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Student shines light on 'the truth' of Moss Side

BBC Baka Bah filming with a camera outsideBBC
Manchester student Baka Bah is making a documentary about Moss Side

For years Moss Side has been burdened with an often negative reputation. This year alone has seen coverage of knife-crime and shootings in the area.

And whilst such stories help to highlight prevalent issues and their impact, together they add to the stereotype that Moss Side has today.

Baka Bah, a film student from Manchester Metropolitan University and a member of the community, is making a documentary to help to change the perception.

The Success of Moss Side will share the untold stories of resilience, altruism and support that have contributed to the growth of the neighbourhood.

He said: "I've literally typed in Moss Side on Google or YouTube and all I've seen is negative articles back-to-back.

"This documentary is a piece of hope to show you that there is more."

Baka Bah and his aunt Suwaidu Sanyang smile for the camera on a sunny day
The student filmmaker's documentary included his aunt's story

The 25-year-old said: "I want it to achieve the truth.

"I think the stigma that's behind it, is not the truth of Moss Side and hopefully the viewers can see it for themselves and just take it in for what it is and that's genuinely it."

The documentary will follow the lives of people in the area including Baka's aunt, Suwaidu Sanyang, and childhood football coach, Ahmed Yassin.

Suwaidu is the mother of Cheriff Tall, who was shot and killed aged 21 during a street party in 2020.

Suwaidu Sanyang smiles for a picture in her living room
Suwaidu Sanyang has lived in Moss Side for 25 years

During this time, Suwaidu said she was surrounded by the support of her community.

She said: "Every day they would come with food and drinks and everything and support me in that way.

"I couldn't have been here today without my community because I think they make me strong."

She added that whilst she was angry at what happened to her son, she was not angry at the community because of how supportive they have been.

"People need to hear about it, about Moss Side, they need to know that the community is the best."

Ahmed Yassin poses for a photograph wearing a black jacket and a cap.
Ahmed Yassin used to be Baka's football coach in Moss Side

Ahmed Yassin is a community leader and football coach.

He has trained teams in the area, and was so keen to help young people, he started a project which he called Manchester's best kept secret.

The 10-year project was started by Ahmed and his colleagues to use football as a tool to prevent anti-social behaviour and build community relationships with children and young people.

He said: "I've always known there was always talent and potential in the most deprived communities like Moss Side, Rusholme, where I'm from.

"Sadly, not enough were getting a level playing field so I embarked on a journey, a 10 year project. I call it Manchester's best kept secret."

For nine years in a row, his teams, who are aged nine to under 18s, won cup finals and some of the players went on to academies at Manchester United and Manchester City.

Ahmed added: "The area and the community gets a bad reputation but it's not the locals that are doing the crime sometimes and that's what's been saddening for me, personally, that we've not been able to tell our own stories."

Baka Bah smiling in front of his home in Moss Side
Baka Bah said the community helped him become the person he is today

The documentary is currently in the making and Baka has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money so the final project can be viewed at cinemas and he hopes to host an award ceremony to champion the community leaders in the piece.

He said the documentary would pay tribute to the "unsung heroes of Moss Side" and help paint a true picture of the area.

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