A mysterious death triggers familial and societal tension. This razor-sharp satirical drama demonstrates Sembène’s dexterity in crafting richly human stories within deeply complex social discussions.
Guelwaar, a political firebrand, dies mysteriously after a fiery speech. He was an important leader in the fight against foreign aid, the reliance on which he saw as debilitating. Now he is dead, the body is given a wrong tag, and Guelwaar – despite his Catholicism – is mistakenly buried in a Muslim cemetery. His family gathers: a daughter who works as a sex worker in Dakar returns, and an older son flies in from France. A fierce dispute breaks out which underlines the still considerable importance of the ritual and allows Sembène to denounce an Africa that venerates the gifts of foreign benefactors.