Sembène, Ousmane

Sembène, Ousmane

(born Jan. 1, 1923, Ziguinchor-Casamance, Seneg., French West Africa—died June 9/10, 2007, Dakar, Seneg.) Senegalese writer and film director. He fought with the Free French in World War II. After the war he worked as a docker in Marseille and taught himself French. His writings, often on historical-political themes, include The Black Docker (1956), God's Bits of Wood (1960), and Niiwam; and Taaw (1987). About 1960 he became interested in film; after studying in Moscow, he made films reflecting a strong social commitment, including Black Girl (1966), which was considered the first major film produced by an African filmmaker. With Mandabi (1968), he began to film in the Wolof language; his later films include Xala (1974), Ceddo (1977), Camp de Thiaroye (1987), and Guelwaar (1993). Moolaadé (2004) received the prize for Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.