Damouré Zika
Encyclopedia
Damouré Zika was a Nigerien traditional healer, broadcaster
, and film actor. Coming from a long line of traditional healers in the Sorko ethnic group of western Niger, Zika appeared in many of the films of French director Jean Rouch
, becoming one of Niger's first actors. As a practitioner of traditional medicine, he opened a clinic in Niamey
, and was for many years a broadcaster and commentator on health issues for Niger's national radio.
speaking traditional healer and fisherman, near the town of Ayorou on the Niger River
. It was there, in the 1940s, that he began working with the French ethnographer and filmmaker Jean Rouch
, who was then working as a French colonial hydrology engineer. Zika came from a long line of Sorko healers and spirit mediums. He met Rouch after ten Sorko workers in a construction depot which Rouch supervised were killed by a lightning strike. Zika's grandmother, a famous possession medium and spiritual advisor, presided over a ritual for the men, which Rouch later claimed sparked his desire to make enthographic film.
The two became friends, and Rouch began in 1950 to use Zika as the focus of his films demonstration the traditions, culture, and ecology of the people of the Niger River valley. The first of 150 in which Zika appeared was "Bataille sur le grand fleuve" (1950-52), portraying the lives, ceremonies and hunting of Sorko fishermen.
. Filmed a silent ethnographic piece, Zika helped re-edit the film into a feature length movie, and provided dialog and commentary for a 1969 release. By that time Rouch was producing long narrative films, many of which Zika appeared in, becoming one of Nigerien cinema's first recognizable actors. Zika was among those injured in the 2004 car accident near N'guigmi
in which Rouch died.
. There he provided free care for the indigent for many decades. Zika died in Niamey after a long illness on 6 April 2009, with his age reported as somewhere between 85 and 86. He is survived by four wives, 35 children and 80 grandchildren.
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, and film actor. Coming from a long line of traditional healers in the Sorko ethnic group of western Niger, Zika appeared in many of the films of French director Jean Rouch
Jean Rouch
Jean Rouch was a French filmmaker and anthropologist.He is considered to be one of the founders of the cinéma vérité in France, which shared the aesthetics of the direct cinema spearheaded by Richard Leacock, D.A. Pennebaker and Albert and David Maysles...
, becoming one of Niger's first actors. As a practitioner of traditional medicine, he opened a clinic in Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
, and was for many years a broadcaster and commentator on health issues for Niger's national radio.
Early life
Zika was the son of a ZarmaZarma language
Zarma is a member of the Songhay languages...
speaking traditional healer and fisherman, near the town of Ayorou on the Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
. It was there, in the 1940s, that he began working with the French ethnographer and filmmaker Jean Rouch
Jean Rouch
Jean Rouch was a French filmmaker and anthropologist.He is considered to be one of the founders of the cinéma vérité in France, which shared the aesthetics of the direct cinema spearheaded by Richard Leacock, D.A. Pennebaker and Albert and David Maysles...
, who was then working as a French colonial hydrology engineer. Zika came from a long line of Sorko healers and spirit mediums. He met Rouch after ten Sorko workers in a construction depot which Rouch supervised were killed by a lightning strike. Zika's grandmother, a famous possession medium and spiritual advisor, presided over a ritual for the men, which Rouch later claimed sparked his desire to make enthographic film.
The two became friends, and Rouch began in 1950 to use Zika as the focus of his films demonstration the traditions, culture, and ecology of the people of the Niger River valley. The first of 150 in which Zika appeared was "Bataille sur le grand fleuve" (1950-52), portraying the lives, ceremonies and hunting of Sorko fishermen.
Films
By the late 1950s, these films became longer and more narrative. "Jaguar" (filmed 1954-1955) stars Zika as a Songhai noble traveling for work to the Gold CoastGold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
. Filmed a silent ethnographic piece, Zika helped re-edit the film into a feature length movie, and provided dialog and commentary for a 1969 release. By that time Rouch was producing long narrative films, many of which Zika appeared in, becoming one of Nigerien cinema's first recognizable actors. Zika was among those injured in the 2004 car accident near N'guigmi
N'guigmi
N'guigmi is a city and Commune of fifteen thousand in the eastern most part of Niger, very near to Lake Chad - lying on its shore until the lake retreated....
in which Rouch died.
Healthcare and broadcasting
Continuing his study of traditional medicine, Zika became a licensed practitioner and began a long career as a broadcaster, hosting a fortnightly show on Niger's state run Radio Voix du Sahel. Zika used his fame to finance a clinic in Lamordé, a district on the right bank of the Niger in NiameyNiamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
. There he provided free care for the indigent for many decades. Zika died in Niamey after a long illness on 6 April 2009, with his age reported as somewhere between 85 and 86. He is survived by four wives, 35 children and 80 grandchildren.
Notable films
- Jaguar (filmed 1954-55, edited w/sound 1969): Actor, editor, sound
- Petit à petit "Little by Little" (1971): Actor
- Cocorico Monsieur Poulet "Cocka-doodle-doo Mr. Chicken" (1974): Actor
- BabatuBabatuBabatu is a 1976 Nigerien film directed by Jean Rouch. It was entered into the 1976 Cannes Film Festival....
(1976)