Black Camera

Abstract:

Among the countries of West Africa, Senegal had by far the best start in cinema after independence. With six feature-length films made by Senegalese filmmakers in 1974 alone, and as many as eighty thriving theatres across the country and a distribution network that serviced even the neighboring countries, cinema was a flourishing business in Senegal in the 1970s and 1980s. Cinema offered many possibilities to young filmmakers like the late Cheikh Tidiane Aw who financed the construction of Cinéma Christa, in Dakar, one of about forty booming movie theatres. Today, by contrast, very few cinemas are in operation and the social culture of cinema-going is dying. Malick Aw, who now owns and manages the Cinéma Christa, faces financial challenges in keeping the business afloat. With the advent of cable television, DVDs, live streaming, computers, and other gadgets, as well as a new mobile cinema initiative in Dakar, the few remaining theaters have unprecedented competition. The following interview, conducted with Malick Aw in March 2016, aims to shed light on the complicated nature of the conflicting interests that seem to be undermining the cinematic industry in Senegal today. The interview is preceded by a discussion of the historical context of cinema in Senegal and followed by concluding remarks.