Hollywood Filmmaker Bridges the Cultural Gap

HOLLYWOOD, 9 March 2006 (African Tribune)



 

Negest  Senay  Likké

 

If the late, Ethiopian freedom fighter Dr. Senay Likké could see his daughter now, he would be so proud following in her father’s revolutionary footsteps, Negest Likké is fighting a revolution of her own. But there are no guns. This revolution is being fought on the big screen, right in Hollywood's front yard.

For those not in the political know, Dr. Senay Likké was an African martyr who gave his life fighting for peace and social/economic equality in Ethiopia in the late 1970’s. To many Africans, he was a hero.  And like father like daughter, Negest is well on her way to becoming the same. So, be on the lookout for Negest to bust the doors of Hollywood wide open.

Negest's first film, Phat Girlz, a movie which she wrote and directed, is due in theaters nationwide on April 7th. Starring the well-known, plus size (and proud of it) comedienne Mo’Nique (The Parkers, Queens of Comedy), Phat Girlz is the comedic love story between a plus size African American woman struggling with self esteem issues, and a handsome Nigerian doctor who comes from a culture where bigger is  so much better and weight is equated with wealth. “It is rare to see a film that so cleverly bridges the gap between traditional African culture and African American culture,” says Fisiha Likké, Negest’s first cousin, a mural artist who immigrated

Born and raised in Oakland, California but having spent a significant amount of time as a child with her father’s family in Ethiopia, Negest is intimately familiar with both sides of the cultural coin  with both sides of the cultural  coin. “On one side I am wholly African American but flip me over I am wholly African” Negest saiys (Hollywood on March 9, 2006( African Tribune ) If the late, Ethiopian freedom Dr, Senay  Lekke could see his daughter now, he would be so proud. 

Following in her father’s revolutionary footsteps, Negest Likké is fighting a revolution of her own. But there are no guns. This revolution is being fought on the big screen, right in Hollywood's front yard. For those not in the political know, Dr. Senay Likké was an African martyr who gave his life fighting for peace and social/economic equality in Ethiopia in the late 1970’s To many Africans, he was a hero.  And like father like daughter, Negest is well on her way to becoming the doors of Hollywood wide open.

Negest's first film, Phat Girlz, a movie which she wrote and directed, was due in theaters nationwide on April 7th. Starring the well-known, plus size (and proud of it) comedienne Mo’Nique (The Parkers, Queens of Comedy), Phat Girlz is the comedic love story between a plus size African American woman struggling with self esteem issues, and a handsome Nigerian doctor who comes from a culture where bigger is so much better and weight is equated with wealth “It is rare to see a film that so cleverly bridges the gap between traditional African culture and African American culture,” says Fisiha Likké, Negest’s first cousin, a mural artist who migrated  to the U.S. from Addis Ababa  in 1994.

Nestling somewhere between Hollywood and Norwood, this movie is a MUST SEE for all people of the African Disapora believes the film’s Haitian born co-star Jimmy Jean-Louis. “Though the main character’s With her first feature film now securely under her belt, Negest can finally breathe a sigh of relief and begin to talk about what she’s experienced in the past 3 years. Convincing a major movie studio to say "yes" to distribute her film was no easy feat. Luckily, unlike most young filmmakers who give up on their dreams when no financial support is forthcoming, Negest endured “It seemed that the journey was never ending “ Negest says." But you can’t think about how hard it is while you are in it or you will get overwhelmed .You just gotta keep pushing forward till one day you  wake up and your movie is in the can “The film’s associate producer Timothy Mapfumo agrees" There was new fire to put out everyday. Then when we finally get one under control, two more would pop  up some place else . It was a constant raging wild fire”