the people v aissatou ba//written and directed by iquo b essien

Hi all, sorry so long no write! I have been deep in production, just now coming up for air.  In case you hadn't heard, I am directing a short film at the moment. Wanted you all to know that there are only 15 hours left to fund my project, THE PEOPLE v. AISSATOU BA, on IndieGoGo.

Inspired by the New York v. Strauss-Kahn case, THE PEOPLE v. AISSATOU BA is a story about an African immigrant housekeeper moving on with her life after the case against the man who assaulted her is dismissed.

Sexual harassment affects room attendants on a daily basis, many of whom are afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs. THE PEOPLE v. AISSATOU BA is one woman's story of courage, resilience and faith to speak out. 

To show your support for this project (or me! :), you can: 

1. Make a PLEDGE today 

2. SMS http://bit.ly/peoplefilm to 10 friends and family 

3. LIKE us on Facebook 

4. FOLLOW us on Twitter 

Thanks for your support!  You are appreciated. --AL.

dsk vs. the maid: who would the jury have believed? // chimamanda adichie

chimamanda adichie has a wonderful piece in the daily beast that asks whether the jury would have believed dominique strauss-kahn or his alleged victim, guinean immigrant nafissatou diallo.


"On television, she was familiar: the skin tone that suggested cheap bleaching creams, the ambitious hair weave, the melodrama. An American friend of mine thought her interview too theatrical and therefore unbelievable. Instead, I saw a woman speaking a non-native language, and so compensating with gestures...Diallo comes from a place where melodrama is not unusual, and often suggests truth as much as lies."


it would be appropo to mention here that i am in pre-production on a short film, called the people v. aissatou ba, about an african immigrant woman moving on with her life while the man who assaulted her walks free. it is inspired by the dsk case and asks the question: what price does aissatou pay for telling the truth? 


i'm not sure who the jury would have believed. i'd like to say that there is a part of each of us that recognizes the truth, our shared humanity, but i've learned over time that this idea is often a self-satisfying delusion.


visit my indiegogo page to learn more about my film and contribute--every dollar helps! --AL.

metaphysics: 1

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sometimes i can see auras.

there is a flatness to some born of poverty, ignorance, lack of self and other awareness. but i look at and experience others that literally bloom--like the flashes of light emitted from a flickering candle flame--enlightening and purifying the air around them. it isn't something i've cultivated, but i suppose becoming more sensitive to my own energy, to the energy around me both as an artist and human being has brought this out. venus williams, a buddhist monk, a woman picking flowers near my house, all these i experienced as a bright, colorful, cleansing light.

i thought myself a little crazy for this until i recently saw an episode of oprah's life class in which a man, who survived being trapped in a burning airplane, said he could see the auras of his fellow passengers leaving as they perished. they were different colors, he said, and so has dedicated his efforts--since surviving--to brightening his aura.

there is much truth in it.

i imagine having had this insight, i am also concerned with the brightness of my own aura--the light i bear into the world. though i have my low moments, i am fairly convinced that it blooms. i am also aware that not everyone can see this light. and it occurs to me that, in spite of this, one must continue to bring it forth for the greater good. to be kind, just, considerate, sincere.