Drums from the Past

Drums from the Past

1971
9m
5.9

5.9/10

7 votes • View on IMDb
Documentary
Overview

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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Status: Released

Language: FR

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Production Information

Production Companies
Comité du film Éthnographique Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS Images
Production Countries
France
Spoken Languages
French

Keywords

dance ritual exorcism niger

Quick Facts

Original Title Tourou et Bitti: Les tambours d'avant
Release Date January 1, 1971
Status Released
Language FR
IMDb ID tt0210366

Cast

Key Crew

Jean Rouch
Director
Jean Rouch
Writer