Maîtres et esclaves

Although the government denies it, slavery still exists today in Niger. The feudal society of nomadic tribes recognises two classes: the masters who own the animals and tents, and the slaves who carry out the work. Children can be sold just like that. Legal prosecution of slave owners is impossible. MAITRES ET ESCLAVES follows a camel trail through the Sahel, to the 20-year-old Boulboulou, who has escaped with her baby. She lays claim to compensation for the work she performed under slavery, but fears her former masters’ lethal revenge. The second story is that of the 26-year-old Tumajet, who wants to take away her teenage daughter from her former owner. The women are assisted by staff members of Timidria, an organisation who wants to put a stop to slavery. When both parties meet, their body language is telling: cast down eyes and frightened looks from the slaves versus arrogant orders and angry reproaches from the masters. ‘So much trouble for a slave’, one mistress says scornfully. The young women’s battle is alternated with images of the arid desert and the ominous roars of dromedaries. Director Bernard Debord, a former history teacher who was employed by Amnesty International for some time, makes documentaries about human rights issues since the early nineties. He refrains from spoken comment. The monotonous thumping of pounders in sorghum pots provides sufficient commentary.