I am: Aliou
Country: Mauritania
Age: 20
My Story:
The Islamic holy book, the Qur’an, condemns slavery. But, in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the nation of my birth, slavery is widely practiced. Despite being officially banned in 1981, there are an estimated six hundred thousand slaves in Mauritania, out of a population of 3.2 million.
I left Mauritania for Ivory Coast at a young age, and have begun the process of researching my own identity as a Mauritanian. I moved to the United States in 2009, and live in Brooklyn with my family. I am graduating high school in June 2011, and I plan to go to college to pursue a career in engineering. I hope to go back to Africa and support development in my country and around the continent.
My Film: ABD
Today, one in five people in Mauritania are slaves.
Synopsis:
The concept of slavery is embedded in the western psyche as a relic of history. My film will explore the practice of modern slavery, focusing on the country of my birth, Mauritania. It will follow my efforts to reconnect with my own identity, and how I grapple with the burden of having my country continue such an inhuman practice.
