Help Artists Robbed while Sleeping

After a really demanding, active year professionally and working nonstop around the clock, my girlfriend surprised me with a birthday trip to Senegal. As artists, we saw this journey as a way to set intentions for the new year and retreat while beginning research and development on the ground in Senegal for a personal project highlighting my family’s role in the revolution against the French across Francophone West Africa.

After a week of visiting family in Dakar, hearing their stories, taking portraits, and learning Senegal - we traveled to an Airbnb 30 miles outside of Dakar to Popenguine. Upon arriving, we were greeted by powerful ocean waves that we heard brushing against the shore. We chose our creative session in Popenguine because it is discreetly known as a peaceful village for artists. We planned to build community, write, plan, storyboard, and release. We were most excited to meet with village legends like Ayi Kwei Armah, founder of Per Ankh Publishing, a collective created for African writers to peacefully exchange knowledge and wealth.

All of that came to a sudden halt on the night of January 7th. We arrived at 8:00 pm and had dinner at 10 pm next door. We went to sleep at 1:00 am and we awoke at 4:00 am searching for my phone which was sitting on the nightstand right beside us. I checked the floor and under the bed. I immediately got up and turned on the light.

We started looking around the Airbnb with extreme caution turning on all the lights in the home. A simple 4 bedroom 1 level beach house with one entrance and exit, left me baffled as to who could be in the house beside us. After going to the other room where our belongings were - we noticed four of our luggage missing. I then walked to the front and saw the sliding door wide open.

I grabbed a kitchen knife and told Cherrelle to call the Airbnb host immediately. Police in that area do not work until 9 am. I searched the premises with her iPhone flash in pitch black and found our two suitcases on the side of an abandoned home. All of her stuff was on the floor and all of my gear was missing. While searching for our belongings, the reality started to set in - this could have been much worse.

Finally, two military officers came to our home to gather our information but did not search the premises for anything. My anger ensued as I struggled to maintain composure while speaking to the officers who were wasting our time, this led me to prayer. For someone to rob me at such a vulnerable time and space and to be so helpless in my sleep will continue to haunt me. Ultimately, I am glad that neither of us was hurt.

A lot of camera gear and equipment was stolen that we use to operate our businesses day to day. But, what is most irreplaceable are the interviews and portraits of my family that I hadn’t yet backed up.

Items stolen are valued at roughly $30,000:

- R5 Cannon Camera + Cannon Battery quick

- 256 Sandisk express card

- 70-200 mm RF lens

- 15-35 mm RF lens

- 24-70 mm EF lens

- 2 4TB Sandisk drives

- MacBook pro

- Mac book air

- 2 Ipad pros

- 2 apple watches

- 1 iPhone 14 pro max

The next few days were spent filing police reports, attempting to recenter, processing, and unsuccessfully searching for gear and electronics through airtags and "find my Iphone." We have an active case open with the Senagalese National Cyber Security Office.

Many folks were asking how they can help. I hate asking for anything but I've learned "if you want to go fast go alone if you want to go far go together."

To start the year, we’d love to be able to reclaim the items. For my birthday (Jan 16) I'd deeply appreciate any love and support you have in your heart to enable me to continue creating beautiful stories that elevate the culture.

I hope sharing this story, will help other filmmakers travel with caution. Remember you must notify your insurance for approval when traveling outside of the United States. Check your Airbnb during the day just in case you may have to pivot and if possible have a contact that lives in the area.