Kwaw Ansah unveils films to reclaim Africa’s narrative

Veteran Ghanaian filmmaker Kwaw Ansah has launched a documentary and an animated film aimed at sparking conversations about Africa's identity, history, and future. The productions, unveiled at a private industry screening in Accra under the theme ‘Why Are We Here Africa?’, brought together leading actors, directors, and creative industry stakeholders.

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Audio-visual storytelling remained one of the most powerful tools for reclaiming African identity, challenging long-held stereotypes and presenting authentic African stories to global audiences.

The centerpiece is a one-hour, 20-minute documentary that delves into the historical, political, and cultural factors contributing to Africa's development challenges. It features prominent African intellectuals examining these issues. This is complemented by a 21-minute animated film exploring themes of African suffering, loss of identity, and the enduring effects of slavery and colonization.

Ansah emphasized that audio-visual storytelling is a powerful tool for reclaiming African identity and challenging stereotypes. He stressed the need for Africa to actively use film to redefine its global perception, urging stronger collaboration among filmmakers. He explained that while slavery inflicted immense suffering, colonization inflicted a deeper psychological blow by altering Africans' self-perception and cultural values.

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Africa could not afford to be left behind in the global media landscape and must deliberately use film to redefine how the continent was perceived, both by its own people and the rest of the world.

The documentary includes contributions from various African and Ghanaian intellectuals, including Solomon Owusu and Kwasi Pratt Jr., who propose pathways toward cultural renewal and self-determination. Filmmaker Ivan Quashigah described cinema as a potent instrument capable of reversing decades of psychological conditioning shaped by foreign narratives, urging filmmakers to use it to counter foreign storytelling.

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Cinema is a powerful instrument capable of reversing decades of psychological conditioning shaped by foreign narratives.