Born on May 25, 1975, in Dakar, Senegal, Aïssa Maïga is a versatile French-Senegalese artist, recognized both for her acting talents and her activism.

Her career took off in the late 1990s. She became known to the general public in Les Poupées russes(2005) and was nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actress in 2007 for her remarkable performance inBamakoby Abderrahmane Sissako. Her filmography includes collaborations with renowned directors such as Michael Haneke (Caché) and appearances in international productions (The Boy Who Harnessed the Windon Netflix).

Beyond the screen, Aïssa Maïga is known for her commitment to better representation of diversity in cinema. She co-wrote the manifestoNoir n'est pas mon métier(Black is not myjob, 2018), denouncing discrimination and the lack of non-stereotypical roles for black and mixed-race actresses.

She has also stepped behind the camera to direct notable documentaries, includingRegard noir(exploring the representation of black women in cinema) andMarcher sur l’eau(on the climate crisis and access to water in the Sahel). An influential figure, she is also the patron of the NGO AMREF Africa.