Aïssa Maïga | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Maïga at the2025 Cannes Film Festival | |
| Born | Aïssa Maïga (1975-05-25)25 May 1975 (age 50) Dakar, Senegal |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, producer, activist |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Awards | Best Actress for Bianco e nero (2008) at the Festival du Cinema Italien de Bastia.[10] |
Aïssa Maïga (born 5 May 1975) is aSenegal-born French actress, director, writer, producer, and activist.[1] Maïga has worked with major auteurs likeMichael Haneke,Abderrahmane Sissako andMichel Gondry, and recently starred inChiwetel Ejiofor’s directorial debut.[2]
Maïga is an advocate for inclusion and has been vocal aboutracial discrimination in the film industry throughout her career. Maïga was inspired to speak out and create theDiasporAct collective after realising she was often the sole performer of colour to receive top billing and awards season attention—despite the abundance of diverse talent around her.[3]
Maïga was born inDakar,Senegal to aMalian father andSenegalese mother. Maïga grew up inDakar but would go toMali on holidays as a child to spend time with her grandmother, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Her family comes from a small town in the region ofGao—near theSahara desert—and her father is of theSonghay people.[4]
She moved to France when she was four years old to live with her aunt and uncle. Her father,Mohamed Maïga, a journalist, was murdered[why?] in 1984, a few months before the Head of State in Burkina Faso was killed in a coup.[5][6]
Maïga landed a role alongsideYvan Attal in Denis Amart'sSaraka Bô (1996), her acting was well received, and she went on to play a rebellious young girl inMichael Haneke'sCode Unknown (2000) and his later filmCaché (2005). Her work inCédric Klapisch'sRussian Dolls (2005) cemented her role as a notable performer in French cinema.[7]
Maïga was nominated for aCésar Award for Most Promising Actress for her role inAbderrahmane Sissako’s Malian dramaBamako (2006) and became the first French actress of African descent to ever receive a nomination,[dubious –discuss] thereby becoming the most visible black actress working in France.[3][8] That same year, an anthology film calledParis, je t’aime (2006) was also premiered atCannes and Maïga was the female lead in the short film directed by South African filmmakerOliver Schmitz. Maïga was joined on theCannes red carpet byOliver Schmitz and producerDanny Glover.[4]
Bianco e nero (2008) starring Maïga andFavio Volo was the first successful and mainstream Italian film to tackle interracial romance.[9] In 2009, Maïga wonBest Actress forBianco e nero (2008) at the Festival du Cinema Italien de Bastia.[10]
Maïga starred alongsideAudrey Tautou andRomain Duris inMichel Gondry's surreal and whimsicalMood Indigo (2014).[11] In 2016, Maïga starred in theNetflix filmThe African Doctor (2016) alongsideDemocratic Republic of the Congo actorMarc Zinga.[12]
In 2018, Maïga premiered in the IrishRTÉ crime seriesTaken Down (2018–present) written byStuart Carolan and her role was received with critical acclaim.[7]
Maïga co-starred withChiwetel Ejiofor in his joint film withNetflix set during the Malawian food crisis in the 2000s,The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019). She was the lead female character—Agnes Kamkwamba—and the film premiered at theSundance Film Festival and was added toNetflix on March 1, 2019.[13]
Maïga is a leading figure in a new wave of activism by people of colour inFrench cinema[14] in response to the lack of black representation in French films. The few roles available in the industry for black actors and actresses are usuallyracial stereotypes and Maïga uses her platform to challenge this and encourage change.[15]
Maïga has collaborated with fifteen other black actresses and French personalities to create theDiasporAct collective. The group consists of Maïga,Nadège Beausson-Diagne,Mata Gabin,Maïmouna Gueye,Eye Haïdara,Rachel Khan,Sara Martins,Marie-Philomène Nga,Sabine Pakora,Firmine Richard,Sonia Rolland,Magaajyia Silberfeld,Shirley Souagnon,Assa Sylla,Karidja Touré, andFrance Zobda.[16]
Before Maïga went toMalawi in 2017 to filmChiwetel Ejiofor’s adaptation ofThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019), Maïga wrote the essay that would become the book's foreword. Once the filming was over, she dedicated herself to the book and contacted a group of performers to bring many perspectives to the project.[16]
“I’ve often asked myself why I’m one of the only black actresses to work in a country as racially mixed as France.”—Aïssa Maïga,Black is Not My Job[2]
TheDiasporAct group published a book calledNoire n’est pas mon métier (which means 'Black is not my job') (ed. Seuil).[17] The essays in this book featured a response to the lack of representation and inclusion that black actresses face in French cinema, as well as the stereotypical portrayal of black people whenever they are included. The book details the inequity and racism black women face in the French film industry and outlines personal stories and casting experiences specific to black actresses,[16][18] and came to fruition amid the #MeToo movement and theCannes festival that had a wave of calls for inclusion.[3]
The book was a success in France and has sparked debate about minority representation.[3]
Maïga and the DiasporAct collective held a peaceful anti-racism protest as they went into the premiere ofLee Chang-dong'sFIPRESCI Prize–winning film,Burning at the71st Annual Cannes Film Festival in 2018.[3] The group of women stood at the top of the red carpet steps at the festival and raised their fists while dancing joyously to theRihanna songDiamonds to protest the racial bias and discrimination that is rampant within the French film industry.[19] During a press conference that featured the group, Maïga toldAgence France-Presse that setting up aracial quota in the French film industry is a potential option for combating the lack of onscreen diversity, and acknowledged that this could spark strong opposition in France.[20] All members of the group wore matching black and white[15] ensembles created byBalmain's mixed-race designerOlivier Rousteing who toldVogue:
“I think we are really at a huge turning point in every industry, whether film, or fashion, or music. We are living in a world where we are trying to break from the past and define what we want from the future. I believe in the power of women, I have since I was a little boy, and this moment means a lot to me.”[20]
The clear message of the protest, combined with the recently released book to back it up, was met positively—the consequent media reports talked of their beauty, style and courage.[15]
Maïga and 30 fellow actors of colour all spoke out against the lack of diversity among those nominated for a2020 César award in an open letter entitled '#BlackCesars' that was published just before the awards ceremony. The intention of the open letter was to shed light on the absence of Black, Arab, and Asian performers and filmmakers in the nominations for the event.[21][22]
On the night of the45th César awards, Maïga gave a speech calling out the lack of diversity in French cinema. The speech was unexpected and contrasted with the congratulatory speeches that had taken place throughout the evening, the predominantly white audience of the "FrenchOscars" were all frozen in silent surprise and discomfort. Maïga began her speech by greeting the 12 black people (out of the 1,600 guests) and proceeded to outline the ways in which black people and their stories are systemically ignored in French media, TV, and cinema.[15]
"We survived whitewashing, blackface, tonnes of dealer roles, housekeepers with a Bwana accent, we survived the roles of terrorists, all the roles of hypersexualised girls...but we are not going to leave French cinema alone."—Aïssa Maïga, 2020 César awards[15]
WhenRoman Polanski was awardedBest Director later in the ceremony, Maïga walked out along withAdèle Haenel to join the protestors outside the awards ceremony[14][22][23] who were chanting "Polanski is a rapist".[15]
Maïga was an ambassador forAMREF's Stand Up for African Mothers Campaign (SU4AM). In 2013 AMREF Africa organised a trip for French SU4AM ambassadors to visitUganda for events in collaboration with French midwives to support their colleagues in Africa. Here Maïga (along with singerZazie, international fencing championLaura Flessel, former midwifeMathilde de Calan who works at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and AMREF France'sHaweya Mohamed) met Ugandan midwifeEsther Madudu at the Katine Health Centre, took part in an outreach mission, and visited the Masaka School of Midwifery and Comprehensive Nursing in Kampala and the Tiriri Health Centre IV in Soroti.[24][25]
Vogue cites Maïga as its “French style crush” and says she has “never once disappointed”,[3] Maïga challenges the “just rolled out of bed” Parisian style and opts for a look that is glamorous and elegant.[26]
| Year | Title | Author | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Brooklyn Boy | Donald Margulies | Michel Fagadau | Comédie des Champs-Élysées |
| 2011 | Les Grandes Personnes | Marie NDiaye | Christophe Perton | Théâtre national de la Colline |
| 2015 | Good People | David Lindsay-Abaire | Anne Bourgeois | Théâtre Hébertot |
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Saraka bô | Danièle | Denis Amar | |
| 1998 | La revanche de Lucy | Lucy | Janusz Mrozowski | |
| 1998 | Le cadeau de maman | Patrick Helpine | Short | |
| 1999 | Jonas et Lila, à demain | Lila | Alain Tanner | |
| 2000 | Code Unknown | Black Girl | Michael Haneke | |
| 2000 | Le prof | Julie | Alexandre Jardin | |
| 2000 | Lise et André | Esther | Denis Dercourt | |
| 2000 | Marie-Line | Malika | Mehdi Charef | |
| 2000 | Mom's Present | Farida | Patrick Helpine (2) | Short |
| 2001 | Voyage à Ouaga | Loutaya | Camille Mouyéké | |
| 2002 | Georges chez les tops | Gisela | Olivier Chrétien | Short |
| 2003 | Mes enfants ne sont pas comme les autres | Myriam | Denis Dercourt (2) | |
| 2003 | Les baigneuses | Rita's sister | Viviane Candas | |
| 2003 | Rien que du bonheur | Anna | Denis Parent | |
| 2004 | Libre armada | Ingrid Gogny, Vincent Jaglin, ... | ||
| 2005 | Russian Dolls | Kassia | Cédric Klapisch | |
| 2005 | Caché | Chantal | Michael Haneke (2) | |
| 2005 | L'un reste, l'autre part | Farida | Claude Berri | |
| 2005 | Travaux, on sait quand ça commence... | Condé's fiancé | Brigitte Roüan | |
| 2005 | Le train | The barman | Brahim Fritah | Short |
| 2006 | Bamako | Melé | Abderrahmane Sissako | Nominated -César Award for Most Promising Actress |
| 2006 | Paris, je t'aime | Sophie | Oliver Schmitz | |
| 2006 | Don't Worry, I'm Fine | Léa | Philippe Lioret | |
| 2006 | I Do | Kirsten Hansen | Éric Lartigau | |
| 2006 | Mamdou il est où ? | Mariettou | Khady N'Diaye | Short |
| 2007 | L'âge d'homme... maintenant ou jamais ! | Tina | Raphaël Fejtö | |
| 2007 | Carcasse | Aïssa | Ismael El Iraki | Short |
| 2008 | Black and White | Nadine | Cristina Comencini | Bastia Italian Film Festival - Best Actress |
| 2008 | Les insoumis | Kathia | Claude-Michel Rome | |
| 2009 | Diamant 13 | Farida | Gilles Béhat (2) | |
| 2009 | L'aide au retour | The official | Mohammed Latreche | Short |
| 2010 | Ensemble, c'est trop | Clémentine | Léa Fazer | |
| 2010 | Le temps de la kermesse est terminé | Martina | Frédéric Chignac | |
| 2010 | L'Avocat | Ève | Cédric Anger | |
| 2011 | Mineurs 27 | Aminata | Tristan Aurouet | |
| 2011 | Dédicace | Elise | Olivier Chrétien (2) | Short |
| 2012 | HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami | Clarisse Iris | Alain Chabat | |
| 2012 | Today | Nella | Alain Gomis | |
| 2012 | One Man's Show | Elisa | Newton Aduaka | |
| 2013 | Mood Indigo | Alise | Michel Gondry | |
| 2013 | Aya of Yop City | Aya | Alain Chabat | Voice |
| 2014 | Prêt à tout | Alice | Nicolas Cuche | Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actress |
| 2016 | The African Doctor | Anne Zantoko | Julien Rambaldi | |
| 2016 | Corniche Kennedy | Awa | Dominique Cabrera (2) | |
| 2016 | Love Is Dead | Léane | Éric Capitaine | |
| 2017 | Il a déjà tes yeux | Salimata Aloka | Lucien Jean-Baptiste | |
| 2019 | The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | Agnes Kamkwamba | Chiwetel Ejiofor | |
| 2019 | Mon Frère | Claude | Julien Abraham | |
| 2022 | Neneh Superstar | Martine Gnaore | Ramzi Ben Sliman | |
| 2023 | Big Kids[27] | Aude | Andréa Bescond & Eric Métayer | Comedy / Drama |
| 2023 | Impatientes[28] | Dr. Milleux | Quentin Delcourt | Short |
| 2025 | Promised Sky | Marie | Erige Sehiri |
| Year | Title | Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Regard noir | Documentary | Co-directed with Isabelle Simeoni |
| 2021 | Marcher sur l’eau | Documentary | Maïga also co-wrote |
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Un mois de réflexion | Sylvie | Serge Moati | TV movie |
| 1999 | Maison de famille | |||
| 2002 | Négro | Aïssa | Karim Akadiri Soumaïla | TV movie |
| 2003 | Commissaire Moulin | Dolly | Joyce Buñuel | Episode: "Série noire" |
| 2003 | Les Cordier, juge et flic | Aline | Gilles Béhat | Episode: "Adieu mulet" |
| 2004 | Par accident | Constance | Jérôme Foulon | TV movie |
| 2005 | Sometimes in April | Young Militant | Raoul Peck | |
| 2005 | P.J. | Marie-Laure Vecchiali | Christophe Barbier | Episode: "Délivrance" |
| 2006 | Une famille parfaite | Martha | Patrick-Mario Bernard & Pierre Trividic | TV movie |
| 2008 | Sex, Okra and Salted Butter | Amina | Mahamat Saleh Haroun | |
| 2009 | Pas de toit sans moi | Ashanti | Guy Jacques | |
| 2009 | Suite noire | Sara | Dominique Cabrera | Episode: "Quand la ville mord" |
| 2012 | Toussaint Louverture | Suzanne | Philippe Niang | TV miniseries |
| 2013 | Mortel été | Julie | Denis Malleval | TV movie Luchon International Film Festival - Best Actress |
| 2015 | Mystère à la Tour Eiffel | Henriette | Léa Fazer (2) | TV movie |
| 2018 | Taken down | Abeni | David Caffrey | Miniseries |
