Senegal and USA / 2016 / 26mins / Drama / English, French and Wolof

Sunu Thiossane: Youth Development Agency presents its premier film, Larabilaran: Le Talibé Et Moi. This short film explores issues of social and economic inequality in Dakar, Senegal. It chronicles the life of a talibé, a student of the Qur’an, named Seydina as he negotiates his identity and relationship with the young, well-educated, and privileged Mariama. The film is an expression of Sunu Thiossane’s commitment to fostering compassion and understanding, while highlighting the major issue of forced begging in Senegal. It is the culminating project of the 2016 Sunu Thiossane English Arts Immersion Summer camp in Dakar and features the work of teaching artists and youth participants.

Mamedjarra Diop

Mamedjarra Diop is the founder of Cultural Arts program, Sunu Thiossane, which is a youth development agency that utilizes the arts and sciences as a platform to connect with young people and have them engage in socially-conscious projects and programming that will incite creativity and self-expression, while inspiring compassion and empathy. Her education and experience have given her the opportunity to speak at the United Nations, work with various NGOs in Senegal and the US. Her passion is to empower youth to make better life choices through education, culture and the arts and, to also be an example of achievement and pride among African people. Learn More

Djibril Drame

Djibril Drame is a visual artist, filmmaker, curator publicist, originally from Senegal, West Africa. He has participated in many exhibitions and competitions worldwide including shows Germany, Ghana, Togo, Ethiopia, Spain, and Ivory Coast. His work strives to shed a light on socially relevant and controversial issues including discrimination, religion, race, and identity, while always promoting love, peace, balance and understanding. Drame's work reflects the many aspects of Africa’s multifaceted history, and innumerable intertwined cultures, languages, stories, and offers an alternative African narrative. Learn More