Keïta! l'Héritage du griot
Encyclopedia
Keïta! l'Héritage du griot (English title: Keita! Voice of the Griot ) is a 1995
Burkinabé
drama film
directed by Dani Kouyaté
and starring Sotigui Kouyaté
.
and attends a geed school. One day he encounters Djeliba Kouyate (Kouyate), an elderly griot
who wants to tell the young Keïta the origin of his name, being related to Sundata (Boro). Kouyate begins his story with the Mandeng creation myth: As all living beings come together in the newly-formed Earth, one man proclaims to the masses that he wants to be their king. They respond, "We do not hate you." The old griot goes on to tell how Keita's family are descended from buffalo, the blackbirds are always watching him, and how people have roots that are deep in the earth. The film shows realistic-looking flashbacks to ancient times and ends with Sundjata Keita being exiled from the Kingdom of Mande, to which he lays claim.
, Sindou
, and Ouahabou
.
(Fespaco) and was awarded the Junior Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
. The New York Times
praised the film, claiming it "succeeds admirably in keeping... history alive." In a 1995 interview, Kouyate reflected on the experience and commenting on traditional society, saying:
1995 in film
-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
Burkinabé
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Dani Kouyaté
Dani Kouyaté
Dani Kouyaté is a film director and griot from Burkina Faso, which BBC describes as "Africa's most important film-making country".-Biography:...
and starring Sotigui Kouyaté
Sotigui Kouyaté
Sotigui Kouyaté was one of the first Burkinabé actors. He was the father of film director Dani Kouyatéand was a member of the Mandinka ethnic group....
.
Cast
- Seydou Boro: Sundjata Keita
- Hamed Dicko: Mabo Keïta
- Abdoulaye Komboudri: Drissa Fafana
- Sotigui KouyatéSotigui KouyatéSotigui Kouyaté was one of the first Burkinabé actors. He was the father of film director Dani Kouyatéand was a member of the Mandinka ethnic group....
: Djeliba Kouyate - Claire Sanon: Sitan
- Blandine Yaméogo: Sogoton
Plot
Keita is a retelling of the first third of Sundjata Keita's 13th century epic, Sundjata. It tells of Mabo Keïta (Dicko), a thirteen-year-old boy who lives in a middle-class family in OuagadougouOuagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
and attends a geed school. One day he encounters Djeliba Kouyate (Kouyate), an elderly griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
who wants to tell the young Keïta the origin of his name, being related to Sundata (Boro). Kouyate begins his story with the Mandeng creation myth: As all living beings come together in the newly-formed Earth, one man proclaims to the masses that he wants to be their king. They respond, "We do not hate you." The old griot goes on to tell how Keita's family are descended from buffalo, the blackbirds are always watching him, and how people have roots that are deep in the earth. The film shows realistic-looking flashbacks to ancient times and ends with Sundjata Keita being exiled from the Kingdom of Mande, to which he lays claim.
Production
Dani Kouyaté directed a number of short films before the release of Keita, his first full-length feature. The film's working title was Keita: From Mouth to Ear. It was shot in the towns of OuagadougouOuagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, Sindou
Sindou
Sindou is a town located in the province of Léraba in Burkina Faso. It is the capital of Léraba Province and the Sindou Department.Sindou is a simple but lively town, with roadside kiosks, and stalls that serve rice...
, and Ouahabou
Ouahabou
Ouahabou is a town in the Boromo Department of Balé Province in south-western Burkina Faso. The town has a population of 5601.-External links:*...
.
Reception
Keïta! received the Best First Film Prize from the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of OuagadougouPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou is the largest African film festival, held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The festival is the biggest regular cultural event on the African continent and it mostly focuses on the African film and African filmmakers...
(Fespaco) and was awarded the Junior Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
praised the film, claiming it "succeeds admirably in keeping... history alive." In a 1995 interview, Kouyate reflected on the experience and commenting on traditional society, saying: