in New York and Kenya’s submission for the Oscars, though it didn’t make the shortlist.
Locally, it became one of the longest-running Kenyan films in Nairobi cinemas and has been screened in Turkana, including free showings at Kakuma refugee camp. The team now plans to bring the film to local elders using mobile screenings in villages.
Beyond its cinematic success, Nawi is creating tangible change. In partnership with Learning Lions, a new school has been built in Turkana, offering free education and meals to 300 girls in a drought-stricken region.
For Michelle and the creators of Nawi, the hope is clear: to ignite change, challenge traditions, and inspire a future where no girl’s dreams are stolen.
“The message can be super beautiful,” Schmutzler said, “but if no one sees the film, then no one hears the message.”
As the film continues its journey, the power of storytelling proves to be a catalyst for change—one conversation, one perspective, and one life at a time.
Also read: Diljit Dosanjh Net Worth