Genre
Synopsis
When a young woman singer-songwriter named Rokia Traore appeared on local TV wearing long braids, strumming a guitar and singing songs of women’s freedom, she sent shockwaves through her conservative West African nation of Mali. Her debut was a revolution for both women and music. Her image on local television hit a nerve. Known simply by her first name, Rokia, she sang songs she wrote that challenged Malian traditions such as polygamy, a long held Mali custom, and called for women’s independence. For older, conservative viewers, Rokia shook the foundation of Malian culture. For young women watching, Rokia represented the future, a voice of a new generation. The film, ROKIA: VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION, includes footage from her debut on local Malian tv while revealing her backstory as a diplomat’s daughter who began her activism in the streets as a teenager protesting democratic reforms. The film charts her growth and career as a performer, her rise as an internationally recognized singer-songwriter, and the pitfalls along the way. With unique access, the film captures intimate moments in her life, including the challenges of being a recording artist in a male dominated industry, the repercussions of breaking cultural taboos by speaking her mind in her lyrics, and the challenges of being on the road as a working mother. Additionally, the film shows her building her dream, a foundation to foster the next generation of young musicians.
Bio
Laurens [pronounced La-RENZ] Grant is a three-time Emmy and Peabody award-winning documentary filmmaker, and former Sundance Institute Fellow. She is a voting member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Documentary Branch, and the Television Academy - Emmys. She was also recently invited to join the Television Academy’s Executive Committee of its Documentary Peer Group. Most recently, Grant was a Story Consultant on the 3-hour sports documentary series Shut Up & Dribble [Showtime], Executive Produced by LeBron James. Grant is also a consulting producer on the documentaries United Skates, Mr. SOUL!, and The Rape of Recy Taylor.
Her previous work includes The Nineties (CNN), where she produced and directed the episodes Can We All Get Along? (ACE editing award nominee), and New World Order. Grant also directed and produced Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement (BET), which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Grant directed Jesse Owens, which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Research and received two additional nominations. Grant produced The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution for Independent Lens (PBS), the most watched documentary ever on that series and also selected as one of the Top 5 Documentaries of 2015 by the National Board of Review. It is currently streaming on Netflix. The documentary is inspiring several Hollywood films including The Stand Off directed by Justin Lin [of Star Trek Beyond and Fast and Furious]
Awards History
National Black Media - Grant Recipient
New York State Council of the Arts - Grant Recipient
The Awesome Foundation - Grant Recipient
Credits
Subject - Rokia Traore
Cinematographer - Kirsten Johnson
Director - Kirsten Johnson
Consultant - Sabine Hoffman
Consultant - Sam Pollard
