In the 1966 film Black Girl Sembene shows his feelings toward colonialism and racism. The women on the corner represent the Senegalese people and their want for something different. Some of the young women like Diouana dream of fancy lifestyles, being a nanny somewhere like Antibes, France. He shows that people thrown into cultures different from their own often have a difficult time adjusting and coping with the changes. The couple's idea of a nanny obviously differed from Diouana's idea of being a nanny. Just like in the colonialism of many nations throughout history the couple enticed her. She fantasized of a beautiful life in France when the woman gave her fancy clothes and shoes but when she got to Antibes she only cooked and cleaned and stayed inside the house.
I'm guessing that the mask represents Diouana's culture. It has sentimental value to her; much more than it could ever have to the couple. It hung in her house and was worn by her family members.When she gave it to the woman it was like offering a piece of herself. Since Diouana felt disrespected by the couple she wanted to take the mask because it meant so much to her. It was a part of her.
I understood Diouana's refusal to work for such a cold people but I think the suicide was a bit much. It was good for dramatic effect though. It shows that she was having an inward struggle of which life to choose; the one she had in Dakar or the one she had in Antibes. She was very familiar with life in Senegal and everything that she was taught about France did not seem to exist when she got there. Her frustration with two different worlds got the best of her.
As a black woman I definitely feel for the character Diouana. She kept asking "Who am I here?" which is a question I ask often. Sometimes I wonder if people see me as their equal. I know I am but the sad reality is that many people do not.