“Alhamdulillah” (meaning “praise be to God” or “thank God”) is the Arabic phrase that third-year film student Sanaa Liggans lays as the foundation of her creative success.
Sanaa Liggans, aka “Radiant Rage,” is making waves in the creative arts scene with her unique blend of filmmaking, photography, spoken word, and activism. Inspired by influential figures like Ava DuVernay and Antoine Fuqua, Radiant Rage has carved out a niche for herself by telling meaningful stories and challenging traditional perspectives.
Radiant Rage’s journey began in middle school, where she discovered her passion for media arts. With the encouragement of her parents and supportive instructors, she embraced various creative outlets, from broadcasting to scriptwriting. This early exposure worked in favor of her future entrepreneurial endeavors.
The name “Radiant Rage” reflects her identity. “Radiant” comes from her given name, Sanaa, while “Rage” symbolizes empowerment, despite its immediate connotation.
“When you think of rage, we think of anger and negative. But for me, I think more so of power and fierceness. I became Radiant Rage, and ever since then, it just fit me. Up until recently, I used to describe Radiant Rage as a separate persona. I stepped into her, but I’ve been trying to divert from that and intertwine with her, so it’s not like a separate entity. But I am Radiant Rage just as much as I am Sanaa.”
Radiant Rage’s creative versatility is evident in her exploration of various mediums. She has excelled in photography, videography, filmmaking, and spoken word, each offering its own rewards and challenges. “It’s a subjective thing, unlike science where you need to do these formulas in this way. If it means something to you, then that’s strong, that’s impactful.” She finds fulfillment in the different ways these mediums impact audiences, whether it is the immediate emotional connection of spoken word or the lasting impression of film.
Beyond her own artistic pursuits, Radiant Rage is a co-founder of the Freedom Future Collective, a creative arts incubator dedicated to social justice, artistic expression, and servicing young artists with essential resources to thrive. The collective formed after the unlawful homicide of George Floyd in 2020. Through her involvement in the collective, she has used her talents to collaborate with other artists, perform at community events, and work on projects that shine a light on global issues, such as the cobalt mining crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I’m actually going to New York [this week] to perform at the New York Climate Week under an organization that we have partnered with before. It is all about uplifting different artists, especially locally. I was excited to be one of the co-founders and one of the original members, because it really shows how to, one, work with clients, work with other people, and being the youngest at the time, work with those older than me. That strengthened me, to one take advice, but also be able to recognize I am the youngest and am still able to be in this space and act as such.”
Sanaa is actively learning how to stand in her power as a creator.
As with any artist, Radiant Rage has faced difficulties along the way. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, self-care, and remaining true to her passion. Looking ahead, Radiant Rage aims to expand the versatility of her portfolio, network with industry professionals, and continue to craft meaningful and innovative work.
With ambitious excitement for future ventures (that shall be revealed soon), she extends her hand to younger artists — “Don’t compare yourself. Every single piece you do, everything that you do, should mean something to you.”
May Sanaa’s radiance continue to rage.
I Am, a series dedicated to the entrepreneurs & pioneering creatives of Stevenson University.
