Guimba the Tyrant

Guimba the Tyrant French Guimba, un tyran, une poque is a 1995 Malian comedy drama film in the Bambara language with some Fula language components, directed by noted Malian director Cheick Oumar Sissoko. The movie shows the rise and fall of a cruel and despotic village chief Guimba, and his son Jangine in a fictional village in the Sahel of Mali. Some of the storytelling was done through the medium of the village griot, and with the film being placed in an old setting, lends an epic touch to the movie. The exact chronological setting of the movie is difficult to ascertain, being set in an isolated village, but the commonly used weaponry shown is the blunderbuss. The film depicts some magical components, including a solar eclipse brought on by magic. Casting was only partially done from among professional actors.

The film opens with a village griot reciting the story of Guimba the tyrant, of the Dunbuya family. The setting moves to an old Malian village ruled by the evil and tyrannical leader Guimba and his dwarf son Janguine. Janguine has been betrothed from childhood to the village beauty Kani from the Diarra family the other powerful family in the village. Janguine, however, has his eyes on Kanis wellendowed mother Meya, and hence Guimba offers to marry Kani, asking Kanis father for a divorce so that Janguine can marry Meya. When he refuses, he is banished from the village. Protests break out, leading to the killings, and subjugation.As the village gets embroiled in a civil war, Kani manages to escape to her fathers camp on horseback with Guimba unsuccessfully giving chase. Guimbas slave is also welcomed into the rebel camp. She is dressed up provocatively and sent back to the village, causing both Guimba and Janguine to fall for her. Guimba kills his son over her, and chases her out of the village and into a trap leading to his downfall. ........

Source: Wikipedia