Drums from the Past
Tourou et Bitti: Les tambours d'avant
Watch drums from the past YMovies. 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.
- Genre: Documentary
- Country: France
- Director: Jean Rouch
- Cast:
