Renowned Malian film director Souleymane Cissé passed away on February 19, 2025, in Bamako, the same day he expressed his gratitude for being appointed president of the FESPACO 2025 feature film jury.
His death has deeply saddened the world of cinema and beyond.
Moussa Faki Mahama, outgoing Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, expressed his heartfelt condolences, stating, “The continent has lost one of its greatest visionaries, an artist whose work transcended borders and influenced world cinema.” Mahama particularly praised Cissé’s masterpiece, Yeelen, saying it “reshaped the landscape of world cinema” and championed Africa’s cultural values.
Born in Bamako in 1940, Cissé, a graduate of the Moscow Institute of Advanced Film Studies, made a powerful entry into African cinema with his first feature film, Den Muso (1975). Despite the film being banned and his subsequent imprisonment, Cissé remained committed to his artistic vision, creating impactful films such as Baara (1978) and Finye (1982), which earned him the prestigious Etalon de Yennenga at FESPACO.
His magnum opus, Yeelen (1987), a profound exploration of Bambara spirituality, earned him the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, a historic achievement that made him the first sub-Saharan African filmmaker to win an award at the prestigious event. In 2023, he received the Carrosse d’Or at Cannes for his lifetime contribution to cinema, an award that was stolen from his home in April 2024 before being recovered.
Souleymane Cissé leaves behind a powerful legacy of socially conscious films that addressed issues ranging from the condition of women to student struggles against military regimes, always championing African cultural values. Moussa Faki Mahama acknowledged the immeasurable contribution he made to the continent and the world.
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