Xaraasi Xanne (Crossing Voices)

A film by Raphaël Grisey and Bouba Touré

2022

Soninké, French, Bambara, Pulaar with English subtitles

Using rare cinematic, photographic and sound archives, Xaraasi Xanne (Crossing Voices) recounts the adventure of Somankidi Coura, an agricultural cooperative created in Mali in 1977 by western African immigrant workers living in “foyer” workers’ residences in France. The story of this improbable, utopic return to the Sahel region follows a winding path that travels through the ecological and decolonial challenges and conflicts of agriculture practices and sensing from the 1970s to the present day. One of the major actors of the movement, Bouba Touré, tells this story by plunging into the heart of his personal archives, which document the fights of immigrant workers, over a period of decades as well as those of farmers in France and in Mali. The film is also a story about dialogues and transmission, friendships and cinematic geographies. Over the course of the film, different voices, enter the sound-scape to accompany Bouba Touré’s telling; they bring the tale of a forgotten memory toward a possible future sung by a polyphonic griot.

Produced by : Spectre Productions (Olivier Marboeuf) in association with Raphaël Grisey and Bouba Touré
Coproduced by : Weltfilm GmbH (Kristina Konrad), The Dark (Cédric Walter)
Editing : Raphaël Grisey, Chaghig Arzoumanian
Voice-over : Bouba Touré
Singers : Mah Damba, Sira Dramé
Music : Jessica Ekomane
Speakers : Mariam Sissoko, Mamadou Sow (Radio Rural de Kayes)
Photographs : Bouba Touré
Archival research : Léa Morin, Raphaël Grisey
Sound editing and mix : Jochen Jezussek poleposition d.c.
Color grading : Sebastian Bodirsky
with the support of CNAP Image / Mouvement, Norwegian Artistic Research Program NTNU Trondheim, 9th Contour Biennale, HKW – Anthropocene Curriculum, Fondation des artistes, Parco Arte Vivente, Région Ile-de-France
En association avec ARTE France – La Lucarne

With:
 Bouba Touré, Sally N’Dongo, Sidney Sokhona, John Osseini, Jean-Baptiste Tiémélé, Mady Koïta Niakhaté, Robert Liensol, Ousmane Sinaré, NDiaye Diaby, René Dumont, Madjiguène Cissé, Siré Soumaré, Bathily Bakhoré, Ibrahima Camara, Bangaly Camara, Moussa Coulibaly, Dramane Diaby, Balla Moussa Diallo, Fode Moussa Diaby, Ladji Niangané, Fabourama Sissoko, Samba Sy, Founty Diallo, Karamba Touré, Seydou Traoré, Souaré Samassa, Dado Diakhité, Maro Niakhaté, Fune Niakhaté, Maïmouna Bathily, Awa Bathily, Batou Coulibaly, Mina Diallo, Salia Soumaré, Assa Coulibaly, Ara Traoré, Idrissa Diara, Haby Diara, Med Hondo, Ousmane Keïta, Ibrahima Traoré, Saly Soukho, Mr Koïta, Mr Diakhité, Aïssatou Goudiam, Oumar Diagouraga, Demba Traoré, Olivier Koné, Barka Fofana, Les habitant-e-s de Somankidi Coura, Les habitant-e-s du foyer Charonne, Paris du foyer Pinel, St Denis et d’autres foyers en Ile-de-France, Coordination des Sans-Papiers 75, Le 3ème collectif de Sans-Papiers, Les occupant-e-s de la bourse du travail, Les occupant-e-s de la Cité de l’Histoire de l’immigration, Les occupant-e-s de la rue Baudelique, Les expulsé-e-s de la Barre Balzac, Les occupant-e-s de la Chapelle, Théâtre Forum Kàddu Yaraax: Seydou Ndiaye, Diol Mouhamadou, Leity Kane, Mamakagne Diatta, Dame Hane, Yasmina Diop, Masseye Ndiaye, Meme Bassene, Cheikh Ndiaye, Moussa Kalamou, Pape Sidy Sy

Trailer : 
https://vimeo.com/678901326

Organized jointly with the Africa Research Working Group.