COMING UP!>>Ep.66 (S04, Ep,1):Africa’s Creative Economy (1): Ghana vs. Nigeria Film: Lessons Learnt?

Episode #66

(Season 4; Ep.1):  

Africa’s Creative Economy (1):

Ghana vs. Nigeria Film: Lessons Learnt?

We start off Season 4 with a bang – by jumping into the conversation on the Creative Economy, which we started in an earlier incarnation on 24 February 2015, and this year as “Towards an African Personality”. We will still reprise a conversation on this theme each 24 February, but want to use Season 4 to help unpack more concretely elements of Africa’s Creative Economy.

Although definitions of the Creative Economy continue to evolve, it is attributed to one John Howkins who developed the concept in 2001 “to describe economic systems where value is based on novel, imaginative qualities rather than traditional resources of land; labor and capital.”

Put simply: the term was applied to the arts; cultural goods and services; toys and games; research and development.

It is arguable that Africa has this in abundance, but has not necessarily been defined as such in the strictest sense of the term. We want to provoke our listeners to consider whether the continent’s Creative Economy can help African economies make money to complement the traditional responses to generating revenue.

Along the value chain of Africa’s Creative Economy is, arguably, the Film industry. Even if not all countries possess a Film industry – but pockets of different people doing their own thing, as stated by JOT Agyemang – it remains one of the most popular elements of the Creative Economy.

The borrowed nomenclature of “-wood” to both the Nigerian and Ghanaian ones are insufficient to mask the differences of style and substance of the two countries’.

The rich history alone of these two countries’ film needs to be unpacked – if even for the sake of nostalgia and for the aspiration that even as Africa struggles with the traditional ways of revenue-generation, if it just got its act together on the Creative Economy – especially film – it would serve as a significant boost to member countries.

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 16 March, 2016.

Call us on the following numbers

+233(0)289.000.931

Guiding questions

• How critical was Nigerian collaboration to the development of Ghanaian film?
• Can an enhanced Nigeria-Ghana collaboration foster mutual efficiency of their respective industries?
• What needs to quickly-happen to make this a reality?
• What lessons can the Ghanaian film industry draw from Nigeria’s evolution of its film industry in making epic movies?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Elijah Iposu , former Programmes Manager, Homebase TV

Ø  J.O.T Agyeman, Communications Consultant & General Manager, Productions, Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company 

***********************
*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14.

Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus.

Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.

Follow 24/7 on https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radioxyzonline.pc

ARTICLE: Episode #63 Season 3, Ep.19: “It is the greatest travesty Ghanaians have allowed their film industry to die” – JOT Agyeman

Episode #63

Season 3, Ep.19:

“It is the greatest travesty Ghanaians have allowed their film industry to die” – JOT Agyeman

AFRICA IN FOCUS SHOW

ACCRA, Ghana – Communications Consultant at Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company, JOT Agyeman, believes “it is a travesty that we are where we are today, because Nkrumah was the very person who set up in those times the Gold Coast Film Unit, and built a very remarkable film studio, which is, today, TV3.” He adds that, “all of the area around where TV3 is today belonged to the Ghana film industry, including the adjacent buildings, which houses the Information Services Department...” 

 

Speaking to E.K.Bensah Jr on the “Africa in Focus Show”, which reprised the topic of Pan-African Media & Film, the seasoned actor and script-writer explained how it “was Nkrumah's dream: to set up an African Film Industry with a base here in Ghana, so he put the facilities in place. However, on the overthrow of Nkrumah, subsequent governments”, he continues, “did not find it necessary to continue...and that led to the sale of the Ghana Film Industry recently to the Media General that now owns the building, which for me is the greatest travesty that as a nation we have allowed to happen. The fact that we have allowed our film industry to die.”

Agyeman explained, “If you take the setting up of NAFTI, School of Performing Arts, the Institute of African Studies, these were all there to enhance the African Film Industry, but...governments have not been proactive, especially Ghanaian governments after the overthrow of Nkrumah...in the development of film.” He laments how anyone who has done film has done it on their own, by finding some money somewhere.

Asked whether he was encouraged by what the AU is doing to establish a continental institution on Audiovisuals & Film, and an African Film Fund, he said it was already part of Nkrumah's dream to set it up, so he wonders why it has taken so long.

On his part, former Programmes Manager at Homebase TV, Elijah Iposu, believes that the proposed institution “is going to be yet-another talk shop that may achieve administrative and legal – probably – integration, but the creative integration will never be achieved, because the real people are not involved in the planning.” He wonders “how are we going to work out with fifty-four countries, what are the steps? Who are the people?” 

 

Questioned by the Bensah whether the private sector on the continent can work together outside the framework of the AU, Iposu believes even in Nollywood, the structures are there, but are not well-aligned. He talked of how Nollywood has actually begun to make epic movies, including one on the Nigerian civil war in 1976. He believes “we should look at the intra-regional integration” of films, and then when we are done “look at the similar challenges and possible solutions to them. After which we go a step further by saying Kenya, what are you doing, how can we learn in West Africa from you.”

Pressed to leave their take-home messages on a concrete vision for the creative economy, JOT first said “we need to put behind selfish desires as people in the creative industry. Everyone wants to do something on their own. The fact is that you cannot do everything on your own. Number two, we don't have a film industry...; we have pockets of people doing their own thing. We need to go back to the place where there was a film industry..and people from Nollywood came into Ghana to study. That's why NAFTI...and School of Performing Arts [were] established.”

He continues “what we need to do as a people is to set up a proper Creative Arts Commission...where we take on board the AU's desire to set up an Institute; we take on board other countries what they are doing, and find our place as a people. It could be”, he adds, “that Ghana can produce *only* script-writers, but if you produce the best script-writers within the continent, everybody knows where to go to! You cannot do everything; that is the point I am making.” 

He concludes “it took one person...Lupita Nyongu to come out of Kenya...that is not to say we didn't have people...: we have Idris Elba...and so many others. It just took one person and one movie. She won an Oscar for just one movie – her first movie “Twelve Years a Slave” – and immediately, Africa is on the map again. That’s all it takes: one good script; one good producer; one good actor, and then we'll be on the way to the top.”

For Iposu, he believes Ghana needs to identify “actual film-makers” as there are too many people parading as such. Secondly, “we need pioneers in the industry to come together...from Ghana; Cote d'Ivoire; Burkina Faso; Senegal; Nigeria ...and look for a way to mass up money and set up a Film Fund” that can be run, and even be floated on the stock exchange, “so you have people's interests.”

ENDs

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The “Africa in Focus” Show is hosted by Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr from 14h05 to 15h00 every Wednesday. You can download all podcasts from www.africainfocusradioshow.org . Follow the conversation on twitter on @africainfocus14 , using #africainfocus

COMING UP!>>Episode #63 (Season 3; Ep.19): Towards an African Personality (2): Does Ghanaian & Pan-African Film (& Media) Have Shared Values?

Episode #63 

(Season 3; Ep.19):  

Towards an African Personality (2):

Does Ghanaian & Pan-African Film (& Media) Have Shared Values?

24^th February is an important day in Ghana’s history – and especially this year as it is exactly fifty years since the coup that saw the exit of Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah from Ghana’s political scene.

Twelve months ago when we initiated the first of our series on “Towards an African Personality”, we spoke to one of the upcoming Ghanaian film directors Pascal Aka. In the interview, he urged those within the movie industry to consider the international context, and start writing stories that transcend the local context.

ETV Ghana's JOT Agyeman, a former actor himself, and seasoned script-writer, expressed disappointment at the nomenclature of "Ghallywood"; and "Nollywood", which he considers unnecessary. Kumawood, in his view, is not film, but "concert party on video".

Finally, Homebase TV Ghana's Elijah Iposu, a producer and director, encouraged Ghanaians and Nigerians to get back to what our fathers in Nkrumah did – by bringing together both Ghanaian and Nigerian film-makers to learn from each other to take Pan-African film to even greater heights.

Even more importantly, we need, in his view, to get to the stage where we can tell a witchcraft story, like Harry Potter, and go beyond ridicule of some of the Kumawood renditions of the same theme!

In Ep.63 (Season 3, ep.19) of the Show, we want to use the show to continue the conversation through the angle of “Shared Norms and Values”, which the AU declared in 2012. Africa’s continental organisation has one definition that describes it thus:

“…the concept of African men and women working together to develop the region and to address the political, economic and social challenges that the continent faces…”

The AU is always quick to remind us about the Shared Norms and Values Africans possess, for which reason architectures like that of the Africa Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture exist.

If Africa can have Shared Norms and Values on peace and security; and governance, then, surely, we must have same-such values for Film and Media?

In September 2015, delegates from thirteen African countries met in Nairobi from a two-day workshop to review a report on the State of the Africa audiovisual and cinema/film sector that would serve as a basis for the establishment of the Africa Audio Visual Cinema Commission (AACC) and the African Film Fund. It was organized by the AU and the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI).

Apart from the fact that it happened on the blind side of much of Africa’s media, what we do know from reports is this:  the report talked about the increasing recognition in African countries of the critical role of the creative economy in human progress, and the range of social and economic benefits that derive from it. It also noted that, Nigeria; South Africa; Kenya; and Egypt lead African countries in annual film revenue.

We also know this: The African Media Initiative (AMI) and FEPACI in 2015 signed an MoU to work together to strengthen and enhance the sector’s ability to contribute to development and to promote the creation of quality African audiovisual and film content. The two organizations will also consider mechanisms for promoting widespread distribution of African film on the continent and beyond.

To which we ask: why has it taken Ghana, and Africa, so long to get serious on a concerted approach on Film, and Media? Is it not time to capitalize on February as Black History Month, where alongside the celebration of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, Ghana’s own initiator of the “African Personality” looms large, to project a semblance of Pan-African identity for Film and Media?

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 24 February, 2015

Call us on the following numbers

+233(0)289.000.931

Guiding questions

• How critical is government in creating a conducive environment for Africa’s creative economy of Film?
• With exception of Central Africa, each region has a hegemon/leader accruing annual film revenue…
• Is it not time for regional cooperation on film (and media)?
• Why has it taken countries so long to develop the creative economy, and have they even started?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Elijah Iposu , former Programmes Manager, Homebase TV

Ø  J.O.T Agyeman , Communications Consultant & General Manager, Productions, Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company 

***********************
more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com. Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14. Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus .

Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.

Follow 24/7 on https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radioxyzonline.pc

LISTEN NOW!>> -- 24 February Edition: Ep.33 -- Pan-African Film & Media: Towards an African Personality?

Africa in Focus -- 24 February Edition: Pan-African Film & Media: Towards an African Personality? by Emmanuel K Bensah Jr on Mixcloud

STORIFY Feature: What you missed from the 24 February Edition of the Show -- Pan-African Film, and Media!

#PODCAST>>Episode 33: Pan-African Film & Media: Towards an African Personality, or a Conversation with Pascal Aka; JOT Agyeman; and Elijah Iposu

EPISODE #33
Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr
Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr

"Dear friends,

We used the thirty-third edition of the Africa in Focus show to take a look at Pan-African Film, and Media.

We spoke to one of the upcoming Ghanaian film directors Pascal Aka, who returned to Ghana four years ago, and is bringing his Canada-trained film-making to bring quality to bear on Ghanaian film--as evidenced by his plaudits for the 2014 film "Double Cross". He urges those within the movie industry to consider the international context, and start writing stories that transcend the local context.

Aka believes we need our Ghanaian film industry to move beyond what he believes are essentially glorified "Akan dramas".

ETV Ghana's JOT Agyemang, a former actor himself, is a seasoned script-writer, having written scripts for Yvonne Okoro; and half-way through a script about the overthrow of Nkrumah (a project that has taken him some two years to write). But JOT is also someone who has turned down a lot of Ghanaian film scripts on account of poor quality. 

He believes so-called nomenclature of "Ghallywood"; and "Nollywood" are unnecessary, as it is divorced from the reality of quality film. Kumawood, in his view, is not film, but "concert party ofn video", though it serves a purpose.

Finally, Homebase TV Ghana's Elijah Iposu, a producer and director, encourages Ghanaians and Nigerians to get back to what our fathers in Nkrumah did by bringing together both Ghanaian and Nigerian film-makers to learn from each other to take Pan-African film to even greater heights, especially at a time Nollywood films are making international waves. 

He encourages Ghanaian film-makers to reduce the "raw" content of their films, so that we can make good movies for Africa, and make money for producers. Even more importantly, we need, in his view, to get to the stage where we can tell a witchcraft story, like Harry Potter, and go beyond ridicule of some of the Kumawood renditions of the same theme!

On the 49th commemoration of Dr.Nkrumah, we had a particularly-entertaining conversation that brought reflections on cinematography; film; media; production; and direction; and infused it with a Pan-African feel.

Please find below a link to the podcast of the full edition of 24 February edition of "Africa in Focus": 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/27ruhvpwjgnk27p/AFRICA%20IN%20FOCUS%20%2024-02-15.mp3?dl=0


We look forward to comments!

In solidarity!"
Emmanuel""