Explain the role of the supernatural in Ousmane Sembenes Xala.

Xala is a short film in which the main character El Hadji Abdoukader Beye suffers from a curse that renders him sexually and socially impotent. Sembene’s film follows the unfortunate story of El Hadji, a middle class shop owner and his struggle to deal with his sexual impotence and the reason why he has been cursed. There are also metaphorical implications throughout the film. In both of these contexts the supernatural plays an important if not central role. This essay will assess the different ways Sembene uses the supernatural to convey opinions on the political and social state of Senegal using specific examples from the film. It will also seek to provide an interpretation of the role of the supernatural in a broader context with reference to several of the metaphors Sembene uses in the film.

The supernatural has always been an important part of African culture. Griots earn their living telling wild and fantastical tales of ancestors to their public while marabuts and witc...