Burkina Faso / 1989 / 26mins / Documentary, Portrait / Mooré

The Voice in the Wood is a moving portrait of one of Burkina Faso’s greatest musicians, Mahama Konaté, as he initiates his son into the traditions of Burkinabé music. By teaching his child how to play the balafon, Konaté reveals the myths and beliefs attached to his traditional African instrument. The Voice in the Wood is the first film of director Issiaka Konaté.

Issiaka Konaté

Issiaka Konaté was born in 1959 in Burkina Faso. He pursued theoretical studies in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and then in Paris, France. As soon as he returned to Burkina Faso, he moved on to directing with several documentary films focused on trades and activities in his country. Convinced that the era of cinematographic writing is profoundly changing with the advent of digital and new technologies, he began moving towards institutional and audiovisual productions and financing, in particular with the production of shorts and television series. He often takes on the combination role of director and producer, for practical and relational reasons, as is the current state of the economy of the sector in sub-Saharan West Africa. His first film, a documentary titled Yiri Kan / The Voice in the Wood, is a portrait of Mahama Konaté, a traditional musician from Burkina Faso. It was the winner of the Best Short Film award at the Fribourg International Film Festival in 1992. He directed his first fiction film Souko, Le Cinématographe en carton in 1998. The film won the Cannes Junior Jury award and the French Cooperation for Film award. It was also given a Special Jury Mention at FESPACO. Learn More