Drums from the Past

Drums from the Past — Plot

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.

• Release date
• January 1, 1971
• Runtime
• 9 min
• Genres
• Documentary
• Director
• Jean Rouch