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CURRENT
PROJECT
BEYOND
TIME AND TIMBUKTU
A
Film by Mohammed Kamara
TIMBUKTU:
fabled city of old; renowned site of an ancient civilization;
the End of the World; a place that never was; a land of gold,
and a center of trade.
"Salt comes from the north and gold from the south, but the
word of God and the treasures of wisdom are only to be found
in Timbuktu." --Ancient
West African proverb
To
many in the Western world, Timbuktu is the fictive location.
The name itself represents a joke from some distant land, beyond
the reaches of civilization, where people are exiled. Popular
sayings such as, "I'll knock you clear to Timbuktu," demonstrate
how many Americans envision Timbuktu. Beyond this use of the
word, little is known about the historic center of Islamic scholarship.
My
film,
Beyond Time and Timbuktu,
is
a feature-length documentary film that juxtaposes both popular
American views about the legendary city of Timbuktu with actual
historical and cultural footage of the 1200 year-old city, located
in Mali, West Africa. My objective is to revisit, restore the
ancient image of the city and otherwise preserve on film some
of Timbuktu's past and present, while positing its prospects
for the future.
Timbuktu's
literary output was enormous and included works covering the
history of Africa and southern Europe; law, literature, mathematics,
medicine, and religion all prospered there. There were documents
detailing the movement of the stars. The most precious legacy
of Timbuktu is some 700,000 books, manuscripts and texts-recently
discovered-from its ancient libraries. These priceless documents
were hidden by family members and unknown agents behind walls
and in caves during the Moroccan invasion of the late 16th century.
The volumes date as early as the 12th century.
One
book, for instance, titled Disease and Cure in Timbuktu, provides
details about the use of animal parts, plants, and mineral substances
in diagnosing and treating the sick; possible cures for malaria
and remedies for menstrual pain. The author adds that reciting
verses of a certain sura in the Koran, alone, will cure all
the experiences of life; from an easy birth of a child to a
peaceful death, and the journey to heaven. My documentary film
will examine the historical development of Timbuktu by depicting
its rich and storied legacy, cultural narratives, colorful citizens,
and artistic and religious treasures, while boldly and sometimes
humorously revealing some of the widespread misconceptions about
it.
Two
professors in the Religious Studies Department at Rice University
have agreed to serve as advisers and narrators on the project:
Prof. David Cook specializes in the study of Islam and will
advice in the effort of establishing the film's humanities focus
with regard to the Islamic/Arabic component of Timbuktu's heritage;
and Prof. Elias Bongmba specializes in African Religion and
will render assistance with regard to understanding the indigenous
African cultural/religious character that Timbuktu represents.
I
became interested in making a film about Timbuktu due to my
personal connection to West Africa, as well as a growing curiosity
about the damaging effects of cultural misunderstandings between
all societies.
My
grandmother, a member of the Bambara tribe, emigrated from Mali,
West Africa to Guinea and married my grandfather in 1925. Three
generations later, I was born, a living product of that West
African union and heritage, including language and religion.
When I was six, my family moved to Liberia, West Africa where
I grew up. In 1975, I moved to Philadelphia, PA, where I became
an American citizen; after college, I spent two years in the
Peace Corps serving in Gambia, West Africa. Thereafter, I moved
to Houston, TX, and have been making films and organizing film
festivals ever since.
As
a native of Guinea, West Africa, and a speaker of Bambara, the
language of Mali, I am well-positioned to enter the culture
at a grass-roots level and capture on film unique points-of-view
and images. As a citizen of the West, I am also well positioned
to frame the discussion of this location for an audience with
very little knowledge about its existence.
I
hope that my film, Beyond
Time and Timbuktu, serves to increase knowledge and
interests in the rich cultural and religious history of Timbuktu,
as well as to spark a dialogue with viewers regarding their
own cultural histories. As an artist, I believe that the more
we come to know, and therefore, understand other people and
societies beyond our own borders, the better prepared we will
be to act as global citizens.
Thank You!!!
The
8-minute video sample you are about to watch consists of original
interviews juxtaposed with archival material and it demonstrates
the great disparity between western-held notions of Timbuktu
versus the actual place, itself. The video trailer also shows
the over-all effect that the finished film might employ. This
trailer is intended for educational use only and any commercial
use of any part or in whole is an infringement of Copy Rights.
Watch Video Now...
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