Winner of the 2008 Best Documentary at Tribeca Film Festica, Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the extraordinary story of a small band of Liberian women who came together in the midst of a bloody civil war, took on the violent warlords and corrupt Charles Taylor regime, and won a long-awaited peace for their shattered country.

Culminating in the 2003 election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first female head of state, the film chronicles the vanguard of a new wave of women taking control of their political destiny around the world. Pray the Devil Back to Hell is written by Gini Reticker and produced by Abigail Disney and Fork Films.  The Institute proudly co-presents with African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) this special pre-release screening and discussion, with ticket proceeds supporting the AWDF Endowment Campaign co-chaired by former First Lady of South Africa, Mrs. Graca Machel, and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia. 

Featured speakers include: Abigail Disney (producer); Ginni Rietker (director); Leymah Gbowee (activist); Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (AWDF Executive Director); with moderator Shanita Akintonde (Professor, Marketing Communications, Columbia College Chicago).

Recorded Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at The Dance Center of Columbia College.