DJELIYA, MEMORY OF MANDINGO

Part of IDFA 2026 – The Stories We Carry, curated by Black Soil Film Festival

What happens to our histories when the people who carry them are no longer there to tell their stories?

Djeliya, Memory of Mandingo takes us on a poetic journey through West Africa, exploring the centuries-old tradition of the griots, the storytellers, musicians and guardians of collective memory within Mandingo culture.

Passed down through generations, the art of djeliya preserves histories, ancestral knowledge and cultural identity through music, poetry and oral storytelling. More than entertainers, griots serve as living archives, connecting the past to the present and ensuring that the experiences and wisdom of their communities are not forgotten.

Through its exploration of this rich cultural tradition, the documentary reflects on the power of storytelling as a means of preserving identity, transmitting knowledge and maintaining a sense of belonging across generations.

As part of The Stories We Carry, Black Soil presents this film as a celebration of oral history and the importance of safeguarding cultural memory. In a world where written archives often determine which histories are remembered, Djeliya, Memory of Mandingo reminds us that some of our most valuable stories live through voices, music and the people who carry them.

Introduction by Rita Ouédraogo

The screening will be introduced by curator and cultural researcher Rita Ouédraogo, whose work explores African and diasporic perspectives, cultural heritage and the relationship between art, identity and collective memory.