Telling the stories of our unsung heroes… Ga Mantse's passionate call
AS the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko-Tsuru II, with his entourage walked majestically to the Africa Cinema Summit (ACS) hosted at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, October 8 as special Guest of Honour, it was obvious the overlord of the Ga State was more than a special guest for the occasion.
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He had a special message for the hundreds of filmmakers and enthusiasts in the hall who had come from various African countries to hold relevant conversations on the opportunities available and growth of Africa cinema.
And the word was that players in the Africa film industry should change the negative narratives and project individuals whose heroic exploits have shaped the continent through films.
Ghana's history for instance is rich with heroes who brought glory to the land and contributed significantly to the country's growth.
However, many of these great men and women have faded into obscurity, their stories lost to the sands of time.
The Ga Mantse was emphatic the stories of such great people like Ghanaian legend and boxer Azumah Nelson, whose craft brought glory to Ghana and Africa as a whole, promoting the African heritage and culture, should be told via films.
He challenged government to financially support a film that would tell the story of the celebrated boxer who he described as a proud son of Ga-Adamgbe lineage.
“One random story considering that we are on Ga and Ga-Adamgbe land and considering that he is a custodian of the Ga-Adamgbe culture is the story of one of the most achieved athletes on the African continent, Barima Professor Azumah ‘Zumzum’ Nelson who is a son of the Ga soil.”
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“His story has that of culture, inspiration and projection for the future, the African way. This is one of the many stories that can be pursued in a very vigorous way by the government that takes over in the year 2025,” he said.
Azumah Nelson is a retired professional Ghanaian boxer who was active between 1978 to 2008. He was a two-weight world champion, who held the WBC Featherweight title from 1984 to 1987 and WBC Super Featherweight title twice between 1988 and 1997.
Azumah Nelson's illustrious career was marked by a notable title challenge for the unified WBC and IBF Lightweight belts in 1990. He is a member of the exclusive International Boxing Hall of Fame, sharing the glory with some of the sport’s immortals.
Similar calls
Ga Mantse's call to action is just the latest in a series of passionate appeals from individuals urging the need to share the authentic stories of Ghana's iconic figures, such as Okomfo Anokye, Yaa Asantewaa among others, who have played vital roles in shaping the country's rich history and culture. These legendary individuals have left indelible marks on Ghana's heritage, and it's essential their stories are preserved and passed down to future generations.
Honestly, Ghana hasn’t done very well in this regard. Our films lack these authentic stories with the question of whose responsibility it is(government or filmmakers) to take up such an initiative sparking intense discussion among film enthusiasts, policymakers and industry professionals.
Oftentimes, the responsibility of making of such films have been left in the hands of filmmakers, challenging them to use their platforms to tell the untold stories about these heroes.
In a chat with Daily Graphic, Peter Sedufia who is the Creative Director of OldFilm Productions, supported the call for government to fund the shooting of historical movies.
He said producing such films came with a huge budget which Ghanaian filmmakers couldn’t afford.
“Recreating historical eras and generations require substantial budgets, which are often beyond our means, making it very challenging to tell those kinds of stories.”
“The cost of bringing these stories to life is prohibitively high, as it involves recreating entire periods and settings.”
“For instance, a story about Azumah Nelson can’t be told without him bringing the first limousine to Ghana.”
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“So I agree with the Ga Mantse that such films should be funded by government and not filmmakers,” he stated.
Africa Cinema Summit
The second edition of Africa Cinema Summit (ACS) opened in Accra on Monday, October 7 and ended on Thursday, October 10, with a call for Africans to build a strong cinema network.
Organised by the National Film Authority (NFA) of Ghana, in partnership with Filmhouse Group (Nigeria), Silverbird Cinema (Ghana), Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, Century CineMax (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), Canal Olympia, among others, this year’s summit was themed: “Is Cinema Relevant in African Communities”.
But as the lights dimmed on this year's Africa Cinema Summit, the charge by the Ga Mantse was not one of accolades but the urgent need to the tell stories of African heroes through film.
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Empowerment
For too long, the world has perpetuated a narrative of Africa as a continent shrouded in darkness and despair. However, by telling the heroic stories of Africans through film, we can empower the next generation to take pride in their heritage and idolise icons who reflect their own identity.
This is not merely a matter of entertainment; it's a vital step in redefining Africa's narrative, shattering stereotypes, and fostering a sense of self-worth among young Africans.
And this can only be achieved through a flourishing film industry that resonates deeply with African viewers while continuing to capture the world's attention.