The Ceddo, or "the people of refusal," was a name given to the last holders of African spiritualism. In this historical drama set during some unspecified period of time in precolonial Senegal, the Ceddo are at odds with the local King who has aligned himself with Islam and desires to forcefully convert the population.

As tensions rise, the situation is further complicated by the presence of white Christian missionaries and traders, who offer goods and weapons in exchange for slaves. In an act of protest, the Ceddo kidnap and hold hostage the King's daughter, Princess Dior Yacine, but the situation escalates and turns violent as attempts are made to retrieve her.

Ceddo is a multilayered work written and directed by the self-taught Ousmane Sembène, often dubbed "the father of African cinema." The psychological authenticity of the characters, portrayed by non-professional actors, play an important part of the story. The film explores a number of themes such as corruption, political opportunism, and defense of cultural identity against the spread of Islam, Christianity and colonialism.