Baw-Naan

Director Gai Ramaka / 1984 / France/Senegal

Baw-naan is an incantatory ceremony practised by the Lebu during the winter season. When the rains are slow in coming, or when they are rare, the Lebu organise a ceremony destined to make God laugh and so to obtain ram For a whole day men and women in make-up and travesty sing and tell funny stones in order to make Cod cry with laughter The return of the rains is a sign that he has appreciated the ritual The ceremony shown in this film took place at Yeen in the middle of Lebu country 35 minutes from Dakar It was essentially the work of women.

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