Somewhere in West Africa, Karaba is a mean sorceress who has killed almost an entire generation of warriors. She is so loathed and feared that she lives away from the village, on top of a hill, where her only friends are dreadful walking trees and little robot-like spies that keep her informed at all times. Karaba has no opponents and she counts on that. Until now!

In the terrorized village, a mother prepared to give birth. She suddenly hears a voice from within: “Mother, give birth to me!” “A child who can speak from his mother’s womb can give birth to himself” comes the answer. And this is how Kirikou is born. The world he in born does not welcome him warmly. Most of the adult men have either died or been kidnapped. There is no water and the grass has dried up. The sorcerer put a spell on the village and most of the people gave up any hope that things will improve during their lifetime. But Kirikou is not about to give up that easily. Armed only with his intelligence and advantaged by his size – no one expects such a tiny person to be a worthy opponent – he embarks on a quest to change history. And he does so by persistently asking everyone “why is the sorceress so mean”.

Written and directed by Frenchman Michel Ocelot, this animated movie is a delightful experience for grown-ups and children alike. Kirikou and the Sorceress is inspired by a West African tale and is profoundly embedded within the local culture. There is always an explanation for witchcraft and instead of simply fighting against it, you need to first solve the puzzle – find the reason why things happen the way they do. After Kirikou saves some of the other children from a river who has a mind of his own, he brings water back to the village. Then he goes on the most dangerous mission, one that cost the lives of most of the warriors in the village: he wants to break the spell of the sorceress. But he needs to know why she causes so much harm in the first place because he thinks that is the key questions. He puts his cunning intelligence at play and evades Karaba’s spies in order to visit his grandfather. It turns out to be a good idea as the old wise man reveals to him that the sorceress is mean because her enemies stuck a poisoned thorn in her back. That raises deeper questions about the human nature: are we naturally good or bad or do we change based on circumstances and events?

Will Kirikou manage to save the village and restore the cosmic balance? You need to get the movie to find out.

What distinguished this movie from the other ones that are set in Africa is that Kirikou and the Sorceress actually has the word “authentic” written all over it. The animation is rather unsophisticated and the village is not by any means romanticized. In fact, those who have watched any movie made by famous Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène can perhaps notice where Michel Ocelot got inspired from. Famous Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour provides the beautiful and original soundtrack for this wonderful movie, giving it an additional sense of space and authenticity. In addition, all actors dubbing the animated movie have an accent which makes more accurate as for most Africans English is the second language (mind you that the original version was in fact in French). Another thing to be noticed is the informed use of vivid colors in the film-making process and the astute choice of local decorative objects – statues, ornaments, and clothes – all of which can appeal to both an African and a Western audience.

Lastly, what mattered most to me was the fact that Kirikou and the Sorceress actually caters for all audiences. I watched it with the boys I babysit for in Chicago and we all loved it. They liked it because it was entertaining and because they found it fascinating that someone even smaller than them can be so courageous and clever. I liked it because I finally watched a movie about Africa that I could simply enjoy for its artistic expression, the narrative and how the story unfolds. The fact that I got even more out of the movie was simply unexpected. And much appreciated.

I rate this movie 10/10 and I strongly recommend you buy the DVD.

Quote from Chicago Tribune 1999:

“In its 16-year history, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival’s two juries – one comprising children, the other adults – had never given their top prized to the same film, until last year, when both juries honored Kirikou and the Sorceress, a beautifully animated first feature by French filmmaker Michel Ocelot about an African boy’s battle with an evil witch for the soul of his people. Filled with lessons about morality, bravery, selflessness and compassion, Kirikou and the Sorceress is top-shelf family entertainment.” - Chicago Tribune.