Sankofa is a film about memory that combines elements of science fiction and documentary. Sankofa succeeds, on both a personal and a political level, because. Written, directed and produced by ethiopianborn filmmaker haile gerima, sankofa is. Notably, the film received a nomination for germanys golden bear, the most prestigious award within the german film industry. The film sankofa is an akan word that means, one must return to the past in order to move forward.
Sankofa is a social justice organization founded by harry belafonte that enlists the support of todays most celebrated artists and influential individuals in collaboration with grassroots partners to elevate the voices of the disenfranchised and promote justice, peace, and equality. Sankofa tv is a private freetoair television broadcaster and a subsidiary of sankofa media group llc which also operates sankofa radio. While visiting an old fortress from the slavetrade era in ghana, mona oyafunmike ogunlano encounters a colorful local character, an elderly mystic going by the name of sankofa. Sankofa 1993 dvd black history film black then and. I, i am a new recording artist and i was wondering how i can submit to my video and audio for airplay on your station if you please if youd please respond to my inquiry ill be most grateful. What movies about slavery teach us about race relations today. Aja monet the true definition of an artist is how the iconic harry belafonte describes aja monet who is a poet, educator, and songwriter from east ny, brooklyn. Sankofa was developed from 20 years of research into the transatlantic slave trade and the experiences of african slaves in the new world. Read the sankofa movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on movies. Powerful, moving and highly acclaimed, director haile gerimas sankofa is a masterpiece of cinema that has had a transformative impact on audiences since its release in 1993. Sankofa the only authorized dvd film by haile gerima mypheduh films, inc. Filming for the movie took place in five different countries, including germany and the united states. A selfabsorbed black american fashion model on a photo shoot in africa is spiritually transported back to a plantation in the west indies where she experiences firsthand the physical and psychic horrors of. The critical reception of the 1993 film sankofa, especially from those with an academic interest in the field of slave narrative studies, has made it a significant member of slavery film canon.
Sankofa 1993 cast and crew a model oyafunmike ogunlano on a photo shoot in ghana encounters an old mystic kofi ghanaba who transports her into the past, where she becomes a slave. A selfabsorbed black american fashion model on a photo shoot in africa is spiritually transported back to a plantation in the west indies where she experiences firsthand the physical and psychic horrors of chattel slavery, and eventually the redemptive power of community and rebellion as she. Kofi ghanaba, oyafunmike ogunlano, alexandra duah language. Sankofa depicts the appropriation of violence by its victimsand the movie itself is an act of history, a bearing of witness, and a reminder and reinforcement of dignity. Mona is a black american model visiting the country for a photosession. To teach a film study class on slavery without including sankofa would be like teaching a nineteenthcentury british literature class without mentioning jane austen. Test your javascript, css, html or coffeescript online with jsfiddle code editor. Gerimas film showed the importance of not having people of african descent drift far away from their african roots. While on the beach taking pictures, mona meets the mystical sankofa.
It is only through her return to the past that she can move forward, hence the name of the film, sankofa, an akan word meaning go back and take or go back to move. If they were whipped to death or killed death and abuse became the subject of the movie. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing sankofa near you. Kofi ghanaba, oyafunmike ogunlano, alexandra duah, nick medley, mutabaruka, afemo omilami, reginald carter, mzuri. Haile gerima burkina faso 1993 more information on this movie. Sankofa film series is a collaborative film series exploring films through the lens of the diaspora. After years of test transmission, the company began full scale onair in august 2016. In the beginning of the film there are drums and chants coming from spirits of a young african american woman named. Mona oyanfunmike ogunlano is on a photoshoot at cape coast castle in ghana, which served as a slave castle during the slave trade in africa. This black history film tells the supernatural tale of a black american model who, while on a photoshoot in africa, reconnects with her roots in the most improbable yet powerful way. Sankofa is a 1993 burkinese drama film directed by haile gerima centered on the atlantic slave trade. Sankofa dvd rental, rent sankofa movie online rent sankofa dvd and over 100,000 other movies at blockbuster.
It told of the horrors and abuse african people who were brought to this country. Haile gerima burkina faso 1993 summary credits press documents. With this trailblazing film, gerima did away with the nostalgic romanticising of slavery as presented in american cultural expressions, particularly cinema. A selfabsorbed black american fashion model on a photo shoot in africa is spiritually transported back to a plantation in the west indies where she experiences firsthand the physical and psychic horrors of chattel slavery, and eventually the redemptive power of community and rebellion as she becomes a member of a freedomseeking maroon colony. In the film, sankofa is depicted by a bird and the chants and drumming of a divine drummer.
The word sankofa derives its meaning from the ghanaian akan language which means to go back, look for, and gain wisdom, power and hope, according to dr. With kofi ghanaba, oyafunmike ogunlano, alexandra duah, nick medley. We at are partnering with artists of today who are using their voice to impact the future. The theme of sankofa centers on the importance of going back to the past in order to understand the present. Sankofa is an akan word that means, we must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward. This empowering film tells a story of slavery and of the african. This film takes place in both present day and the past. Ophelia latest asante akan ghanaian twi movie starring afia big mouth download. Written, directed and produced by ethiopianborn filmmaker haile gerima, sankofa is a powerful film about maafathe african holocaust.
This empowering film tells a story of slavery and of the african diaspora from the perspective of the enslaved, challenging the romanticizing of slavery prevalent in american culture. This movie is amazing, probably the truest, realest movie regarding slavery. Sankofa the only authorized dvd film directed by haile gerima, mypheduh films, inc. Buy, download, or rent sankofa at blockbuster today. Does anyone know where i could watch the movie sankofa. The storyline features oyafunmike ogunlano, kofi ghanaba, mutabaruka, alexandra duah, and afemo omilami. A selfabsorbed black american fashion model on a photo shoot in africa is spiritually transported back to a plantation in the west indies where she experiences firsthand the physical and psychic horrors of chattel slavery, and eventually the redemptive power of community and rebellion as. Mona, a contemporary model, is possessed by spirits lingering in the. After there was a discussion and the producer was right there in the theater with the rest of us.
Sankofa black bookstore about african diaspora united. Movies tv shows news live fashion learning spotlight. Pdf analysis of haile gerimas 1992 film, sankofa researchgate. Some thematic elements that were displayed throughout the movie were religion, abuse, discrimination and death. The old man claims to be in contact with spirits, and she is intrigued by this.
Death and abuse verbal and physical was a big part of the movie. Onyame akwan ye hu ghanaian asante akan twi full movie download. They carry a vast collection of downloadable movies. In this 1993 film by ethiopianborn filmmaker haile gerima, a modernday, fashion model is transported to the past to experience the traumas of american chattel slavery. The word sankofa stresses the importance of one not drifting too far away from ones past in order to progress in the future. The tv station produces a variety of programs including talk shows, educative and entertainment programs aimed at. Download stream movies to your computer, just choose from any of our titles to download full movies and watch them online. Sankofa was a magnificent film that showed the horrible past that african americans had to go through. I guess we cant watch slave movies without a white protagonist. This empowering film tells a story of slavery and of the african diaspora from the.