Blaise Kilizou Abalo

Blaise Kilizou Abalo (1 January 1947 – 16 October 2013) was a Togolese director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the first Togolese feature length fiction in Togolese cinema, Kawilasi. He was also a psychologist, teacher and director by training.

Personal life Abalo was born in 1947 at the Kanianboua, Togo.

He was married to a Burkinabe woman and was a father of five children.

Career At the age of 9, Abalo discovered the seventh art, particularly through Hindi movies and Kpèlèbé cinema. Later he studied film making and later graduated in law and psychology as well. Then he worked as a lecturer from 1978 to 1981 at the University of Ouagadougou. In the meantime, he made a collaboration with the African Institute for Film Education in Burkina Faso.

By using his knowledge as an educational psychologist he started to direct films. He started his cinematic career in 1976 by producing a documentary called 10 ans de pouvoir du Président Eyama, which was pursued it until 2009. In 1995, the film won the Special Prize of Sustainable Human Development at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO). Then he made several popular films and documentaries such as: Coopération Franco-Togolaise, La révolte de l'ombre, Le cri du silence, Le mirage de l'espoir, and Le prix du vélo. Later he directed the 14-episode television serial, Dikanakou (Le sida) which was very popular in Togo.

Filmography

Year Film Role Genre Ref. 1976 10 ans de pouvoir du Président Éyadéma Director Documentary short 1980 Directeus D'École Director, writer short documentary 1992 Kawilasi Director, writer, producer Film 1998 La coopération Franco-Togolaise Director Documentary short 1998 La Revolte De L'ombre Director, writer short documentary 2002 Le Cri Du Silence Director, writer short documentary 2006 Le Mirage De L'espoir Director, writer short documentary 2009 Venu De France Director, writer Film