2010
INTO THE HEART OF AFRICA
AUF DEN SPUREN VON MUNGO PARK: DER NIGER
Mali, Niger, Nigeria
2x45 min. tv documentary
author, director: Werner Zeppenfeld
field producer: Marcel Kolvenbach
ARD German tv
Retracing the 18th-century Scottish‘s journey along the Niger River.
Travelling the Niger river from Sansanding (Mali) to New Boussa (Nigeria), following the second journey of Mungo Park, where the Scottish explorer vanished. A high end 2 part travel documentary. ”The Niger River originates less than 400 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean and flows more than 4000 kilometers to its mouth. Since ancient times, its mysterious course through the Sahara has puzzled geographers. Two centuries ago, Scottish explorer Mungo Park was the first white man to venture into the unknown on a wooden boat. His tragic expedition is followed by the current travel report across the three Sahel countries of Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. The film shows the annual cattle drive of the Fulani herders across the river and immerses itself in the ancient cosmos of river spirits with the Bozo fishermen. Viewers sit in the box seats of what was once the most beautiful open-air cinema in West Africa and go on hippopotamus safaris with the last Sorko hunters. They witness the partial collapse of the venerable mud mosque of Djenné and watch as Chinese bridge builders in Niamey conquer the great river with concrete. Mali’s blues star Afel Bocoum provides the perfect ‘water music’ for this cinematic journey of discovery: it was under this title that American bestselling author T.C. Boyle posthumously helped the ill fated Mungo Park achieve literary fame.“