BAMAKO, Mali — Souleymane Cissé, a celebrated Malian filmmaker renowned for his influential role in African cinema, has passed away at the age of 84, as reported by Malian television on Wednesday.
While the specific cause of death has not been disclosed, the government of Mali mentioned that Cissé had recently participated in a press conference where he presented two trophies as a precursor to the upcoming 29th Fespaco, the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, set to commence this weekend in Burkina Faso’s capital.

Cissé made history by becoming the first Black African filmmaker to secure a feature film prize at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Throughout his illustrious career, he garnered numerous accolades, including the Jury Prize at Cannes in 1987 for his critically acclaimed film ‘Yeelen’ (The Light) and the Carrosse d’or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for his work ‘Finye’ (The Wind).

Additionally, Cissé was a two-time recipient of the Étalon d’or de Yennenga, the highest honor awarded at the Ouagadougou Pan-African Film and Television Festival.

Hailing from Bamako, Mali, Cissé pursued his education in Mali, Senegal, and Moscow, Russia. He was also a prominent figure in the cinematic community, serving as the President of the Union of Creators and Entrepreneurs of Cinema and Audiovisuals of West Africa.

The filmmaking community is mourning the loss of Cissé, whose groundbreaking contributions to cinema span over 50 years, reflecting a profound dedication to African narratives, humanitarian values, and political issues.

His daughter, Mariam Cissé, expressed the family’s shock, stating, “Papa died today in Bamako. We are all in shock. He dedicated all his life to his country, to cinema and to art.”