The Drums of the Past

The Drums of the Past

12 mins | Documentary | Jan. 1, 1971

"Tourou et Bitti", an eight minute documentary concerning a ritual in Niger, is yet another example of Rouch's excellence in creating documentaries which surpass the conventional documentary format. Just as frightening and fascinating as "Les maîtres fous", this one goes straight into the roots of ancient African cultures, in which music has an hypnotic effect, being at the same time an exorcism and a public show. Both the female and the male dancers are almost deities about to be unleashed... Spectral and humanitarian.

The Drums of the Past

12 mins | Documentary | Jan. 1, 1971

The Drums of the Past
"Tourou et Bitti", an eight minute documentary concerning a ritual in Niger, is yet another example of Rouch's excellence in creating documentaries which surpass the conventional documentary format. Just as frightening and fascinating as "Les maîtres fous", this one goes straight into the roots of ancient African cultures, in which music has an hypnotic effect, being at the same time an exorcism and a public show. Both the female and the male dancers are almost deities about to be unleashed... Spectral and humanitarian.
Producers CNRS Images, Comité du film Éthnographique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Original title Tourou et Bitti: Les tambours d'avant
Directors Lam Dia-Hama, Jean Rouch
Writers Jean Rouch

Cast