{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/1323276/moustapha-alassane",
  "name": "Moustapha Alassane",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/1323276/moustapha-alassane",
  "knownForDepartment": "Directing",
  "description": "Moustapha Alassane (1942–17 March 2015) was a Nigerien filmmaker.\n\nBorn in 1942 in N’Dougou (Niger), Moustapha Alassane graduated in mechanics. However, in the Rouch IRSH in Niamey he learned the cinematographic technique and thereafter became one of its main proponents. Jean Rouch provided for Alassane's education and accommodation in Canada, where he met the famous Norman McLaren, who taught him about animation.\n\nHe was the creator of the first animated films of the sub-Saharan Africa, also directing documentaries and fiction films. He was Head of Cinema Department at the Niamey University for 15 years.\n\nMoustapha Alassane directed, in 1962, two shorts inspired in traditional tales: Aoure and La Bague du roi Koda. Representing African culture (e.g. in Deela ou el Barka le conteur, 1969 and Shaki, 1973), Alassane also employed moral satire (F.V.V.A., femme, villa, voiture, argent, 1972), denouncing the thirst for power for “new wealth” in Africa. Social criticism and black humour are in almost all of his films. Le Retour d'un aventurier (1966) is considered the first African western. The frog was his favourite animal and protagonist of most of his animated films, because Alassane believed it is funnier to animate frogs rather than humans.\n\nHis workshop was based in Tahoua. To work, Alassane used several materials, such as wood, metal or wire, glue, fabric or sponge.\n\nNumerous retrospectives of Alassane's career have been made in several international film festivals.\n\nMoustapha Alassane was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.",
  "birthDate": "1942-01-01",
  "deathDate": "2015-03-17",
  "birthPlace": "Niger",
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/lNviFpaHWiGamLfqS1ErTRdUQYb.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0016087"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "14 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 480863,
      "title": "The Ring of King Koda",
      "year": "1962",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/1dylmyjRUFt3snPiyKY153wli9C.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/480863/the-ring-of-king-koda-1962"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 271436,
      "title": "Return of an Adventurer",
      "year": "1966",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.1,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/xODRpBQu2WeEqQhMImCiY2ZgoTQ.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/271436/return-of-an-adventurer-1966"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 162991,
      "title": "Little by Little",
      "year": "1970",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.143,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/9KV4YRv8cdgEJxurgZSddFVSOhE.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/162991/little-by-little-1970"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 402673,
      "title": "Samba the Great",
      "year": "1977",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/7i8UiZpH3K7X9OeRzrC33flOmMb.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/402673/samba-the-great-1977"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 339338,
      "title": "Toula, or the Genie of the Water",
      "year": "1973",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 9,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rYu0TGLu5VCriiyeEetMMIuQxV6.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/339338/toula-or-the-genie-of-the-water-1973"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 1326726,
      "title": "L'Afrique et la recherche scientifique",
      "year": "1964",
      "role": "Camera Operator",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/7iL0Lb1aW4Hyy4Ektnaw0QF0SuK.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/1326726/l-afrique-et-la-recherche-scientifique-1964"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 735019,
      "title": "La Pileuse de Mil",
      "year": "1962",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/735019/la-pileuse-de-mil-1962"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 271434,
      "title": "Women Cars Villas Money",
      "year": "1972",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.9,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/4r8HjB4dOPOtUyZXrIaGjyE7U7s.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/271434/women-cars-villas-money-1972"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 447456,
      "title": "Bon voyage, Sim",
      "year": "1966",
      "role": "Editor",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/kUp7H2WE7vlkhUMxdMvkv1y4U9b.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/447456/bon-voyage-sim-1966"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 412559,
      "title": "The Cowboys Are Black",
      "year": "1966",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8DcA1ajAPM0HgYecy1n2C7zlNZS.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/412559/the-cowboys-are-black-1966"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 545788,
      "title": "The Death of Gandji",
      "year": "1965",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 9,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/pwGX1dCmVzr6zDPNS36jL9pORK8.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/545788/the-death-of-gandji-1965"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 504647,
      "title": "Tahar Chériaa: A l'Ombre du Baobab",
      "year": "2014",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2AiWj613muOhgXv3cnlRnMAj1C.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/504647/tahar-cheriaa-a-l-ombre-du-baobab-2014"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 447457,
      "title": "Kokoa",
      "year": "2001",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/lR1mBSWejFXeOnwff57aRz2x0T0.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/447457/kokoa-2001"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 480862,
      "title": "The Wedding",
      "year": "1962",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/iVCkYb9plTBrmEiT4K92Q1cMnO3.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/480862/the-wedding-1962"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 480864,
      "title": "Shaki",
      "year": "1973",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/i8xgUCk6aMaj1V3tPylyMnziGoz.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/480864/shaki-1973"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 735020,
      "title": "L’Arachide de Sanchira",
      "year": "1964",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/735020/l-arachide-de-sanchira-1964"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 735022,
      "title": "Agwane, mon village",
      "year": "1982",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/735022/agwane-mon-village-1982"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 480861,
      "title": "Moustapha Alassane, Cineaste of the Possible",
      "year": "2008",
      "role": "as Himself",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/o6oEZ7pxndxAIHuSdTOr1HwCE78.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/480861/moustapha-alassane-cineaste-of-the-possible-2008"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 1167556,
      "title": "Mahauta: Les bouchers du Mawri",
      "year": "1967",
      "role": "Cinematography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ogzyV7mVeh0Ue8if4U8REpYvNBA.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/1167556/mahauta-les-bouchers-du-mawri-1967"
    }
  ]
}