[5] She was a member of the Commission for Educational Reform responsible for the introduction of African literature into the French syllabus in Senegal, before becoming director of La Propriété littéraire (The Literary Property) in Dakar (1979–88).

Her works are often concerned with social issues, such as poverty and corruption, and with her experience in both Paris and Senegal, she explores the many of traditions and cultures within both of these societies.

She played the part of Aunt Oumy in Djibril Diop Mambéty's classic 1973 road movie Touki Bouki.

With this experience of living and being educated in both non-Western Senegal and Western France, Sow Fall separated herself from other African writers, who, she expresses, often feel that they must situate themselves in relation to the West.

Her books include: The film Battu (2000) by director Cheick Oumar Sissoko is based on her novel La Grève des bàttu.