Caught between his father’s dying wish, his responsibilities as a husband and his desire to carry on the traditional art of the griot, Sékou Timité travels through many African countries to study and hone his craft. For Sékou, the griot is a family legacy, a storyteller and keeper of ancestral memory who shares and passes on the legends of the past. But the griot is also an attentive listener, absorbing challenges faced by his peers and serving as both a beacon for the future and a guardian of history. This journey, dotted with an array of individuals and voices, draws connections between cinema, literature, music and the fundamental art of meeting people face to face, highlighting the importance of the griot, a way of life that the capitalist system has made difficult, yet more essential. (OM)

Quebec Premiere

Djeliya, mémoire du Mandé