Souleymane Cisse, a revered director in African cinema, has died at the age of 84. His daughter announced his passing, expressing shock and acknowledging his dedication to cinema and art. Cisse's notable film, Yeelen, won the jury's prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987, marking a significant achievement as the first African film to receive such recognition. His legacy includes a commitment to storytelling that reflects deep humanism and political engagement. In 2023, he received the Carrosse d'Or at Cannes, an accolade celebrating his impactful contributions to cinema.
'Papa died today in Bamako. We are all in shock. He dedicated all his life to his country, to cinema and to art,' Mariam Cisse said.
Cisse won the jury's prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival for Yeelen (Brightness), which draws on legends from west Africa's Bambara people.
Fellow Malian director Boubacar Sidibe said in a message on Facebook that the Sahel country's film industry was in mourning, while Minister of Culture Mamou Daffe lamented the loss of this monument of African cinema.
The Film at Lincoln Center non-profit also praised Cisse as one of cinema's greats, citing his work, Yeelen, for catapulting African film to the world stage.
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