Watch Akashinga: The Brave Ones

Akashinga: The Brave Ones is a 2020 documentary film that tells the story of the world's first all-female anti-poaching ranger unit. Directed and produced by Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble, the film takes a closer look at the challenges and triumphs of the Akashinga, a group of women who have come together to protect Zimbabwe's wildlife from poachers.

The Akashinga, which means "the brave ones" in Shona, is a community-driven conservation model that is centered on empowering women, promoting gender equality, and protecting vulnerable wildlife populations. The film explores how the group was formed and how they are making a difference in the conservation world.

The story starts with Damien Mander, a veteran Australian special forces sniper and an anti-poaching activist, who founded the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF). The organization's mission is to protect African wildlife from poaching and to empower local communities to become a vital part of conservation efforts. The Akashinga is one of IAPF's flagship initiatives.

The film shows how Mander came up with the idea of an all-female ranger unit after witnessing the violence and corruption that often go hand-in-hand with traditional anti-poaching methods. He believed that women could effectively carry out this task without resorting to violence and brutality.

He recruited a group of women from the rural communities surrounding Zimbabwe's Phundundu Wildlife Area and trained them in military tactics, unarmed combat, and wilderness survival skills. The women went through an intense selection process, and those who made it were transformed into elite rangers.

The film takes us through the training process and shows us how the Akashinga females overcome the physical and emotional challenges of becoming anti-poaching rangers. Viewers get to see the women patrolling the wilderness, tracking poachers, and dealing with potentially dangerous animals.

One of the key themes of Akashinga: The Brave Ones is how the Akashinga are changing the traditional power structures and perceptions of gender roles in their communities. The women come from patriarchal societies where their opportunities are limited by cultural norms and expectations. However, through their participation in this initiative, they are proving that women can be successful in traditionally male-dominated fields.

The film also explores the economic and social benefits of the Akashinga approach, which is centered on community involvement and empowerment. By creating jobs for local women and training them as rangers, IAPF is helping to uplift and provide economic opportunities to communities around national parks in Zimbabwe. This approach is also helping to build stronger relationships between local people and wildlife, which is crucial for the sustainable management of these areas.

Another important theme of the film is the conservation of wildlife. The Akashinga are fighting against poaching, which is one of the biggest threats to endangered species like elephants, rhinoceroses, and lions. The women bond with the wildlife they are protecting and develop a deep sense of responsibility towards these animals. The film shows how the Akashinga are making a significant impact on reducing poaching and protecting wildlife.

Akashinga: The Brave Ones is a powerful and inspiring film that showcases the triumphs of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It celebrates the bravery of the Akashinga and their commitment to conservation, gender equality, and community engagement. The documentary serves as a call to action for people around the world to get involved in wildlife conservation and to support initiatives like the Akashinga to make a difference in the world.

Akashinga: The Brave Ones is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 13 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.