Drums from the Past (1971)

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.

Released

1971-01-01

Genres

Documentary

Runtime

9 min

Status

Released

Directed / written by

Jean Rouch

TMDB rating

6.3/10 from 10 votes