GHANA’S film industry needs cultural authenticity to stand out on the global stage, and Ghanaian-American actress and filmmaker Aba Arthur recently underscored this point. She emphasised the importance of staying true to Ghana’s cultural identity in filmmaking.
Drawing comparisons to successful industries such as Nollywood, Bollywood and K-drama, she stressed that Ghana must prioritise telling its unique stories without compromising its cultural integrity.
She's absolutely right. Ghana has a wealth of compelling stories, particularly folktales, which could be adapted for the screen to showcase the depth and richness of our culture.
Nigeria's bold move to showcase its culture, especially through native languages in blockbuster movies such as 'Anikulapo', has certainly paid off, grabbing global attention and acclaim, as well as reshaping global perceptions of Nigerian cinema.
Nigerian actors speaking their native languages and wearing traditional attire in major films are refreshing and authentic; that's the kind of cultural pride Ghana should strive for.
Aba's emphasis on staying true to Ghanaian culture and language is particularly noteworthy.
K-dramas have gained global attention without sacrificing their cultural identity, and Ghana can do same.
Bollywood films are immediately recognisable as Indian, and that's what makes them so compelling. Let's take a page from their book and narrate our stories accurately.
However, cultural authenticity alone is not enough; it's also about having a compelling script and a strong narrative.
Aba notes that a good script attracts investors and lays the foundation for a thriving industry. But, as she pointed out, Ghana's film sector faces challenges, including securing financial backing, maintaining consistency, and fostering collaboration.
She therefore urges Ghanaians— creatives, investors and institutions alike— to unite and build the structures needed to strengthen our film industry.
Despite these challenges, Graphic Showbiz believes Ghana’s film industry holds tremendous potential. With a clear focus on authenticity, solid storytelling and improved industry support, Ghana can rise to global prominence and proudly share its cultural heritage with the rest of the world.
