Drums from the Past
6.8
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.
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Cast
4 people
Jean Rouch Director
First release January 1, 1971 · Produced in France · Production Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS Images
Production
Comité du film Éthnographique
Production
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Production
CNRS Images
Production
France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Tourou et Bitti: Les tambours d'avant
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
France · January 1, 1971
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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