ABDERRAHMANE SISSAKO: AFRICAN CINEMA’S AVANT-GARDE

Abderrahmane Sissako is a Mauritian- born Malian Director, Producer, Script writer and writer. He was born on October 13^th 1961. Shortly after his birth his family emigrated to Mali, his father’s country, where he completed part of his primary and secondary education. Sissako returned briefly to Mauritania his mother’s land, in 1980. He then left for Moscow, where he studied cinema at the VGIK (Federal State Film Institute) from 1983 to 1989. He later on settled in France at the beginning of the 1990s.

He began engaging in his career by 1993. He had a very long journey of consistency that brought him to where he is today.  His films illustrates and addresses globalization, identifies politics, and most controversially, Islamic radicalism- offering narratives about the realities of Africa, told through his images. His movies have been Cannes hits and one of his most popular films “Timbuktu” (2014) became a heavy competition for Best Foreign film at the 2015 “Oscars”. The documentary “Rostov-Luanda” (1998) by Sissako explored the relationships African countries forged with the world beyond those with its former colonisers.

Shot in October 1993, is a dark and near silent black and white film that explains the story of Idrissa, an African student, and Irina, his Russian girlfriend, and the difficulties of forming a relationship across the racial and cultural divides of the 1980s, between Moscow and Mali. This film also portrays Sissako’s admiration for the great Russian filmmakers.

Sissako’s is known for his talent in movies such as “Waiting for happiness” -(2002), “Timbuktu” -(2014), “Life on Earth” -(1998), “Bamako (The Court) -(2006)” and much more. His movies have been nominated severally in different movie awards.

 Abderrahmane Sissako has a special skill which isn’t always seen around. Due to his talent, he has also contributed in giving Africa a name.

Delia Nyadi