Sevdaliza 'Shahmaran' by Emmanuel Adjei

The seven minute cinematic experience created by director Emmanuel Adjei for artist Sevdaliza explores and questions the fascinations and desires of the human mind, telling the story of the black man, who continues life in a cycle of oppression. The modern chains, of aspiring for success, power and decadence that create a false sense of freedom and autonomy. 

The video has a decisive sci-fi feel to it, the three year project utilising impressive special effects that give the expansive and empty desert an other-worldly feel. Having collaborated on other projects together in the past, Emmanuel Adjei and Sevdaliza have created a highly sophisticated, complex and beautifully executed piece. More an art film than merely a music video.

EMMANUEL ADJEI:

Carrying the burden of their ancestors, most black men today are still born into an environment that limits their freedom. Lost in a hazardous place from which they can’t seem to escape, their survival mechanisms have become their guide when making decisions. Whilst growing up, they have learned to fixate on the place where they know they need to be. Drawn to the dream of having power and success, they hold on to a false idea of autonomy. Yet, it is this house of freedom that has enslaved these men again. Chained to a fantasy, often of a materialistic nature, they remain upright throughout survival.