Yeelen (1987)

Film: Yeelen

Director: Souleymane Cissé

Country: Mali

Released: May 1987

Runtime: 105 minutes

Genre: Epic

Studio: CNCM

Influenced: Newton Aduaka, Jean-Pierre Bekolo, Cheick Oumar Sissoko, Awa Traoré, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun

Yeelen, roughly translated as Light or Brightness in English, is a seminal work in African cinema which has been widely praised for its unique blend of mythology, mysticism and political allegory. Souleymane Cissé's film is a part of the broader movement of Third Cinema, which aims to tell stories from a non-western perspective. Yeelen is based on a traditional Malian epic, handed down through generations, which director Souleymane Cissé was inspired to adapt into a film to showcase the richness of Malian culture and traditions. He intended to convey a universal story while preserving the unique cultural elements of Mali. Cissé's goal was to create a work that connected with both local and international audiences, while also addressing socio-political issues.

The film follows the journey of Niankoro, a young man with supernatural powers, as he seeks to escape the wrath of his sorcerer father, Soma. Niankoro possesses the power of "yeelen", which is a cosmic force representing light and knowledge. Soma, on the other hand, seeks to steal Niankoro's power for himself, believing it will make him invincible. As Niankoro embarks on his journey, he encounters various characters and experiences – there are lots of memorable scenes involving fire and many strange moment too, not least Niankoro's encounter with a masked man in a tree – each representing different aspects of the culture and tradition of the Bambara people of Mali. Many of the actors in Yeelen were non-professionals from Mali, contributing to the film's naturalistic performances and sense of authenticity.

Filming Yeelen presented numerous challenges for Cissé and his team, including working in remote locations and dealing with unpredictable weather conditions. The team's dedication to capturing the essence of the Malian landscape is such an important feature of the film's visual richness. Cissé also decided to make the film multilingual, with characters speaking Bambara, a Malian language, and French, the official language. This linguistic interplay reflects the cultural and historical context of Mali as a former French colony. The climax of the film involves a confrontation between Niankoro and Soma, with cosmic forces and traditional beliefs intertwined. The film ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that Niankoro's journey will continue and that the cosmic balance will be maintained.

Yeelen won the Jury Prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, helping to bring attention to African cinema on the international stage. But the film also faced censorship challenges upon its release. Some African governments were uncomfortable with its exploration of mysticism and allegory, viewing it as a veiled critique of political power. However, the film's international acclaim helped mitigate these challenges, and Yeelen went on to inspire a new generation of African filmmakers to explore their cultural heritage and create stories that resonate with their own experiences. Most importantly, the film serves as a document of Malian traditions, contributing to the preservation and recognition of the country's indigenous knowledge and practices.