Cinema of Burkina Faso
Encyclopedia
The cinema of Burkina Faso
is one of the more significant in Africa
, with a history that spans several decades and includes the production of many award-winning films.
n and Africa
n film industry. Burkina's contribution to African cinema started with the establishment of the film festival FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévison de Ouagadougou), which was launched as a film week in 1969 and gained government support and permanent structures in 1972. It is largest film exhibition venue in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than half a million attendants and takes place in odd numbered years in March. Burkina is also one of the countries producing most feature films in Africa. Many of the nation's filmmakers are known internationally and have won international prizes. For many years the headquarters of the Federation of Panafrican Filmmakers (FEPACI) was in Ouagadougou
, rescued in 1983 from a period of moribund inactivity by the enthusiastic support and funding of President Sankara (In 2006 the Secretariat of FEPACI moved to South Africa but the headquarters of the organization is still in Ouagaoudougou). Between 1977 and 1987 Burkina Faso housed a regional film school Institut d'Education Cinématographique de Ouagadougou (INAFEC), which was instigated by FEPACI and funded in part by UNESCO, but eighty percent of its funding came from the government of Burkina Faso (no other African country participated in its funding and few sent students).
Many films shot in Burkina Faso by local directors have found distribution in Francophone
Europe and several have received assistance from the French Ministry of Co-operation. However, while these films have won awards in Europe and are regularly featured in African Studies courses, in Africa itself they are little known outside of academic circles.
(FESPACO) every two years in Ouagadougou
, Burkina Faso's capital.
In 2005, director Gaston Kaboré
, who won the top prize at FESPACO in 1997 for his film Buud Yam
, opened a training school for new filmmakers in Ouagadougou. The school, named Imagine, was built with millions of CFA
of Kaboré's own money and opened its doors for the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou 2005.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
is one of the more significant in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, with a history that spans several decades and includes the production of many award-winning films.
History
The cinema of Burkina Faso is an important part of the history of the post-colonial West AfricaWest Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n film industry. Burkina's contribution to African cinema started with the establishment of the film festival FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévison de Ouagadougou), which was launched as a film week in 1969 and gained government support and permanent structures in 1972. It is largest film exhibition venue in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than half a million attendants and takes place in odd numbered years in March. Burkina is also one of the countries producing most feature films in Africa. Many of the nation's filmmakers are known internationally and have won international prizes. For many years the headquarters of the Federation of Panafrican Filmmakers (FEPACI) was in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, rescued in 1983 from a period of moribund inactivity by the enthusiastic support and funding of President Sankara (In 2006 the Secretariat of FEPACI moved to South Africa but the headquarters of the organization is still in Ouagaoudougou). Between 1977 and 1987 Burkina Faso housed a regional film school Institut d'Education Cinématographique de Ouagadougou (INAFEC), which was instigated by FEPACI and funded in part by UNESCO, but eighty percent of its funding came from the government of Burkina Faso (no other African country participated in its funding and few sent students).
Today's cinema
In the late 1990s, local private production companies began to proliferate and digital production became increasingly prevalent. By 2002 over twenty-five small production companies existed in the country, many pooling their resources and expertise in order to produce. The best known directors from Burkina Faso are: Mamadou Djim Kola, Gaston Kaboré, Kollo Daniel Sanou, Paul Zoumbara, Emmanuel Kalifa Sanon, Pierre S. Yameogo, Idrissa Ouedraogo, Drissa Toure, Dani Kouyate, and Régina Fanta Nacro. Burkina also produces popular television series such as Bobodjiouf. The internationally known filmmakers such as Ouedraogo, Kabore, Yameogo, and Kouyate make also popular television series.Distribution
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
Europe and several have received assistance from the French Ministry of Co-operation. However, while these films have won awards in Europe and are regularly featured in African Studies courses, in Africa itself they are little known outside of academic circles.
Festivals and schools
Burkina Faso hosts the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of OuagadougouPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou is the largest African film festival, held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The festival is the biggest regular cultural event on the African continent and it mostly focuses on the African film and African filmmakers...
(FESPACO) every two years in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, Burkina Faso's capital.
In 2005, director Gaston Kaboré
Gaston Kaboré
Gaston Kaboré is a Burkinabé film director and an important figure in Burkina Faso's film industry. He has won awards for his films Wend Kuuni and Buud Yam.-Biography:Kaboré was born in 1951 in Bobo-Dioulasso in Upper Volta....
, who won the top prize at FESPACO in 1997 for his film Buud Yam
Buud Yam
Buud Yam is a 1997 Burkinabé historical drama film written and directed by Gaston Kaboré. As of 2001, it was the most popular African film ever in Burkina Faso.-Plot:...
, opened a training school for new filmmakers in Ouagadougou. The school, named Imagine, was built with millions of CFA
CFA
-Science and technology:* Cfa is one of two symbols for the Humid subtropical climate under the Köppen climate classification system* cfa is the file extension for an Adobe Premiere Pro audio file...
of Kaboré's own money and opened its doors for the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou 2005.
Major feature films
- YaabaYaabaYaaba is a 1989 Burkinabé drama film written, produced, and directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo. It won the Sakura Gold prize at the 1989 Tokyo Film Festival.-Plot:The film is set in a small African village...
(1989), directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo. - TilaïTilaïTilaï is a 1990 award-winning Burkinabé drama film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo. It premiered at the 1990 Toronto Film Festival.-Plot:...
(1990), directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo. - Buud YamBuud YamBuud Yam is a 1997 Burkinabé historical drama film written and directed by Gaston Kaboré. As of 2001, it was the most popular African film ever in Burkina Faso.-Plot:...
(1997), directed by Gaston KaboréGaston KaboréGaston Kaboré is a Burkinabé film director and an important figure in Burkina Faso's film industry. He has won awards for his films Wend Kuuni and Buud Yam.-Biography:Kaboré was born in 1951 in Bobo-Dioulasso in Upper Volta....
. - Kini and AdamsKini and AdamsKini and Adams is a 1997 Burkinabé drama film directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo. It was filmed in Zimbabwe in the English language.-Plot:Two friends, Kini and Adams, live as poor farmers in a rural South African community...
(1997), directed by Idrissa OuedraogoIdrissa OuedraogoIdrissa Ouedraogo is a film director from Burkina Faso. He is best known for his films Yaaba and Tilaï.-Biography:...
. - Garba (1998), directed by Adama Roamba.
- Silmande Tourbillon (1998), directed by S.PierreYamégo.
- Le Truc De Konate (1998), directed by Fanta Regina NacroFanta Régina NacroFanta Régina Nacro is a film director from Burkina Faso. She received her first degree in audiovisual science and techniques from INAFEC in 1986 and also earned a Master’s Degree in Film and Audiovisual Studies at the Sorbonne....
. - DelwendeDelwendeDelwende is a 2005 Burkinabé drama film directed by S. Pierre Yameogo. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Prize of Hope award.-Cast:* Blandine Yaméogo - Napoko* Claire Ilboudo - Pougbila...
("get up and walk") (2005), directed by S. Pierre YameogoS. Pierre YameogoS. Pierre Yameogo is a Burkinabé film director and screenwriter. He has directed six films since 1987. His film Delwende was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Prize of Hope award....
.
Sources
- Mahir Şaul and Ralph Austen, eds. Viewing African Cinema in the Twenty-First Century: Art Films and the Nollywood Video Revolution, Ohio University Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8214-1931-1
External links
- Burkinabé film at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...