Documenting the History of Slavery on Film in Kayes, Mali

Marie Rodet

doi:10.1163/2405836x-00501009

Abstract

Abstract In 2010 I filmed descendants of formerly enslaved populations in Kayes narrating the history of their ancestors and the realities of internal slavery in West Africa. The result was a 23-minute documentary film entitled “The Diambourou: Slavery and Emancipation in Kayes—Mali,” which was released in 2014. The film was as much responding to specific historiographical questions in the field as a tool of research action to raise awareness among younger generations and to fight legacies of social discrimination today. With the exactions perpetuated against descendants of formerly enslaved populations in the Kayes region since 2018, the film, via its access-free online version, has experienced a second life as an anti-slavery activist medium, helping to bridge the gap between endogenous historical fighting against slavery and contemporary anti-slavery activism in the Soninke diaspora.

Highlights

In her book, Relating Narratives: Storytelling and Selfhood, Cavarero highlights the complex and powerful relations that narratives can create: “I tell you my story in order to make you tell it to me.”1 In 2010 I filmed and interviewed with via free access rodet the support of Fanny Challier the descendants of formerly enslaved populations in the Kayes region (Mali) for a month
With the exactions perpetuated against descendants of formerly enslaved populations in the Kayes region since 2018, the film, via its access-free online version, has experienced a second life as an anti-slavery activist medium, helping to bridge the gap between endogenous historical fighting against slavery and contemporary anti-slavery activism in the Soninke diaspora
Via free access documenting the history of slavery on film in kayes, mali region, the film has experienced a second life as an anti-slavery activist medium helping to bridge the gap between endogenous historical fighting against slavery and contemporary anti-slavery activism in the Soninke diaspora

Summary

Introduction

In her book, Relating Narratives: Storytelling and Selfhood, Cavarero highlights the complex and powerful relations that narratives can create: “I tell you my story in order to make you tell it to me.”1 In 2010 I filmed and interviewed with via free access rodet the support of Fanny Challier the descendants of formerly enslaved populations in the Kayes region (Mali) for a month. Via free access documenting the history of slavery on film in kayes, mali region, the film has experienced a second life as an anti-slavery activist medium helping to bridge the gap between endogenous historical fighting against slavery and contemporary anti-slavery activism in the Soninke diaspora.

Results

Conclusion