Events

In Zinder, a city in Niger, the neighborhood of Kara-Kara, once designated as a lepers' quarter, has long been associated with marginalization. Today, it remains home to many who are left out of the country's development. In this harsh environment, some young people are trying to carve out a different path. Filmmaker and activist Aïcha Macky, who was born in Zinder, returns to her hometown to document the struggles and resilience of this youth. Through her lens, we gain access to the daily lives of young men torn between gang loyalty and hopes for a better future. Macky engages in raw, personal conversations with these young men, whose bodies and surroundings bear the scars of violence, much of which is rooted in the colonial-era. 

Among the individuals she follows is Siniya Boy, a member of a gang called "Palais Hitler", who dreams of launching a security firm with his fellow bodybuilders. Another, Bawa, once led a Palais group but has since become a taxi driver, struggling to move beyond the brutal memories of his past. With deep empathy and courage, Aïcha Macky offers a powerful and intimate portrait of a generation facing overwhelming odds - a tribute to Niger’s youth and their fight for dignity.