Hyena Square

Media

Elisa Joseph, today 23 years old, tells her story to the camera. From a difficult family background in rural Iringa, she came to town when she was thirteen years old, following promises for a job and the possibility to go to school.

But the household she was sold to for 10,000 TSh. never paid her a salary and after two years she was raped by the husband in the family she worked for. She was accused of theft and thrown into prison.

Having lost everything, she ended up as a sex worker in Dar es Saalaam's infamous Uwanja wa Fisi (Hyena Square).

Elisa managed to get out of prostitution with the help of KIWOHEDE, an NGO working with the rehabilitation of child sex workers and domestic workers. When she found out she was HIV positive, she decided to be open about it in order to help others.

She is now advising other girls in the container office in Hyena Square and wants to be an example that it is possible to start fresh and lead a meaningful life inspite of the virus. She loves playing football and is hoping to become a star.

Meet her and her friends, as well as inhabitants of the Hyena Square in a half-hour documentary full of tears and laughter and contemporary Tanzanian music.

Coming on TV?

Update 4 Dec: The Hyena Square documentary was planned to be aired by TVT on 1 dec, but was stopped in the last minute. We are trying to find out why, and had a constructive meeting with TVT this morning. They are investigating the problem and will provide more information very soon - watch this space.

Swedish channel "Kunskapskanalen" will air Hyena Square on Sunday 4 March at 7:15 PM and on Saturday 10 March at 7:15 PM.