Pioneering African filmmaker Souleymane Cissé dies aged 84
Souleymane Cissé leaves behind a rich cinematic legacy and a challenge for future generations to continue his work in elevating African storytelling on the world stage.
Malian film director Souleymane Cissé, a towering figure in African cinema, has passed away at the age of 84. His daughter, Mariam Cissé, confirmed his death at a clinic in Bamako, Mali's capital, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of a man who dedicated his life to storytelling through film.
"Papa died today in Bamako. We are all in shock. He dedicated all his life to his country, to cinema, and to art," Mariam Cissé said.
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The cause of his death has not been announced, but his passing marks the end of a career that spanned over five decades and left an indelible impact on African cinema.
Cissé was best known for his ground-breaking film “Yeelen” ("The Light"), which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987, making him the first Black African filmmaker to receive the prestigious award.
In recognition of his contributions to filmmaking, Cannes honoured him again in 2023 with the Carrosse d’Or, an award given to directors who have profoundly influenced cinema with their bold and uncompromising vision. In 2024, thieves stole this award from his home, but they later recovered it.
Tributes poured in following news of his death.
Fellow Malian director Boubacar Sidibé wrote on Facebook that Mali’s film industry was in "mourning."
The country’s Minister of Culture, Mamou Daffé, lamented the loss of "this monument of African cinema."
Meanwhile, the Film at Lincoln Centre in New York praised Cissé as "one of cinema's greats," highlighting Yeelen as a film that "catapulted African film to the world stage."
FESPACO prize
Cissé was one of only two filmmakers to have twice won the grand prize at Burkina Faso’s Panafrican Film and Television Festival (FESPACO), one of Africa’s most prestigious film festivals. He was scheduled to travel to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Thursday to chair the jury for the 29th edition of the festival, which begins on February 22.
Born in Bamako, Mali, Cissé spent part of his childhood in Senegal before studying film in Moscow, Russia.
As one of the first-generation African filmmakers, he was a passionate advocate for government investment in the film industry. He founded the Union of West African Cinema and Audiovisual Entrepreneurs to push for more local funding and infrastructure for African filmmakers.
Throughout his career, Cissé remained outspoken about the barriers faced by African cinema. He often criticised what he described as "censorship" and "contempt" preventing African films from gaining international distribution.
In his 2023 Cannes interview, he urged young African filmmakers to seek independence instead of relying on European financing.
Even in his final hours, he continued to advocate for the Malian film industry. Just hours before his passing, he made a passionate appeal to Mali’s military government, which has declared 2025 as the "Year of Culture."
"It is not enough to make cinema; the works must also be visible. May the authorities help us with the construction of cinemas," he said at a press conference on Wednesday morning. "This is the appeal I make to them before my death if God wills it."
Souleymane Cissé leaves behind a rich cinematic legacy and a challenge for future generations to continue his work in elevating African storytelling on the world stage.
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