EO : How did your family receive the news ? really don ’ t make time to look for regrets . SB : My family is fine . They have not been EO : It ’ s been really nice talking to you , Sayed . harmed in anyway . It ’ s all about me besides SB : Same here , brother . Cheers the government didn ’ t come out to declare me blacklisted . The people who told are not high ranking people but I don ’ t want to take a chance . EO : I know you have two children , are you into film making as well ? SB : No , none of them is . My son works with me in my private business and my daughter is an engineer . None of them chose my path – unfortunately . EO : What advise will you give to a young African film maker ? SB : Make a story and be honest . Forget about the stereotype . Embrace your story no matter how embarrassing it is . Don ’ t just shoot your assets ; show your liabilities as well . Africa is the mother of the world so we know how to tell stories . Tell your story in the most authentic way you can . EO : What ’ s your position on women empowerment in our society ? SB : Listen , I grew up with my mother and a sister so anything that ’ s good for women ; I ’ m down with it . EO : How does it feel being away from home for over 4 decades , do you miss home ? SB : Of course I miss home but home is from within . You can ’ t take Africa away from an African . EO : Do you feel fulfilled as a person ? SB : Listen , if the king of death comes for me now – I ’ m happy . My mother said before she died that there ’ s no scale of measure to see God . I have done well . Of course I ’ ve done a lot of wrongs in my life but at least now I know who I am and I ’ m happy . EO : You seem to be a very religious man … SB : I ’ m everything . I ’ m a religious man , I like women , I drink and smoke … but now I have kids so things have slowed down a bit . EO : Any regrets ? SB : No regrets . I ’ m still alive and living life . I
40 | Colossium . Ocotber 2020