These moving pictures we watch, become our dreams. These words we read, become an extension of who we become. These songs we hear, become the melody our spirit dances to. Consume carefully, for if you allow something to touch you—even gently—it changes you forever.
In my continued exploration of the theme The Weight of Memory, I offer a weekly gesture—film or book—that has stirred something in me, in hopes it might do the same for you. Take what you need. Leave what you don’t.
This Week’s Offering: Yeelen (1987).
Yeelen, meaning “light” in Bambara, is a Malian film directed by Souleymane Cissé. It follows Nianankoro, a young man guided by his mother and ancestral spirits, as he journeys across ancient landscapes to escape and confront his sorcerer father. His path is one of initiation, reckoning, and then becoming. To him, knowledge is both illumination and burden.
Filmed in the golden dust of West Africa, Yeelen is less a film and more a vision. Rooted in pre-colonial cosmology, it weaves together nature, mysticism, and the sacred memory of a people. It feels like a prayer sung to the sun. I promise you that these few little words are nothing in comparison to the possibly mind altering experience Yeelen will offer you.
Below are some visuals from the film, woven with feeling and a
Visual Credits: Gael-Garcia
Film Directed by Souleymane Cissé
Starring: Ismael Kone, Adama Coulibaly, N’Faly Sissoko
Produced by: Maroun Bagdadi
“The ancestors are never far. They walk beside us, unseen.”
“The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.”
“To learn is to listen—not just with the ears, but with the bones.”
“Light reveals—but it also blinds.”
Where to Watch:
Yeelen isn’t always easy to find, but its rarity adds to its sacredness. You may be able to stream it on platforms like Criterion Channel or MUBI, or find restored versions through independent archives and university film libraries. Occasionally, it appears on YouTube or Vimeo—though often unofficially. And if by chance you find a rare DVD or a local screening—go.
Until next week!
