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Henri Duparc, a pioneer among Ivorian filmmakers, is an iconic figure in African cinema. His work primarily focuses on comedies that explore societal issues in the context of modern Africa. Through his films, Duparc captures the spirit of contemporary Africa—its hopes, contradictions, and the ingenuity of its people, all with a touch of humor. Social satire is his preferred cinematic language, with recurring themes of women and family woven throughout his stories.


“Discussions about African cinema often revolve around one central question: how do we capture audiences’ imagination, leveraging the power of cinema to inspire creativity? We must strive to create films that not only reflect the modern realities of African societies but also embrace national cultures as they seek to break free from the constraints of stagnant traditions. By moving beyond the dominant ‘ethnographic’ or ‘social’ narratives, African cinema can use storytelling and fiction to gain international distribution and recognition.”

A charming comedy about an Ivory Coast pineapple mogul, called Demi-God, with five wives, Dancing in the Dust teaches a comical lesson about greed. Named for his status ranking of second to God in his village, Demi-God makes the mistake of taking yet another wife. This marital addition is meant to harmonize his household. He will now have a different wife for each night, and the best wife a second time on Sunday, but instead she turns it upside down. The lovely, irreverent Binta, in trouble with her parents because of her disrespect of a family elder in Abidjan, is forced to marry Demi-God. Though Duparc does not resolve the contest between the old ways and the new, he takes an uproariously funny stab at arranged marriages and polygamy.

  • Year
    1989
  • Runtime
    91 minutes
  • Language
    French
  • Country
    Côte d'Ivoire
  • Genre
    Comedy
  • Subtitle Language
    English
  • Director
    Henri Duparc
  • Screenwriter
    Henri Duparc
  • Cast
    Bamba Bakary, Tcheley Hanny, Naky Sy Savane, Thérèse Taba
  • Cinematographer
    Bernard Déchet
  • Music
    Boncana Maïga