Best Documentary
Jaha Dukureh: From Harmed Child Bride to UN Ambassador
When Jaha Dukureh was an infant, she underwent a harmful traditional practice. At just 15, she was brought to New York and forced into marriage with a 45-year-old man she had never met. A decade later, Jaha returns to her native Gambia in West Africa, determined to confront the customs and beliefs—within her own family and community—that nearly derailed her future.
Jaha’s Promise is a powerful story of survival and transformation, filled with the emotional weight of personal, familial, spiritual, and political struggle. Through Jaha’s own powerful testimony, family archives, and interviews with those who witnessed her journey, the film traces a life shaped by resilience, setbacks, and ultimately, empowerment.
Caught between two cultures—Africa and the United States—Jaha often finds herself not fully belonging to either. But she refuses to be seen as a victim. Instead, she challenges global power structures and demands respect for the rights of girls and women everywhere. As Jaha says, “In our culture, a woman is built on sacrifices.” Jaha’s Promise captures not only her story, but the unyielding spirit behind it.
Original Title : Jaha's Promise
Direcors: Patrick Farrelly, Kate O'Callaghan
Production : Accidental Pictures, Guardian News & Media - Dee Lukic, Sinéad Kinnane
Published May 4, 2025
