- Akosua Adoma Owusu
If you grew up in Ghana, the mention of Ananse stories should send you into a bout of nostalgia. The Saturday TV show ‘By the Fireside’ plays a huge part in many childhood memories and a lot of life’s lessons were learnt through these stories. Ananse is known to many as a trickster in African folk tales, who appears in the form of a spider and a man. Ghanaian-American film producer, Akosua Adoma Owusu has sought to revive this African folk tale by adding a touch of modernity to it.
“Kwaku Ananse” is an intensely personal project which draws upon the rich mythology of Ghana. The short film combines semi-autobiographical elements with the tale of Kwaku Ananse, a trickster in West African stories who appears as both spider and man. Ananse teaches us that there are two sides to everything and everyone.The fable of Kwaku Ananse is combined with the story of a young outsider named Nyan Koronhwea attending her estranged father’s funeral. Nyan’s father led two separate lives with two wives and two families — one in Ghana, one in the United States. Nyan’s ambivalence about her father’s double life is a reflection of a broader truth about the nature of our personal relationships. – Akosua Owusu (Creator)
The authenticity of the tale led to the film being selected and screened by the Berlinale Shorts Competition and will be shown at the CinemAfrica film festival which takes place between the 13th and 17th of March. This 25 minute film hosts a number of veteran actors including: Grace Omaboe, the original host of By the Fireside, Agya Koo Nimo, Jojo Abot a singer and actress and Karim Adam.
It is exceptionally good that the authenticity of Ghanaian and West African fables are being preserved and revived to fit with the times. GUBA is pleased with the efforts made by Akosua Owusu in preserving and passing on the legacy of African storytelling.
To find out more about this short film, visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kwaku-Ananse-Film/461317263901361