Stambali

Synopsis

In a cemetery in Tunisia, disciples of Sidi Saad gather for the stambali ritual, a three-day event rooted in the traditions of enslaved Africans from Timbuktu. The ceremony features the gombri and chkackek, instruments that drive the rhythm of possession and dance. Participants engage in a trance-like state, paying tribute to their master through music and movement. The film captures the physical and spiritual expressions of this annual rite, set against a backdrop of grass, trees, dust, and sand.