Drums from the Past

Tourou et Bitti an eight minute documentary concerning a ritual in Niger is yet another example of Rouchs excellence in creating documentaries which surpass the conventional documentary format Just as frightening and fascinating as Les maîtres fous this one goes straight into the roots of ancient African cultures in which music has an hypnotic effect being at the same time an exorcism and a public show Both the female and the male dancers are almost deities about to be unleashed Spectral and humanitarian