Moustapha Alassane: Program 1

The Wexner Center is proud to participate in the first-ever touring retrospective of pioneering Nigerian filmmaker Moustapha Alassane. Alassane’s career spanned four decades, and his work reflects the political climate of his time, often critiquing both European colonialism and local corruption. This series is but a sample of his diverse output, which ranged from animation and narrative films to ethnographic works and reflected the influence of such filmmakers as Jean Rouch and Norman McLaren.

Organized by the French Embassy, New York, and The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Moustapha Alassane, Cineaste of the Possible
(Moustapha Alassane, cinéaste du possible, Christian Lelong and Maria Silvia Bazzoli, 2008)

Alassane reminisces about his career in this captivating portrait of the pioneering director. (90 mins., beta SP)

Aoure
(1962)

This hybrid documentary chronicles the life of a young married Zharma (ethnic Muslim) couple living in the Niger River Valley. (30 mins., 16mm)

The Ring of King Koda
(La bague du roi Koda, 1962)

Alassane brings to life the Zharma legend of King Koda who, in order to test the loyalty of a subject, asks him to guard one of his rings for a year. (24 mins., 16mm)

Program: 2 hours, 24 mins.