Skip to content
Zan Boko poster
6.7 / 10(9 votes)IMDb19881h 32mFrance, Burkina Faso

Zan Boko

Synopsis

In the Mossi culture, one of the rites attending the birth of a child and its induction as a new member of the community involves the burial of the placenta. The space in which the placenta is buried is called 'Zan Boko' - a phrase which connotes the religious, cultural and affective relations that bind the child to the land and that embraces the notions of 'rootedness' and 'belonging'. Kaboré tells the story of Tinga, who resists the encroaching urbanization of his native territory. The specific rhythms and vision of the rural community, including its values, social relationship, and individual & collective destinies, are altered when a city is planted on the edge of an ancient native village.

Check streaming options on JustWatch

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Gaston Kaboré
Screenplay & Story
Gaston Kaboré
Original Score
Henri Guédon, Don Cherry
Original Title
Zan Boko
Country of Origin
France, Burkina Faso
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 32m
Production Studios
Atria Films

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Gaston Kaboré

Screenplay & Story

Gaston Kaboré

Original Score & Music

Henri Guédon, Don Cherry

Film Editing

Marie-Jeanne Kanyala, Andrée Davanture

Producers

Gaston Kaboré

Department Leadership Roster

Gaston Kaboré

Gaston Kaboré

Director

Gaston Kaboré

Gaston Kaboré

Writer

Henri Guédon

Original Music Composer

Marie-Jeanne Kanyala

Editor

Gaston Kaboré

Gaston Kaboré

Producer

Andrée Davanture

Andrée Davanture

Editor

Don Cherry

Original Music Composer

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Zan Boko.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Zan Boko.

European Cinema

Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.

1212 titles

IMDb Archive

4592 titles

Similar Titles to Zan Boko

Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling

  • 7.0
  • 6.1
  • 5.0
  • 6.2
  • 5.5
  • 8.0
  • 7.4
  • 1.0
  • 7.0
  • 4.8
  • 6.4
  • 7.2
  • 5.9
  • 5.8
  • 6.3
  • 6.8

    Denko

More Like Zan Boko

Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.

7.1
6.4
6.7
6.7
6.0
6.5
6.1
6.6
6.2
7.0
6.6
6.6

Frequently Asked Questions About Zan Boko

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Zan Boko about?

In the Mossi culture, one of the rites attending the birth of a child and its induction as a new member of the community involves the burial of the placenta. The space in which the placenta is buried is called 'Zan Boko' - a phrase which connotes the religious, cultural and affective relations that bind the child to the land and that embraces the notions of 'rootedness' and 'belonging'. Kaboré tells the story of Tinga, who resists the encroaching urbanization of his native territory. The specific rhythms and vision of the rural community, including its values, social relationship, and individual & collective destinies, are altered when a city is planted on the edge of an ancient native village.

Who directed Zan Boko?

Zan Boko was directed by Gaston Kaboré.

Who stars in Zan Boko?

The principal cast of Zan Boko includes Joseph Nikiema, Gady Pafadnam, Simone Tapsoba, Colette Kaboré, Hippolyte Wangrawa.

When was Zan Boko released and how long is it?

Zan Boko was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.

Who composed the musical score for Zan Boko?

The original motion picture soundtrack for Zan Boko was composed by Henri Guédon, Don Cherry.