Falaba Issa Traoré facts for kids

Falaba Issa Traoré (born in 1930, died on August 8, 2003) was a very talented person from Mali. He was a writer, a funny comedian, a playwright (someone who writes plays), and a director for both theatre and film. He helped shape the arts in Mali for many years.

About Falaba Issa Traoré

Falaba Issa Traoré was born in a place called Bougouni in Mali. He loved theatre from a young age. He started by leading an amateur theatre group, which is a group of people who perform plays for fun.

Leading Theatre Groups

From 1962 to 1968, Falaba Issa Traoré became the director of the main theatre group in Bamako, the capital city of Mali. This was a big step in his career! Later, between 1969 and 1973, he created and led a new group called the Yankadi troupe. This group focused on traditional folklore and dramatic arts, helping to keep Mali's cultural stories alive.

Learning About Film

In 1973, Falaba Issa Traoré traveled all the way to Germany. He went there to study how to direct cinema. This shows how dedicated he was to learning new skills. When he returned to Mali in 1976, he became the head of the cinema division in the Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Culture. This was an important job where he could help develop films in his country.

His Work in Films and Plays

Falaba Issa Traoré was also a great actor. He played important roles in films like A Banna by Kalifa Dienta, Nidiougou Guimba by Cheick Oumar Sissoko, and le pacte social, Sanoudié, and N'Tronkélé by Boubacar Sidibé.

He also directed his own films. His first film was Juguifolo (which means First Gleam of Hope), made in 1979. His last film was Bamunan (The Sacred Pagne), made in 1990.

Besides films, Falaba Issa Traoré wrote two important operas. These were Soundiata ou l'épopée mandingue and Dah Monzon ou l'épopée Bambara. Operas are plays where most of the words are sung.

Awards and Legacy

In 1972, Falaba Issa Traoré won a special award called the Prix Afrique de Poésie de la Francophonie. This award recognized his talent in poetry. He passed away in Rabat, Morocco, on August 8, 2003. His work continues to be an important part of Malian culture and art.

Filmography

Here are some of the films Falaba Issa Traoré directed:

• 1979 Juguifolo (First Gleam of Hope)
• 1980 Anbé no don (We Are All Guilty)
• 1980 Kiri Kara Watita (Duel on the Cliffs)
• 1990 Bamunan (The Sacred Pagne)