Souleymane Cissé: A Cinematic Icon Passes Away at 84

Souleymane Cissé, the esteemed Malian director and writer who revolutionized African filmmaking, has passed away at 84, leaving behind a legacy of impactful cinema.

Souleymane Cissé, a trailblazing filmmaker from Mali, died unexpectedly on Wednesday in Bamako at the age of 84. His passing was confirmed by longtime friend François Margolin, a French producer, who noted Cissé’s vigor moments before his death. Just hours earlier, he had participated in a news conference promoting the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) where he was slated to lead the jury.

Cissé gained international acclaim with his 1987 film “Yeelen,” which not only won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival but was also nominated as Best Foreign Film at the 1989 Spirit Awards. Celebrated filmmaker Martin Scorsese hailed “Yeelen” as one of the most enlightening cinematic experiences of his lifetime. Cissé was known for his relentless advocacy for African cinema and continued to work passionately until his final days, leaving a profound impact on the world of filmmaking and inspiring future generations.