Jump to Main ContentJump to Primary Navigation

‘Aisha’ And The Lived Experiences Of Black Female Asylum Seekers

Through the lens of fury and compassion, ‘Aisha’, Sky’s most recent film, sheds light on the growing concern across the UK: the mistreatment of asylum seekers across the nation and so much more. 

Portrayed by Letitia Wright, Aisha is a Nigerian asylum seeker fearing prosecution who fled home to Ireland after the brutal passing of her father and brother. 

The first seven minutes of the film evolve into recognising that even with the authenticity and grittiness of Letitia’s character, it’s impossible to overlook that Aisha is a stark depiction of the lousy hand that asylum seekers often deal with. 

Once I finished the film, and to dig deeper into the real experiences of black female asylum seekers, I spoke with Mariama and Thais, respectively, from West Africa and South America, who are currently waiting for their asylum claim decisions here in the UK and relate well to some of the experiences and symbolism covered in the film.

As the film rolls on, an avalanche of adversities seems to overwhelm Aisha. From missing her bus due to a prickly ID unpleasantry to the inability of the housing management to heat her meals or acknowledge her dietary requirements because of her religion, the list goes ruthlessly on, and it doesn’t end there.