"Pouvoir de Pagne", by Adama Drabo (Mali)

*POUVOIR DE PAGNE*	Mali

A legend in African folklore is the starting point for this comedy where present and past blend. Sidiki Diabaté is a guide for the mountains and for the culture of the Dogon people, structured on their own symbols and myths. The customs of this people undergo several changes when the Albarga, a mask used only by men and a symbol of power, falls into the hands of a woman. At this, confusion sets in, in Yanda. Women in possession of the object, exchange their skirts for male trousers and take power in the village. As from then, they establish a new order and try to lend a new direction to the village.

Director

DIRECTOR:	Adama Drabo
SCREENPLAY:	Adama Drabo
CINEMATOGRAPHER:	Lionel Cousin
EDITION:	Rose Evans-Decraene
MUSIC:	Harouna Barry
CAST:	Fanta Bérété, Ramata Drabo, Ibrahim Koita, Hélène Diarra
FESTIVALS:	Cannes
PRODUCTION:	CNPC/Taaré Film BP 116, Barnako, Mali Tel.: 00 223 22-5913 Fax 00 223 22-7762
WORLD SALES:	Atria/Atriascop 16, Bd. Jules Ferry 75011 Paris Tel: 00 33 1 4357-1732 Fax: 00 33 1 4357-0133
ORIGINAL TITLE:	Taafe Fanga
	Col., 100 min., 1997

Adama Drabo

Born in 1948 in Bamako, Mali. In 1979, he was chosen in a competition to work as cameraman at the National Center for Film Production in Mali. In 1988, he made the short film Nieba. Two years later, he directed his first feature film, Ta-Donna, presented at the Cannes Festival and was awarded prizes at several international film festivals. Taafe Fanga is his second feature film. Adama Drago is also author of novels and a playwright.