Souleymane Cissé, Pioneering Malian Filmmaker, Passes Away at 84

Cissé's influential work is remembered for its celebration of storytelling and cultural pride.

Souleymane Cissé, the renowned Malian filmmaker known for groundbreaking contributions to African cinema, died on Wednesday at his home in Bamako, Mali, at the age of 84. His passing was confirmed by François Margolin, a film producer and close associate of Cissé.

Just before his death, Cissé attended a press conference where he presented two awards in preparation for the upcoming Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, or Fespaco, where he was set to serve as jury president. Margolin recounted that Cissé was in high spirits during the conference, engaging with attendees in a lively manner before retiring for a nap and passing away peacefully.

Cissé gained international acclaim following the 1987 release of his film "Yeelen" ("Light" in Bambara), which won the Jury Prize at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and earned a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the 1989 Spirit Awards. Esteemed director Martin Scorsese described "Yeelen" as “one of the great revelatory experiences of my moviegoing life.”

Throughout his life, Cissé remained dedicated to his craft, continuing to travel and work on projects up until his final moments, leaving a lasting impact on the global film community and his home country of Mali.