A recent drama called “I am slave" is a 90 minute film about modern day slavery in the UK. The screenplay is by Jeremy Brock who won recognition and awards for "the last King of Scotland" it tells a story based on real events of Malia at age 12, played by Natalie Mghoi and at 18 played by actress Wunmi Mosaku. Belgian actress Lubna Azabal (Body of Lies) plays Haleema, the rich woman who uses threats to keep Malia in line. Other actors include Isaach De Bankole (Casino Royal) and Nonso Anozie (Atonement).
The people involved with this production were very much astonished at the number of men and women who are sold into slavery in Europe and America. Just recently, April of 2010, the British government made holding somebody against their will or in servitude, a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison and forcing someone to work or labor is punishable by at least 7 years.
The lead actress, Wunmi Mosaku, did a lot of research for the role of Malia. She had a difficult time researching the role. Not for lack of material or data but the excessive amount of raw data was both overwhelming and troubling.
As mentioned in the beginning this is based on true events and not the worst stories they or I have come across. The movie is based on Mende Nazer a British author and human rights activist. How did Malia come to be a slave in the UK? Well the movie team discovered at least 14,000 people are kidnapped from the Sudan and sold into slavery and at least 5,000 are currently in the UK and their not site seeing either. If you want to find out more facts about the approximate number of slaves that are in countries like the UK and America go to the www.humantrafficking.com
The story begins with a kidnapping. Malia is kidnapped from her father during a Muharaleen raid on her village. She works for the next six years for a wealthy Sudanese family. She is then sent at age 18 to London to work for Sudanese diplomat. In London she finds her predicament worsens as she is dehumanized. She prays for the day that she can be reunited with her father.
If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, I suggest you do, it’s a beautiful, gripping account of slaves in our time. I will warn you of the spoiler alert to follow; this is for those who want to know a short summary of Mende Nazer. Mende Nazer along with Damien Lewis writes about her accounts in her book, “Slave”. After arriving to London, she is put to work as a slave for Sudanese diplomat, Abdel al Koronky, at Willesden Green a predominantly Irish and Afro-Caribbean community.
After 2 years she runs away with the help of Sudanese acquaintances. At first her claim was rejected by the United Kingdom Government Department. It was later overturned in November 2002 and Nazer was granted full asylum. The book is written in several languages including, German, Italian, Spanish, Finish, Swedish, Turkish and English. She is granted indefinite stay in the United Kingdom, due to her book, and the likely retaliation that would ensue if she were to return there. Shortly after her escape the Sunday Telegraph newspaper printed second-hand accounts of her story, with excessive inaccuracies, such as sexual abuse and hospitalizations. Abdel al Koronky sued for defamation of character and the paper retracted the story.
The movie “ I am Slave” aired August 30th 2010 on the BBC channel 4, Which I am sure will once again cause a uproar among Britain’s elite and Government officials. Well let’s hope so.
