Moustapha Alassane Photo

Moustapha Alassane

Directing

0.1 Popularity Jan 01, 1942 (73 years old) Niger

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 ...

Biography

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.

Filmography 31

2001
Kokoa Movie

Director

2001
Kokoa Movie

Writer

1982
Agwane, mon village Movie

Director

1977
Samba the Great Movie

Director

1977
Samba the Great Movie

Writer

1973
Shaki Movie

Director

1973
Toula, or the Genie of the Water Movie

Director of Photography

1972
1967
1966
1966
1966
Bon voyage, Sim Movie

Editor

1966
Bon voyage, Sim Movie

Director of Photography

1966
Bon voyage, Sim Movie

Producer

1966
Bon voyage, Sim Movie

Director

Photos 1

Moustapha Alassane Photo

Personal Details

Known For Directing
Gender Male
Birthday January 01, 1942 (73 years old)
Died March 17, 2015
Place of Birth Niger
Years Active 1962 - 2014
Popularity 0.1
Career Stats
31 Total Credits
4 Movie Roles
1 Photos