The time is early 19th century, the place, the African continent deep in the loop of the river Niger. Buud-Yam is the story of a young man named Wend-Kuuni, who sets off on an unpredictable journey in search of a healer to treat his sister Pughneere, who is stricken with an unknow illness. In the manner of a folk tale, the film deals primarily with childhood, youth and a certain quest for identity. But, beyond that, it tackles the big questions of life, those that make or undo the world and mankind : the acceptance of those different from oneself, tolerance and dialogue, or the fear of others, distrust, intolerance and exclusion.