Born in Morocco, Sarah Maacha’s life spans chapters in Marrakech, Johannesburg, New Delhi, Malta, New York, and Paris. These experiences deeply influence her work, which explores the intersections of identity, belonging, and global and local narratives.
A graduate of the African Leadership Academy, where she first delved into storytelling's power to shape Africa's future, Sarah has built on this passion through her academic and professional endeavors. She graduated magna cum laude from Skidmore College, majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Documentary Storytelling. Her academic and creative work often focuses on colonialism and orientalism’s impact on her home city of Marrakech.
Professionally, Sarah has diverse experience in creative consulting, project management, and strategic communications, including her role as Maghreb Project Manager & Consultant for Frieda, overseeing locally-led post-earthquake initiatives. Her contributions extend to various international organizations, such as the African Leadership University, the Obama Foundation, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. Since then, she has engaged in numerous programs to expand her knowledge and practice. Some of these include: Taqafiat (professional program on art and culture as a pillar for soci-economic development) Trauma of Money (trauma informed course on financial literacy and wellbeing) and Hood Herbalism (herbal education by/for BIPOC communities).
Creatively, Sarah’s work engages with themes of identity, memory, and diasporic experiences, exploring the convergence of the political and personal. Her first short film contrasts Morocco's image in the tourist imagination with her own complex identity as a Moroccan abroad, while her first performance piece delves into her identity as a Muslim woman in post 9/11 America. These works demonstrate her commitment to challenging societal binaries and fostering communal healing.
The merging of research-based work and creative expression is where Sarah finds the most joy. Her practice is characterized by its interrogation of societal binaries and her commitment to community healing and introspection. After her studies abroad, Sarah spent four years back in her home city of Marrakech reconnecting with its community of artists, researchers, her family and friends, and her cat (Paco).
