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.
• If the video does not load, change to another server.
• Use fullscreen for the best experience.
• Some sources may have different subtitle timing.
If one server does not work, switch to another server.
Tourou et Bitti: Les tambours d'avant
January 1, 1971
9m
6.4
Jean Rouch
Jean Rouch
9
Comité du film Éthnographique
FR
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
N/A
CNRS Images
FR
