Production notes

Born in Niamey (Niger) Rahmatou Keïta is a daughter of the Sahel. She is Fulaani, Songhoy and Mandingo. As she puts it, she is of the true essence of the Sahel.

She studied Philosophy and linguistics in Paris, France.

With her dreams of becoming a writer and a movie director in her mind, she started to work as a journalist. First she wrote for news papers and magazines, then she moved to radio and television. She was TV commentator, hostess, and reporter.

From 1987 to 1993, she worked on French and international TV stations. She was the first African journalist (including the diaspora) to appear on French TV. She was the first one to get the most coveted "7 d'Or" Award.

Actually she got two! Both for the TV magazine's team "L'ASSIETTE ANGLAISE" on the French TV Channel Antenne 2 in 1988 and 1989.

In 1993, she decided to spend more time on her true passions: writing and directing. She wrote "SDF, sans domiciles fixe", (Lattès 1993), a book about the homeless in France. She went on to direct documentary films.

"Al'lèèssi... an african actress" is her first feature film. Al'lèèssi means: "fate" in Songhoy (or Sonrhay).

The documentary relates the story of the pioneers of African Cinema through the carrier of the first professional actress of the continent.