Saloum (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Chaka kills Omar because he discovers his former commander was the warlord Colonel Remington, who enslaved him as a child soldier. Recognizing the man who destroyed his childhood, Chaka shoots Omar with a revolver he had stolen years earlier during his escape. This act is driven by years of pent-up rage and a desire for revenge against the man who forced him into violence.

Foreshadowing: Chaka mentions knowing the retreat and its owner before they arrive, hinting at a deeper history.

• chaka
• omar
• revenge
• child soldier
• killing

Gana Sira Bana is a supernatural curse that Omar was harboring in the Sine-Saloum Delta. When Omar dies, the curse is unleashed, creating sinister entities that attack anyone in the region. These malevolent forces primarily attack through sound, making silence the only defense.

Foreshadowing: Salamane warns that Omar's death will unleash horrors upon the Delta.

• curse
• supernatural
• omar
• entities
• sound

The Sira Bana entities attack through sound as part of their supernatural nature. This weakness becomes crucial for survival - the characters must isolate themselves from external noises to avoid detection. Awa's deafness gives her immunity, while the mercenaries use their sign language skills to communicate without speaking.

• sound
• entities
• attack
• awa
• survival

Chaka secretly uses some of Felix's gold to bribe Souley's police team, purchasing their loyalty before the confrontation at the Baobab. This betrayal was calculated to give Chaka leverage and control over the situation, but it leaves his own team vulnerable when the supernatural attack begins. The gold was meant to be their payment for the extraction job.

Foreshadowing: Chaka appears confident despite the police presence, hinting at his secret deal.

• chaka
• gold
• betrayal
• souley
• police

Minuit survives the supernatural attack but becomes lost to a spiritual affliction caused by the curse. Found in a deteriorated mental state by Rafa and Chaka, he is no longer himself. The two mercenaries, heartbroken, decide to grant him a merciful end rather than leave him suffering.

Foreshadowing: Minuit shows signs of distress during the earlier attacks, indicating the curse is affecting him spiritually.

• minuit
• death
• mercy
• curse
• affliction

Awa is a deaf and mute woman staying at the Baobab retreat. Her importance becomes clear when the Sira Bana entities attack through sound - she is naturally immune to their primary method of hunting. Her ability to move silently and her skill in sign language make her a valuable ally for survival.

Foreshadowing: Awa signals to the Hyenas that she recognizes their true identities, showing awareness despite her silence.

• awa
• deaf
• survival
• sign language
• immune

Rafa and Chaka return to the Baobab because they need to secure the materials and resources necessary to repair their damaged aircraft and escape. The Diola village provides knowledge about surviving the entities, but the Baobab still holds the supplies needed for their escape by plane.

• escape
• repair
• plane
• resources
• baobab

Chaka discovers children who were previously imprisoned and exploited by Omar for his dark rituals. These children were used in Omar's supernatural practices related to the Gana Sira Bana curse. When Salamane visits the village later, he is killed by these vengeful children seeking retribution for their suffering.

Foreshadowing: Omar's dark rituals are mentioned early, hinting at his exploitation of others.

• children
• omar
• rituals
• village
• exploitation

One of the Sira Bana entities possesses Omar's physical form, using his appearance to drag Chaka into the depths of the Delta. This demonstrates the curse's power to mimic and absorb those connected to it. The entity claims Chaka as its own, suggesting a supernatural claim over those tied to Omar's past.

Foreshadowing: Omar's connection to the curse is established when the entities first emerge after his death.

• omar
• entity
• possession
• chaka
• delta

Awa signals to the Hyenas that she recognizes their true identities as mercenaries, suggesting she has knowledge or past connections to their world. Despite not explaining her motives verbally, she chooses to align with them during the crisis, eventually escaping with Rafa. Her decision may stem from wanting safety or perhaps from knowing the danger the curse posed to everyone.

Foreshadowing: Awa signals her recognition of the mercenaries early, showing she has deeper awareness.

• awa
• hyenas
• join
• escape
• recognition

Souley, the policeman from Dakar who initially threatened the mercenaries, accompanies the group to the Diola village seeking protection. During the visit, he is claimed by the Sira Bana entities and killed. His death comes despite his attempt to help the group survive, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the curse.

Foreshadowing: The Sira Bana forces are established as deadly to anyone in the Delta.

• souley
• death
• village
• entities
• police

Rafa and Awa manage to evade the entities and escape by boat, while Chaka is dragged into the depths by an entity possessing Omar's form. The entity specifically claims Chaka due to his deep connection to Omar through their shared past as child soldier and commander. Rafa, having less history with Omar, is able to flee with Awa.

Foreshadowing: Chaka's unresolved trauma from his time with Omar foreshadows his ultimate fate.

• rafa
• chaka
• escape
• survival
• entity