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Cinema of Ghana also known as the Ghana Film Industry nicknamed Ghallywood, began when early film making was first introduced to the British colony of Gold Coast (now
Ghana Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to t ...
) in 1923. At the time only affluent people could see the films, especially the colonial master of Gold Coast. In the 1950s, film making in Ghana began to increase. Cinemas were the primary venue for watching films until
home video Home video is recorded media sold or Video rental shop, rented for home viewing. The term originates from the VHS and Betamax era, when the predominant medium was videotapes, but has carried over to optical disc formats such as DVD and Blu-ray. ...
became more popular. The movie industry has no official name as yet since consultations and engagements with stakeholders has been ongoing when a petition was sent to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture which suspended the use of the name Black Star Films.


Cinema in the colonial period

In the early 1920s, individuals in the private sector brought film to Ghana (then Gold Coast) by opening cinemas in urban areas. By 1923, cinema has become a new form of entertainment, and only the affluent could see the films that were exhibited at the cinemas. Cinemas were for the first class society, that is the colonial leaders and their top officials. Later on cinema vans were used in rural areas. In the 1948, when the colonial masters discovered that film, besides its entertainment values, could be used to brainwash and transform society in the direction of the filmmaker, decided to establish the Gold Coast Film Unit at the Information Services Department of the colonial government. Film became another system, considered to be scientifically appropriate, to influence society. The Gold Coast Film Unit used green-yellow
Bedford buses Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford on the ...
to screen
documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...
s,
newsreel A newsreel is a form of short documentary film, containing news, news stories and items of topical interest, that was prevalent between the 1910s and the mid 1970s. Typically presented in a Movie theater, cinema, newsreels were a source of cu ...
s and government information films to the public. Attendance was free. (Sakyi 1996: 9). The films included
propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...
films about
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, which were produced by the Colonial Film Unit (CFU) in London. (cf. Diawara 1992: 3). After the war, the unit produced educational films and feature films for their African colonies. The films were designed to contrast the Western "civilised" way of life with the African "backward" way of life. They suggested "
superstitious A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs and p ...
" customs should be ceased. (Diawara 1992: 3; Ukadike 1994: 44ff). The Gold Coast Film Unit, also produced films with local interest to encourage improvements in health, crops, living, marketing and human co-operation. (Middleton–Mends 1995: 1; Diawara 1992: 5). In 1948, the Gold Coast Film Unit began to train local African film makers. Films were exchanged with other British colonies in Africa. (Middleton-Mends ibid.).


Ghana Film Industry: Contemporary Ghana cinema

The cinema industry in Ghana, also known as Ghana Film Industry formerly Ghallywood started in the early part of the 1980s. Before Ghana Film Industry, the government of Ghana, who inherited the film industry from the colonial government, was the only producer of films in the country. The first president of Ghana, Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah Francis Kwame Nkrumah (, 21 September 1909 – 27 April 1972) was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary. He served as Prime Minister of the Gold Coast (British colony), Gold Coast from 1952 until 1957, when it gained ...
, in 1964 established the Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC) at Kanda, in Accra, which would become the country's capital in 1877. GFIC now houses TV3, a private Malaysian TV station. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the President of the first Republic of Ghana, sent a lot of Ghanaians abroad to learn filmmaking purposely for the running of the GFIC. Ghana had professionally trained filmmakers who were employed by the government to produce films for the socioeconomic development of the country. Legends such as Rev. Chris Hesse, Mr. Ernest Abbeyquaye, Mr.
Kwaw Ansah Kwaw Paintsil Ansah (born 1941) is a Ghanaian film-maker, whose work as writer, director or producer includes ''Love Brewed in the African Pot'' in 1980 and '' Heritage Africa'' in 1989. His first feature, ''Love Brewed in the African Pot'', ear ...
and many others were all trained by the government, under the leadership of President Nkrumah. GFIC was established to use indigenous Ghanaian made films to reverse the negative impact of the films made by the colonial government and to restore the pride of being a Ghanaian and an African in the citizens. The Ghana Film Industry Corporation was making films to serve the purpose of building self-reliance in the African people. More than 150 feature and documentary films were produced by the GFIC by the late 1960s. After the overthrow of Nkrumah in 1966, the film industry in Ghana had a nose down. In 1981, the first independent film, ''
Love Brewed in the African Pot ''Love Brewed in the African Pot'' is a 1980 Ghanaian The Ghanaian people are a nation originating in the Gold Coast (region), Ghanaian Gold Coast. Ghanaians predominantly inhabit the Republic of Ghana and are the predominant cultural group ...
'', was produced by Kwaw Ansah, one of the legendary filmmakers in Ghana. The film was shot on celluloid film. After that, King Ampaw, a Ghanaian filmmaker trained in German also followed suit with the release of his film ''
Kukurantumi Kukurantumi is the capital of the Abuakwa North Municipal District of the Eastern Region of Ghana Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
- The Road to Accra'' in 1982. By the middle of the 1980s, the new generation in Ghana, led by William Akuffo, decided to adapt the new video technology that was introduced to the world in 1978, for the production of films. The Video Home System (VHS) cameras were used to shoot feature-length films from 1986 in Ghana. The idea was to tell the Ghanaian and African narrative by the African. Ghana was the first country in the world to use VHS cameras to shoot feature-length films. By the end of the 1980s, Ghana could boast of a number of films produced in Ghana on VHS tapes cassettes. Since the late 1980s, the making of
direct-to-video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strat ...
films has increased in Ghana. Funds for cinematography were hard to come by for both the state-owned Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC) and for independent film makers. Therefore, people in Ghana began to make their own films using
VHS VHS (Video Home System) is a discontinued standard for consumer-level analog video recording on tape cassettes, introduced in 1976 by JVC. It was the dominant home video format throughout the tape media period of the 1980s and 1990s. Ma ...
video camera A video camera is an optical instrument that captures videos, as opposed to a movie camera, which records images on film. Video cameras were initially developed for the television industry but have since become widely used for a variety of other ...
s. The independent filmmakers created their own Ghanaian stories and scripts of the films, assembled actors, both professionals and amateurs and made successful films especially in
Accra Accra (; or ''Gaga''; ; Ewe: Gɛ; ) is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , had a population of ...
. Income from these VHS video movies helped to support the film industry. In the 1980s, when the filmmakers started making the video-films, GFIC rose bitterly against it. The authorities of the GFIC did not see the future of video technology becoming part of the global format of filmmaking so they practically rose against it and made it difficult for the independent producers in Ghana at the time. GFIC prohibited their film directors to assist the independent producer in making the video-films. The consequence of this decision of GFIC caused the country to lose professionalism in the art of filmmaking in Ghana. The producers were forced to start directing their own video-films. This culture of produce and direct without any professional training on filmmaking would become the controllable culture in the next three decades. After some years, GFIC started to offer technical support to the VHS
filmmakers Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screenwritin ...
in exchange for the right to first screening in its Accra cinemas. Their films had become very popular since the Ghanaians were seeing true narratives of who they were through these films made by indigenous Ghanaian filmmakers. By the early 1990s, approximately fifty VHS video movies per year were made in Ghana. Over time, professional and amateur filmmakers in Ghana produced films of similar quality and garnered equal respect. In 1996, the government of Ghana sold seventy percent of the equity in the GFIC to the
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
n television production company, Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad of Kuala Lumpur. The GFIC was renamed "Gama Media System Ltd". This also affected the rising film industry in the country very badly. GFIC was in charge of about half the cinema-theatres in the country at the time. The sales of the 70% of GFIC collapsed the cinema industry. The company had little interest in film making and so the film industry in Ghana continued with independent film makers whose funding relied on the popular appeal of the films. For example, in Ghanaian cinema, there is a popular theme of darkness and occultism placed in a framework of
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
dualism involving God and the Devil (see Meyer 1999a). Twi dialect movies are known as "
Kumawood Kumawood is a privately owned film and awards company that is based in Kumasi, Ghana. It was founded by Samuel Kwabena Darko, a Ghanaian businessman and entrepreneur. Kumawood was incorporated as a limited liability company in 2006. Soon after, ...
" films. English-speaking Ghanaian films are sometimes known as "Ghallywood" productions. And all the films made in Ghana are referred to as the Ghana Films since there is no official name yet. Films depicting
African witchcraft In Africa, ''witchcraft'' refers to various beliefs and practices. These beliefs often play a significant role in shaping social dynamics and can influence how communities address challenges and seek spiritual assistance. Much of what "witchcraft ...
are popular in Ghana, despite criticism being directed towards them. Ghana produces
low-budget A low-budget film or low-budget movie is a motion picture shot with little to no funding from a major film studio or private investor. Many independent films are made on low budgets, but films made on the mainstream circuit with inexperienced o ...
visual effects films. These include ''
2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...
'' (2010), and ''Obonsam Besu'' (''The Devil Will Cry''). In about 1997, Ghanaians and Nigerians started making collaboration films that introduced Nigerian film directors such as Ifeanyi Onyeabor (a.k.a. Big Slim), Rev. Tony Meribe-White and later around 2006, the Nigerian filmmaker
Frank Rajah Arase Frank Rajah Efosa Arase is a Nigerian film director. Arase is a native of Edo State, Nigeria. He was nominated for ''Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Director, Best Director'' at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards. Early life Arase was born ...
who was brought in by Ifeanyi Onyeabor as his personal or production assistant. He also grew to become a movie director and collaborated with Venus Films, a Ghanaian production company, to produce a number of films that brought out Ghanaian popular actors who could access work in
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
(
Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...
). Some of the actors included
Van Vicker Joseph van Vicker (born 1 August 1977), better known as Van Vicker, is a Ghanaian actor, film director and humanitarian. He is the chief executive officer of Sky + Orange production, a film production house. Van Vicker received two nominations f ...
, Jackie Appiah,
Majid Michel Majid Michel (born 22 September 1980) is a Ghanaian actor, model, television personality, evangelist and a humanitarian. He received nominations for ''Best Actor in a Leading Role'' at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2 ...
,
Yvonne Nelson Yvonne Nelson (born 12 November 1985) is a Ghanaian actress, model, film producer, author, entrepreneur and a former Miss Ghana Contestant.
,
John Dumelo John Matthew Kofi Setor Dumelo (born 3 February 1984) is a Ghanaian actor and politician. He is the Member of Parliament representing the Ayawaso West, Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency. He currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Food and ...
,
Nadia Buari Nadia Buari (born November 21, 1982) is a Ghanaian actress. She received two nominations for Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actress Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, in a Leading R ...
and
Yvonne Okoro Chinyere Yvonne Okoro is a Ghanaian Nigerian actress. Born to a Nigerian dad and Ghanaian mother, Yvonne Okoro is of mixed lineage and calls herself an African. Yvonne Okoro is from Koforidua in the Eastern Parts of Ghana. She received Ghana M ...
. Some Nigerian producers have filmed in Ghana where production costs are lower. In 2017, the Ndiva Women's Film Festival, an African film festival for women filmmakers and audiences, was established in
Accra Accra (; or ''Gaga''; ; Ewe: Gɛ; ) is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , had a population of ...
.


Themes in Ghanaian Cinema

Ghanaian films often explore themes related to culture, tradition, and social issues. Many films delve into the complexities of Ghanaian identity, reflecting the tension between modernity and tradition. Issues such as gender roles, family dynamics, and the impact of globalization are frequently depicted. ''Films'' like "Love Brewed in the African Pot" and "
Heritage Africa Heritage Africa is Ghanaian movie which was produced and directed by Kwaw Ansah in 1989. Plot A young man called Kwasi Atta Bosomefi who is a public servant during the colonial period rose up the ranks because of his relationship with the coloni ...
" are quintessential examples of how Ghanaian filmmakers use cinema as a medium to address societal issues and celebrate African heritage


Future Prospects

The future of Ghanaian cinema looks promising, with a new generation of filmmakers emerging who are keen on pushing the boundaries of storytelling. The rise of digital platforms has provided new opportunities for distribution, allowing Ghanaian films to reach a global audience. Additionally, there is a growing interest in Ghanaian cinema from international audiences, which could lead to increased investment and collaboration with foreign filmmakers. If the industry can overcome its current challenges, the future holds great potential for the Cinema of Ghana


Africa Cinema Summit

In November 2023, the Ghana National Film Authority in collaboration with
Silverbird Cinemas The Silverbird Group is a diversified multi-media company with holdings in Radio, Television, Real Estate, and Cinemas headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. The company was established in 1980 by Ben Murray-Bruce and counts Silverbird Cinemas and th ...
and FilmOne Group hosted the inaugural
African Cinema Cinema of Africa covers both the History of film, history and present of the Filmmaking, making or screening of films on the African continent, and also refers to the persons involved in this form of audiovisual culture. It dates back to the ear ...
Summit (ACS) in Accra, gathering filmmakers from across the continent to discuss strengthening Africa’s film industry through collaboration and resource-sharing. The summit, organized to revitalize African cinema and enhance its economic impact, highlighted the potential for the industry to reflect the continent’s cultural and historical diversity on a global stage. Edward Moukala, head of
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
’s Accra office, called for unified efforts to foster a vibrant film industry, while Ghanaian filmmaker and National Film Authority CEO
Juliet Asante Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante is a Ghanaian film actress, producer and director, and philanthropist. She is a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Film Authority (NFA). Her latest film, '' Silver Rain'', was nominated for "Best Film ...
emphasized the need for African filmmakers to expand beyond local markets. Discussions underscored that African cinema generates approximately $5 billion annually but has the potential to reach $20 billion and create 20 million jobs, as cited by
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
. The second edition of the Summit took place in Accra in October 2024 organized under the theme of “The Relevance of Cinema in African Communities". Actor
Idris Elba Idrissa Akuna Elba Order of the British Empire, OBE ( ; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor and musician. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three BAFTA Awards and six Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards. He w ...
headlined the event.


Notes


References


Bibliography

*Allen, Robert C. 1995 Introduction. In: R. C. Allen (ed.) ''To be Continued.... Soap Operas Around the World''. London: Routledge. pp. 1–26. *Brantlinger, Patrick. 1988. ''Rule of Darkness. British Literature and Imperialism, 1830–1914''. Ithaca and London: Cornell University *Diawara, Manthia. 1992. ''African Cinema. Politics & Culture''. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. *Geschiere, Peter. 1997. ''The Modernity of Witchcraft. Politics and the Occult in Postcolonial Africa''. Charlottesville and London: University Press of Virginia *Gifford, Paul. 1994. "Ghana's Charismatic Churches". ''Journal of Religion in Africa'' 64 (3): 241-65 *Gifford, Paul. 1998 African Christianity. Its Public Role. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indianan University Press *Gunning, Tom. 1989. "An Aesthetic of Astonishment". ''Art & Text'' 34 (Spring):* *Kramer, Fritz. 1987. ''Der rote Fes. †ber Besessenheit und Kunst in Afrika''. Frankfurt am Main: AthenŠum. *Landau, Paul. 1994. "The Illumination of Christ in the Kalahari Desert". Representations 45 (Winter): 26–40. *McLuhan, Marshall. 1995
964 Year 964 ( CMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events Byzantine Empire * Arab–Byzantine War: Emperor Nikephoros II continues the reconquest of south-eastern Anatolia (modern Turkey). He recaptures Cyp ...
''Understanding Media. The Extensions of Man''. London: Routledge. *McQuire, Scott. 1998. ''Visions of Modernity. Representation, Memory, Time and Space in the Age of the Camera''. London: Sage. *Mensah, G. B. 1989. "The Film Industry in Ghana — Development, Potentials and Constraints". University of Ghana, Legon: Unpublished thesis. *Meyer, Birgit. 1995. "Delivered from the Powers of Darkness. Confessions about Satanic Riches in Christian Ghana". ''Africa'', Vol. 65 (2): 263–55. *Meyer, Birgit. "Make a complete break with the past. Memory and Post-colonial Modernity in Ghanaian Pentecostalist discourse". ''Journal of Religion in Africa'' XXVII (3):316–349. *Meyer, Birgit. 1999a. ''Translating the Devil. Religion and Modernity Among the Ewe in Ghana''. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. *Meyer, Birgit.1999b. "Popular Ghanaian Cinema and the African Heritage". Working Paper 7. The Hague: WOTRO-Project "Globalization and the Construction of Communal Identitie". *Middleton–Mends, Kofi. 1995. "Video-Production — Which Direction?" Unpublished paper. *Moore, Rachel. n.d. "Savage Theory. Cinema as Modern Magic". Manuscript. *Morton–Williams. 1953. Cinema in Rural Nigeria. A Field Study of the Impact of Fundamental-Education Films on Rural Audiences in Nigeria. West African Institute of Social and Economic Research, University College, Ibadan. *Neal, James H. 1966. Ju-ju in My Life. London: George G. Harap. *Pels, Peter. 1999. A Politics of Presence. Contacts Between Missionaries and Waluguru in Late Colonial Tanganyika. Chur: Harwood Academic Publishers. *Powdermaker, Hortense. 1950. ''Hollywood. The Dream Factory''. USA: The Universal Library, Little Brown, and Company *Sakyi, Kwamina. 1996. "The Problems and Achievements of the Ghana Film Industry Corporation and the Growth and Development of the Film Industry in Ghana". University of Ghana, Legon: Unpublished thesis. * Sreberny–Mohammadi, Annabelle and Ali Mohammadi. 1994. '' Small Media, Big Revolution. Communication, Culture, and the Iranian Revolution''. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. *Starker, Steven. 1989. ''Evil Influences. Crusades Against the Mass Media''. New Brunswick & London: Transaction Publishers. *Tyler, Parker. 1971
947 Year 947 (Roman numerals, CMXLVII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – A Principality of Hungary, Hungarian army led by Grand Prince Taksony of Hungary, Taksony campaign ...
''Magic and Myth of the Movies''. London: Secker & Warburg. *Ukadike, Nwachukwu Frank. 1994. ''Black African Cinema''. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press. *Van der Geest, Sjaak. n.d. "Ybisa Wo Fie: Building a House in Akan Culture". Unpublished paper. *Verrips, Jojada. in press. "The State and the Empire of Evil" in J. Mitchell & P. Clough (eds), ''Powers of Good and Evil''. Oxford: Berghahn Books. *Richard Yaw Boateng, National President of Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG). 2015.


See also

* Ghana National Film Authority {{DEFAULTSORT:Cinema Of Ghana Industry in Ghana