Malaika
WRITER AND PRODUCER
Run Time: 8:41
Genre: Drama
Langauge: English
Viewing on request
Malaika, a British-Tanzanian girl whose name means "Angel" in Kiswahili, has dreamed of being a ballerina since she could walk. Encouraged by her parents, she moved to England with her older sister for better opportunities. As she prepares for her final year ballet auditions, she is determined to succeed, despite a foot injury. However, her hopes are dashed when she is told that her appearance doesn't fit with the Corps de Ballet due to her skin color. This rejection is a harsh reminder that her dream may be farther away than she imagined—though she still hopes to one day earn her wings.
Peeling Back the Narrative Layers
This film was written during the height of COVID, a time that coincided with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. As a Tanzanian, my experience with the diaspora had always been reversed—I was an American living in Africa. However, after spending more time in the UK, I began to notice specific issues within the diaspora that intrigued me, prompting me to explore these stories. One story that particularly resonated with me was that of Misty Copeland, who had to use foundation to match her leggings to her skin tone in order to perform. I also discovered that only one company in England makes flesh-toned ballet clothes for Black people. When doing auditions, the actress we selected had the exact same story as the one I wrote, being the only black person in her ballet class for over 12 years. This particular time felt perfectly suited for a story like, Malaika.
