Screening on the eve of Zambia's 59th Independence Day and based on his novel Xala, published in 1973 and carrying the same title, Ousmane Sembene's film premiered in 1975. The film's opening scene begins with the expulsion of Western members of the local chamber of commerce out of office and replaced by African businessmen.–– One of the white members returns and places briefcases in front of each of them, and they all nod, impressed by the neat stacks of bribe money inside.

Xala follows the fall and decline of El Hadji Abdou Kader, one of the businessmen who is struck by impotence on the day of his wedding.