Drums from the Past
1971 · 9 min · Documentary
Filmed 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.
- Director
- Jean Rouch
- Writer
- Jean Rouch
- Released
- January 1, 1971
- Language
- French
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