In 2005, Senegal banned a widespread system of child exploitation disguised as apprenticeship.

Despite being illegal, the mistreatment of talibés — an Arabic term meaning “student” — persists. Families send their children to traditional Quranic schools known as daaras, where they study under a spiritual teacher, or marabout. Instead, many are forced to beg in the streets for rice, sugar and money.

 

Director and cinematographer: Quentin Bruno
Editing and sound: Tikachu
Colour grading: Virgil Leclerq
Fixers and translators: Mamadou Gueye and Becaye Sall

 

This film was made possible with the support of the Fondation Vocatio, the Promotion-Diffusion programme of the Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel, and the Association Culture et Développement.