About

Known credits:
30
Birthday:
1942-01-01
Place of birth:
Niger
Website:
N/A

Moustapha Alassane

Overview

Moustapha Alassane (1942–17 March 2015) was a Nigerien filmmaker.

Born in 1942 in N’Dougou (Niger), Moustapha Alassane graduated in mechanics. However, in the Rouch IRSH in Niamey he learned the cinematographic technique and thereafter became one of its main proponents. Jean Rouch provided for Alassane's education and accommodation in Canada, where he met the famous Norman McLaren, who taught him about animation.

He was the creator of the first animated films of the sub-Saharan Africa, also directing documentaries and fiction films. He was Head of Cinema Department at the Niamey University for 15 years.

Moustapha Alassane directed, in 1962, two shorts inspired in traditional tales: Aoure and La Bague du roi Koda. Representing African culture (e.g. in Deela ou el Barka le conteur, 1969 and Shaki, 1973), Alassane also employed moral satire (F.V.V.A., femme, villa, voiture, argent, 1972), denouncing the thirst for power for “new wealth” in Africa. Social criticism and black humour are in almost all of his films. Le Retour d'un aventurier (1966) is considered the first African western. The frog was his favourite animal and protagonist of most of his animated films, because Alassane believed it is funnier to animate frogs rather than humans.

His workshop was based in Tahoua. To work, Alassane used several materials, such as wood, metal or wire, glue, fabric or sponge.

Numerous retrospectives of Alassane's career have been made in several international film festivals.

Moustapha Alassane was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.

Known for

Acting
2014 Tahar Chériaa: A l'Ombre du Baobab Actor Self 58
Average
2008 Moustapha Alassane, Cineaste of the Possible Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1970 Little by Little Actor 59
Average

Directing
2001 Kokoa Directing Director N/A
N/A
1982 Agwane, mon village Directing Director N/A
N/A
1977 Samba the Great Directing Director 58
Average
1973 Shaki Directing Director 59
Average
1973 Toula, or the Genie of the Water Directing Director N/A
N/A
1972 Women Cars Villas Money Directing Director 58
Average
1966 Bon voyage, Sim Directing Director 58
Average
1966 Return of an Adventurer Directing Director 58
Average
1965 The Death of Gandji Directing Director N/A
N/A
1964 L’Arachide de Sanchira Directing Director N/A
N/A
1962 The Ring of King Koda Directing Director N/A
N/A
1962 The Wedding Directing Director N/A
N/A
1962 La Pileuse de Mil Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2001 Kokoa Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1977 Samba the Great Writing Writer 58
Average
1973 Toula, or the Genie of the Water Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1966 Bon voyage, Sim Writing Writer 58
Average
1966 Return of an Adventurer Writing Writer 58
Average
1965 The Death of Gandji Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
1966 Bon voyage, Sim Production Producer 58
Average

Camera
1973 Toula, or the Genie of the Water Camera Director of Photography N/A
N/A
1966 Return of an Adventurer Camera Director of Photography 58
Average
1966 Bon voyage, Sim Camera Director of Photography 58
Average
1964 L'Afrique et la recherche scientifique Camera Camera Operator N/A
N/A

Crew
1967 Mahauta: Les bouchers du Mawri Crew Cinematography N/A
N/A

Editing
1966 Bon voyage, Sim Editing Editor 58
Average

Visual Effects
1965 The Death of Gandji Visual Effects Animation N/A
N/A