South Africa and Zimbabwe / 2001 / 26mins / Drama / English

The title character, Raya, is a smart but troubled young woman who has just been released from prison after several years. Raya goes to the home of her mother, Salaama, a devout Muslim, who has been taking care of Raya's daughter, Madeegah. An independent modern woman unable to live by her mother's rules, Raya takes Madeegah away, telling Salaama, "You're not going to keep her under a veil all her life." But when Raya finds herself unable to get a job because of her criminal record, she's tempted to return to crime to provide for her daughter.

Part of Mama Africa: Growing Up Urban - a selection of short films by African women

Zulfah Otto-Sallies

Zulfah Otto-Sallies was born in Port Elizabeth and grew up in the Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. She was an influential film-maker, writer, educator and figure in the Cape Town film and art industry. Zulfah's father was a member of one of the Malay choirs in Bo-Kaap and at the age of 13 she started writing lyrics for them. She won awards for her songs. She saw writing lyrics as a way of telling stories. Zulfah went on to earn a Masters degree in Visual Arts/Multi-Media and Theatre at Das Arts in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Otto-Sallies produced many films as well as plays and short stories. She wrote the well known theatre production Diekie vannie Bokaap which was later turned into a book. Her later works include a short film, Raya, and a documentary titled Through the Eyes of my Daughter. She passed away at the age of 55 in July 2016. Learn More