FRANCE · 1971

Drums from the Past

Jean Rouch
French New Wave possession ritual percussion music spirit invocation locust plague trance dance
Trailer
Synopsis

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

Year1971
CountryFrance
DirectorJean Rouch
Drums from the Past poster

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