Moustapha Alassane

Biography

Born in 1942 in N’Dougou (Niger), Moustapha Alassane graduated in mechanics. However, in the Rouch IRSH in Niamey he learns the cinematographic technique and becomes one of its main researchers. Jean Rouch allows Alassane’s education and accommodation in Canada, where he meets the famous Norman McLaren, who teaches him the secrets of animation. Moustapha Alassane is one of the first filmmakers in Africa, making Niger one of the African nations of more importance in cinema, close to Senegal. He was the author of the first animated films of the sub-Saharan Africa, directing also 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 the African culture (“Deela ou el Barka le conteur”, 1969; “Shaki”, 1973), Alassane uses also moral satire (“F.V.V.A., femme, villa, voiture, argent”, 1972), denouncing the thirst of power form the “new wealth” in Africa. Criticism and black humour are, after all, in almost all of his films. The frog is his favourite animal and protagonist of most of his animated films, because Alassane believes it is funnier to animate frogs rather than humans. Directed around thirty animation, documentary and fiction films.

Currently, his workshop is settled in Tahoua, a calm city from Niger’s interior, far away from the bustle of the capital Niamey, showing some of the humbleness that one of the most important African directors has. To work, Alassane uses 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, all over the world.

Moustapha Alassane was made Knight of the Legion of Honour, during the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.

As director

As actor

As writer

Films about Moustapha Alassane