Pascal Abikanlou

Pascal Abikanlou (1936? – 2009) was a Beninese film maker, director and producer. He is considered the "father of Beninese cinema".

Biography
Pascal Abikanlou was born in Pobe, a locality close to the border with Nigeria. Abikanlou is of Nago-Yoruba origin and comes from a royal lineage of Pobe. His father was sentenced to four years in prison by the French colonial authorities for defending a possible attachment of Pobe to Nigeria. He was educated at Maurice Delafosse High School in Dakar and was an industrial designer by training. He trained as a photographer by correspondence, then became a reporter and assistant cameraman and finally a director.

Career
He directed the first feature movie Under the sign of Vaudoun in 1974.

Filmography

 * Under the sign of voodoo 1974
 * Ganvié, my village 1967
 * Stopover at Dahomey 1968
 * First offerings 1969
 * The Yam Festival 1969
 * Operation Sonader 1971
 * Water and shade 1971
 * Africa at the rendezvous of the holy year 1975
 * Sous le signe du vaudou 1976
 * The Wind of Hope 1992
 * Ouidah 92 1993
 * Danhome Kingdom of Huegbadjavi 1989