Drums from the Past
HD
5.9
9 minFilmed in May 1971 in Niger, this short documentary records a possession ritual performed by the Simiri people in response to a locust invasion. The ceremony centers on the beating of the archaic drums Tourou and Bitti, used to invoke spirit forces through music, dance, and trance. Shot in a single continuous take, the film documents a concentrated moment of collective ritual practice, reflecting Jean Rouch’s first-person ethnographic approach and direct participation in the event.
Country:
FRGenre:
DocumentaryReleased:
1971-01-01Languages:
FrenchCompanies:
Comité du film ÉthnographiqueCentre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueCNRS Images