OUR TEAM
RebelVZN was started in 2012 by by Ousman Sayeed Jarju and Muhammed Hakeem Mahoney, who are the joint creative leads for the company. The team also includes Jama Jack who writes, produces and manages communications and partnerships, and Marie Hellweg, the marketing manager.
OUSMAN SAYEED
JARJU
FOUNDER REBELVZN
PRODUCER | DIRECTOR | ACTOR
Ousman Jarju is a director, editor and screenwriter, with almost two decades of experience in producing, directing and editing TV commercials, music videos and other material for TV. He developed a passion for film and storytelling at a very young age and started acting on stage and writing skits on issues that affect young people in his community. He collaborated with his friend Muhammed Hakeem Mahoney to produce their first feature film, Calabash (2005), which he directed and acted as the lead character. Ousman took filmmaking courses at the London Film Academy (LFA), after which he wrote and directed a short film – Darkness Under The Sun (2012).
MUHAMMED HAKEEM MAHONEY
FOUNDER REBELVZN
PRODUCER | WRITER | ACTOR
Muhammed Hakeem Mahoney is an actor, producer and writer. He started acting at the age of 6 and
was part of many film productions in The Gambia. 2005 he wrote his first script for Calabash, which he also produced with his friend Ousman Jarju. Since then Muhammed had joined the British Army, which he left 4 years ago to study Drama at Loughborough University in the UK. He finished his Bachelor successfully and is now studying for his masters in Creative Writing. In Darkness Under The Sun Muhammed acted as one of the lead characters (2012).
JAMA JACK
WRITER | COMMUNICATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jama Jack is a writer, communications professional and feminist leader who has developed a niche for herself through her creative writing which focuses on addressing social issues.
She wrote "A Mother’s Plea", the original story for MÉBÉT in 2014. She joined RebelVZN in 2019, and brings her professional experience to lead communications and visibility efforts, as well as partnerships building and management for the company.
MARIE HELLWEG
PRODUCER | POST PRODUCTION MANAGER
MARKETING MANAGER
Marie Hellweg is a marketing and events manager, who recently joined RebelVZN as producer and post production manager.
Originally from Germany, she started her career organising cultural events, such as concerts, readings and screenings, whiles also being in charge of PR. In the last couple of years she extended her knowledge as a marketer, focusing on improving the customer journey and SEO performances.
“I am passionate about finding a way to reach people to make an impact with projects and ideas worth spreading.”