Drums from the Past

Tourou et Bitti: Les tambours d'avant

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.

Production

Comité du film Éthnographique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS Images