Bamako, Mali – Renowned Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cisse, celebrated as a cornerstone of African cinema, has passed away at the age of 84. Cisse, whose visionary work has left an indelible mark on the world of film, breathed his last on Wednesday in his home city of Bamako, according to his daughter.
Mariam Cisse, the director’s daughter, shared the news of her father’s passing with a heavy heart, noting his lifelong dedication to his nation, the cinematic arts, and broader cultural pursuits. Souleymane Cisse’s death is being mourned deeply within the Mali community and by admirers across the globe, she said.
The filmmaker’s distinguished career was highlighted in 1987 when he received the Jury’s Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his movie “Yeelen” (“Brightness”), a narrative steeped in the folklore of West Africa’s Bambara people. This marked a significant moment not only for Cisse but for African cinema on the international stage.
In a remarkable recognition of his enduring influence on the cinematic world, Cannes again honored Cisse in 2023 with the Carrosse d’Or, an accolade bestowed upon filmmakers who significantly shape cinema with daring and visionary craftsmanship. A bizarre incident saw this award stolen from his home in 2024 but fortunately recovered soon after.
Tributes have poured in for Cisse, reflecting the profound impact of his work. Boubacar Sidibe, a fellow Malian director, expressed the collective grief of the local film industry, deducing it as a period of mourning. Mali’s Minister of Culture, Mamou Daffe, referred to Cisse as a monumental figure in African cinema.
His influence extended to the Panafrican Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso, where he stands as one of only two filmmakers to have won the grand prize twice, underscoring the significant role he played in shaping the festival’s reputation as one of Africa’s most illustrious film events.
Scheduled to preside over the features jury at the upcoming 29th edition of FESPACO, Cisse was set to depart for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, just a day after his death.
In his last public statements made during a press conference on the morning of his passing, Cisse passionately spoke about the need for Mali to bolster its film industry infrastructure to compete with other African nations and urged the country’s military leaders to facilitate this growth. His lifelong commitment to cinema was intertwined closely with advocacy for enhancing visibility and access to African films which, according to him, often faced censorship and distribution challenges globally.
As tributes continue to reflect on Cisse’s body of work, his legacy is remembered not just in the compelling stories he told but in his unyielding commitment to cultural expression and the advocacy for African cinema on the world stage.
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