On Wednesday, February 19, the world of cinema lost one of his most emblematic figures:, Malíense and pioneer filmmaker, he died at age 84 in Bamako ,. His death occurred a few days before he presided over the feature jury in the 29th edition of the Pan -African Film and Television Festival of Uagadugú (), which will open this weekend in the capital of.
Born on April 21, 1940 in Bamako, then part of French Sudan, Cissé grew up in a Muslim family. His passion for cinema manifested from an early age. After completing his secondary studies in Dakar, Senegal, he returned to Mali in 1960, coinciding with the independence of the country. His interest in the seventh art led him to obtain a scholarship to study at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow, where he trained in cinema and television.
Upon his return to Mali in 1970, Cissé joined the Ministry of Information as a cameraman, producing documentaries and short films. In 1973, he directed his first midfielder, Five days of a lifetime (“Five days of a life”), who tells the story of a young man who leaves a Koranic school and becomes a small street criminal. This work was presented at the Carthage Film Festival, marking the start of a committed and bold film race.
In 1975, Cissé directed his first feature film in the Bambara language, Den Muso (“The girl”), who tells the story of a young silent who is raped and subsequently rejected by her family and the father of the boy who expects. The film was prohibited by the Ministry of Culture of Mali, and Cissé under the accusation of accepting French financing, although a clear reason for its arrest was never provided. During his time in prison, he wrote the script of his next film, Work (“The work”), which would be released in 1978 and won the prestigious Yennenga Étalon Prize in that of that year.
Cissé’s filmography continued with white (“The wind”) In 1982, a work that portrays the dissatisfaction of the Malíense youth and its rebellion against the established system. This film earned him his second Etalon from Yennenga in the 1983 fespaco. However, it was in 1987 when he reached international recognition with Yelen (“La Luz”), a film inspired by the Bambara legends that explores the relationship between a young man and his father in the context of African tradition and magic. Yelen He won the jury award at the 1987 Cannes Festival, turning Cissé into black to receive an award at that festival.
Throughout his career, Cissé stood out for his commitment to the authentic representation of the, moving away from external and ethnographic perceptions. In an interview for Cahiers du Cinéma, he said Yelen It was “partly made in opposition to European ethnographic films” and that sought to respond to “an external perception, a perception of white technicians and academics, an alien perception.”
In addition to his work as director and screenwriter, Cissé was president of the Union of Creators and Businessmen of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts of Western Africa (UCECAO), playing a crucial role in the development and promotion of African cinema. In 2023, he received the prestigious Carrosse d’Or award at the Cannes Festival, in recognition of his courage and influence in the film world.
The news of his death has generated numerous signs of regret throughout the African continent and in the international film community. Moussa Faki Mahamat, president of the Commission, said in his account of the social network X that “the continent has lost one of its most powerful visionaries of our cinematographic cultural heritage. His 1987 masterpiece, Yelenhelped reconfigure world cinema. ”
His daughter, Mariam Cissé, said family shock in the face of the loss: “Dad died today in Bamako. We are all in shock. He dedicated his whole life to his country, cinema and art. ”
Souleymane Cissé leaves an indelible legacy in the history of African and world cinema. His courage to address social and political issues, his dedication to cultural authenticity and his narrative mastery continue to inspire filmmakers and cinema lovers worldwide. His departure represents a deep loss, but his work will endure as a testimony of his creative genius and his commitment to humanity.
The FCAT Rate of Tarifa Film Festival will pay a special tribute in its next edition to this large of the neighboring continent whose works never missing in our programming.
