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Achouackh Abakar Souleymane

Achouackh Abakar Souleymane is a Chadian actor known for Lingui, the Sacred Bonds and for playing Aya in Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars.

Biography

After a small debut in GriGris, Souleymane led Lingui and reunited with director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun for the FIPRESCI-winning Soumsoum.

Souleymane plays Aya, an exiled woman who befriends Kellou in Soumsoum, following her acclaimed performance as the mother Amina in Lingui.

Known for

Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars

She plays Aya in Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's 2026 feature.[3]

Lingui, the Sacred Bonds

She plays Amina in the 2021 Cannes competition film.[1][2]

Career highlights

  1. Soumsoum Role

    She plays Aya in Soumsoum

    Aya gives shelter and companionship to Kellou after the teenager is rejected by her village.[3][5]

  2. Fipresci

    Soumsoum won the 2026 Berlinale competition FIPRESCI prize

    The critics' award belongs to the film and is not represented as a personal acting prize.[6]

  3. Lingui

    Lingui was her first leading film role

    Souleymane played Amina, a single mother protecting her teenage daughter in N'Djamena.[1][7][2]

  4. Grigris

    Her first screen appearance was in GriGris

    Haroun cast her in a small role while she was working with the film's costume team.[8][7]

  5. Before Film

    She came to film after journalism and other work

    Souleymane studied journalism and built an adult working life before acting became a sustained part of her career.[7][8]

Good to know

Born in 1981

Achouackh Abakar Souleymane was born on December 2, 1981.[4][2]

She is a Chadian actor

Cannes, Unifrance and direct interviews consistently identify her with Chad.[1][3][8]

Before acting

Before her film career, Achouackh Abakar Souleymane studied journalism, worked in fashion in the United States and later returned to Chad.[8][7]