The African Doctor 2016

Seyolo Zantoko Marc Zinga graduates from medical school in Lille in 1975, becoming the only Black student in his class and circle of friends. He declines a prestigious post in Zaire as the personal physician to President Mobutu, choosing instead a position offered by the mayor of Marly-Gomont, a small village in northern France. He calls his wife Anne Zantoko Aïssa Maïga and their two children, Sivi and Kamini, with the hope of building a better educational path for their kids and quietly pursuing French citizenship.

The family lands in a place where locals have rarely seen people like them, and fear or distrust quickly colors first impressions. Sivi and Kamini endure bullying at school, and Seyolo’s new medical practice struggles as many locals prefer to keep traveling to the French doctor in the neighboring village. The tension peaks when Seyolo and Anne have a heated argument in front of visiting relatives, and he reluctantly promises that they will eventually move to Brussels to be closer to their kin. Yet the family’s fate begins to shift after a decisive moment: Seyolo delivers the baby of a local farmer, and suddenly more villagers begin to come to his practice, drawn by his skill and care.

As the practice grows, the Zantoko family starts to feel more at home in Marly-Gomont. Anne’s wish to move remains, but Seyolo signs on to stay long term, telling the mayor that he plans to remain in the village. The warmth of acceptance widens when the mayor hosts a dinner and reveals his happiness about Seyolo’s continued presence, a moment that unsettles Anne and reinforces the sense that their future is in flux. Before long, the couple faces another hurdle when Seyolo is arrested on immigration irregularities, just days before his French citizenship could be approved. The electoral race intensifies: the incumbent mayor’s position hinges on keeping a local doctor of French origin, while his opponent, Lavigne, eyes a different future for the village.

The pressure on the family is relieved in part by Sivi’s growing talents on the soccer field. Her skill helps the local team win, turning her into a beloved figure in the community and strengthening the villagers’ ties to the Zantokos. In a bold move, Seyolo and his children stage a plan to remind the town that removing them would mean losing both the doctor they rely on and the star player they’ve come to cheer for, nudging the voters to support the incumbent mayor Jonathan Lambert. Anne returns to Marly-Gomont and joins her husband in watching a school performance that re-enacts the family’s arrival and eventual acceptance. The show cements the realization that they are now part of the fabric of the village, even if some opposition remains.

The election passes, the mayor is re-elected, Seyolo’s office reopens, and Anne takes a position as his secretary. The Zantoko family remains together and content, their bond strengthened by shared struggle and community support. They stay in Marly-Gomont for years, living a life marked by resilience, love, and service, until 2009 when Seyolo dies in a car accident. His funeral is attended by nearly every member of the village who had come to rely on him.

In the epilogue, the story of Seyolo’s Medal of Merit in 2008 for service to Picardy offers a quiet testament to a life spent serving others. After his passing, Anne moves to Brussels to be nearer her extended family. Sivi and Kamini each pursue their own paths—Sivi becomes a nurse in Brussels, while Kamini forges a career as a comedian. Kamini’s village fame grows even further with his 2006 hit song Marly-Gomont, which plays over the closing credits and stands as a lasting tribute to the community that welcomed them.