General Information

Original Title

Les Tambours d'avant / Tourou et Bitti

Author/Creator

Rouch, Jean, director.

Published

France : CNRS/CFE, 1972.

Physical Description

VHS (09 min.)

Contents/Summary

Summary

The most important moment of a possession ritual, during the course of which men from the village of Simiri demand that the spirits of the wilderness protect the coming harvests from locusts. The orchestra is composed of archaic drums, tourou and bitti, which are played on that occasion. We see the outside of the priest Zima's terrain, then the sacrificial goat; then we penetrate into the dance arena where old Sambou is dancing without great conviction. The camera follows him and approaches the orchestra. Suddenly the drums stop beating. But the director continues filming. The lute resumes its solo; its player has "seen the spirit." Immediately Sambou enters into trance. He is possessed by the spirit Kure ("the butcher," "the hyena"). Then it is old Tusinyé Wasi's turn. She is possessed by the spirit Hadyo. Next we see the priests consulting the spirits, and the demand for a sacrifice. The film ends with a general view of the terrain, already invaded by darkness. Introduction by Bernard Surugue.

Subjects

Subject

France

Bibliographic Information

Title Translation

Tourou and Bitti: The Drums of the Past

Holdings

Item Type	Current Location	Call Number	Status	Shelving Location	Public Note
VHS	OSA Film Library	FL Record 1103c	Available		-