Ceddo (1977)

In protest of forced conversion to Islam, the Ceddo (outsiders) kidnap King Demba War's daughter Princess Dior Yacine and hold her hostage.

Director:

Ousmane Sembene

Writer:

Ousmane Sembene

Stars:

Tabata Ndiaye, Alioune Fall, Moustapha Yade

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tabata Ndiaye	...	Princess Dior Yacine (as Tabara Ndiaye)
Alioune Fall	...	Fall the Seed of the Dynasty
Moustapha Yade	...	Madior Fatim Fall
Matoura Dia	...	The King
Ismaila Diagne	...	The Ceddo Kidnapper (as Mamadou N'Diaye Diagne)
Ousmane Camara	...	Fara Diogomay the Elder Ceddo / Ousmane
Nar Modou	...	Mugis / Saxewar the Warrior
Makhouredia Gueye	...	King Demba War Thioub
Mamadou Dioumé	...	Prince Biram Ngone Thioub (as Mamadou Dioum)
Omar Gueye	...	Jaraaf the King's Mediator (as Oumar Gueye)
Mamadou Sy
Mody Gueye
Samba Touré
Serigne N'Diaye
Pierre Orma	...	The Priest

Storyline

The Ceddo try to preserve their traditional African culture against the onslaught of Islam, Christianity, and the slave trade. When King Demba War sides with the Muslims, the Ceddo kidnap his daughter, Princess Dior Yacine, to protest their forcible conversion to Islam. After trying to rescue the princess, various heirs to the throne are killed, and the King is murdered during the night. Eventually the kidnappers are killed and the princess is brought back to the village to confront the Imam, as all the villagers are being given Muslim names.

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Plot Keywords:

violence | ambush | pagan | paganism | religion | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The end credits mention Présence Africaine as the publishing house, presumably for the movie's story or screenplay, that was then usually published with a film's release. Either due to the original ban in Senegal or other reasons, this was not published.

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Goofs

The action sets at the end of seventeenth century but the umbrella over the imam, when he is on the throne, is clearly contemporary.

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Connections

Referenced in L'envers du décor (1980)

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Soundtracks

I'Il Make It Home Someday
(branding of slaves scene)
Written and interpreted by Arthur Simms

User Reviews

A Satire Directed At Everyone

It's some time .... well, it looks like it's early 19th century, but there are lots of outliers in garb. There are new folks around, and the slave-traders, Christians and a short Muslim imam are competing for dominance. The king has turned Muslim and orders everyone to convert, but the Ceddo, traditionalist animists not only resist, but kidnap the royal princess. There's a council in which claimants argue over who gets to rescue her, but the guy guarding her has no problem with them.

It was banned by Senegal because it wasn't respectful of Islam. To my eye, it didn't like anyone.

It's a little slow, although whether because director Sembene had a lot of things to say and felt a need to pound them into the audience, or because he wished his audience to be annoyed with all his characters, I cannot say. Sembene directs this one with a strong composition. In my review of his earlier SEMITAI, I noted that his compositions were loose, more groupings by color than framing. With this movie, he moves in the opposite direction, rarely using the entire frame, but clearly marking off the portion he wanted to use.

Details

Country:

Senegal France

Language:

Wolof Arabic English Dyula

Release Date:

1984 (Senegal)

Also Known As:

Outsiders

Filming Locations:

Ndang, Thiès, Senegal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmi Domirev, Ministère de la Coopération

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)