On Monday, May 6, the Pathé cinema in Dakar turned into a place of communion between Senegalese culture and cinematographic art. The premiere of the documentary dedicated to Doudou Ndiaye Coumba Rose, an icon of Senegalese percussion, attracted an audience who came to pay tribute to this precious heritage. The film, entitled “Sunu Yoon” meaning “our path”, offered an exceptional retrospective on the life and work of this artist, recognized by UNESCO as a “living human treasure” in 2006.
Among the personalities present were Germain Coly, director of cinematography, and Tapha Ndiaye, son of Doudou Ndiaye Coumba Rose, as well as the French director Jean-Marie Mallet. The latter shared his journey in the production of this film, which he described as a challenge initiated in 1984 when he discovered the bewitching music by Doudou Ndiaye Rose. The support and confidence that the percussionist testified to him allowed Mallet to carry out this project with a mainly African team.
The documentary, rich in archives, mixes images of the past and testimonies to illustrate the impact of Doudou Ndiaye Rose on the Senegalese music scene and her innovative approach, in particular by the inclusion of women in the practice of tam-tam. Tapha Ndiaye, moved by this tribute, described the film as a “gift for future generations”.
According to our colleagues from South Daily, the event continued with a discussion with Jean-Marie Mallet, who explained wanting to “let life guide the story” by merging archives and reality. Germain Coly praised this company, saying that “Doudou Ndiaye Rose is more alive than ever, 10 years after her disappearance”.
At the end of the evening, the spectators were thanked, in particular the partners such as the French Institute and the French Embassy, as well as the artist’s family and disciples. Jean-Marie Mallet announced a national outing of the documentary for May 9, 2025, and a screening at the Grand Théâtre National is scheduled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the artist’s disappearance next August.
