By Kelsey Kennedy

Carefully entwining music and motion picture, Sarabah follows Sister Fa, a rapper/activist from Senegal, on her campaign to end female genital cutting, or excision.

The hour-long film manages to cover a wide range of complex topics, from Sister Fa’s family and musical career to her personal confrontations with her past that compelled her to return to Senegal to fight the practice that left not only physical scars on her body but emotional scars as well.

Not willing to shy from the topic of female genital cutting, Sister Fa’s workshops with the children of Senegal can teach even the most educated adults around the world. The matter-of-fact manner in which a young girl gives a simple explanation of excision is enough to chill even the strongest member of the audience. Though Sister Fa describes the word “Sarabah” as a mythical hideaway from her youth, there is no hiding from the issue she is so determined to shed light upon.

Activism is merely one facet of this intricate film, though. If one hand is in a fist of rebellion against a dangerous social tradition, the other is pointing audience members toward a rich African culture full of music and dance. Sister Fa’s upbringing in such an environment is evident even when she was making music outside of Africa. Though her lyrics are never in English, even the translated subtitles fit the rhythm and soul of her music.

Occasionally, the film seems to jump from topic to topic, but given the amount and complexity of its content, this transgression is easily forgiven. Within a single hour’s span, Sarabah shows the audience the inner-workings of family, culture, and change, all under the careful narration of Sister Fa.

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