Les Tambours d'avant / Tourou et Bitti . Tourou and Bitti: The Drums of the Past
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...
| Other Authors: | |
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| Institution: | Open Society Archives at Central European University |
| Language: | French |
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CNRS/CFE
1972
France |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10891/osa:ca37565e-b085-446c-9fa7-6ced79f21e24 |
| 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. |
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| Published: | 1972 |