Moustapha Alassane

Born in N’Dougou, Niger, Alassane first took a degree in Mechanics. In Niamey, he learns cinematographic techniques with Jean Rouch, who helped him to go study animation with Norman Mclaren in Canada. He is one of the first filmmakers in Africa and made Niger a milestone in African Cinema. The first animated films in Sub-Saharan Africa are his.
The frog is the main character in his animations and highlights his satiric eye on the social habits of his country. He directed approximately thirty animations, documentaries and fiction films.
Retrospectives of his filmography have been presented in the most important festivals around the world. He led the Department of Cinema of the University of Niamey, for fifteen years, and was awarded the French Legion of Honour during the Cannes Film Festival of 2007. —Africultures