A Deusa Negra is a love story that spans two centuries. In 18th century Yorubaland, Prince Oluyole is taken prisoner in the course of internecine warfare fanned by overseas slave traders. He is sold into slavery in Brazil. In present day Nigeria, at his father's deathbed, the young Babatunde promises to go to Brazil and search for traces of their once-enslaved ancestors. Beginning with a Candomblé ritual, his journey takes him ever deeper into this culture and, in a dream-like sequence, affords him a deeper understanding of his ancestors' suffering and powers of resistance. Balogun effortlessly links present with past, real with magical worlds and discourse with trance. The hypnotic atmosphere is also heightened by the music of the Nigerian drummer Remi Kabaka, which plays with repetitive patterns and distortions.
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Cast
22 people
Zózimo Bulbul
Also in
The Girl and the Rapist
Soul in the Eye
Antônio Pitanga
Known for
The Clone
Perfect Love
Jece Valadão
Ola Balogun
Also in
Heaven is Hot
Milton Vilar
Also in
Os Gigantes
O Semideus
Jorge Coutinho
Known for
O Concurso
Clementino Kelé
Also in
Precious Pearl
Little Missy
Emmanuel Cavalcanti
Known for
Antonio das Mortes
Bye Bye Brazil
Ivan de Almeida
Known for
The Slave Isaura
Carandiru
Sonia Santos
Also in
A Filha do Silêncio
Cabaret Mineiro
Roberto Pirillo
Known for
Rulers of Fortune
Léa Garcia
Known for
The Clone
Black Orpheus
Ola Balogun Director · Remi Kabaka Composer Philippe Gosselet Editor
United States release April 18, 1980 · Produced in Brazil, Nigeria · Production Magnus Filmes
Production
Afrocult Foundation
Production
Magnus Filmes
Production
Brazil · Nigeria
Produced in
Languages
Original title
A Deusa Negra
Original language
Portuguese
Spoken on screen
Portuguese
Release dates
Nigeria · January 1, 1978
Theatrical
United States · April 18, 1980
New York New Directors and New Films Festival
France
January 1, 1979 · Nantes Festival of 3 Continents
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Some details come from TheTVDB.