Location
Kumasi, Accra, Takoradi
Synopsis and Position
Pioneer video filmmakers in Ghana have their cultural products on analogue formats such as VHS, SUPER-VHS and BETACAM. These formats are believed to contain contents that resonates with the Ghanaian socio-cultural memories. Regardless the contents are trapped in these outdated formats. This project is envisaged to collect, digitize and place on an accessible repository, analogue video native films produced between the early 1980’s to 1995 just before digital video came onto the Ghanaian scene. The focus on analogue video native works is because we view those materials to be at risk of total destruction, as the era of its height of usage was faced with limited technology for preservation of materials.
Objectives and Methods
To collect and digitize analogue video native works.
To film interview sessions with video native producers.
To place all data on an online repository.
Workshops and Events
To be confirmed
Activities
To say that analogue video production is the precursor of cinematic pluralism and independence in Ghana is an understatement. Video technology brought diversity and democratized the film production industry. By the beginning of the 1990’s, large quantum of video films produced by budding video filmmakers had positioned it as a dominant popular culture in Ghana. Titles such as Zinabu, Kanana, Sika Sunsum, Diabolo, Who Killed Nancy, Step Dad and hundred other titles visually expressed important aspects of the experiences and dreams of the middle- and lower-class members of the Ghanaian society yet, these titles are currently merely a faint memory as there is almost no access to contents.
Pioneer video filmmakers in Ghana have their cultural products on analogue formats such as VHS, SUPER-VHS and BETACAM. These formats are believed to contain contents that resonates with the Ghanaian socio-cultural memories. Regardless, the contents are trapped in these outdated formats. This project was envisaged to collect, digitize and place on an accessible repository, analogue video native films produced between the early 1980’s to late 1990’s just before digital video came onto the Ghanaian scene. The focus on analogue video native works is because we view those materials to be at risk of total destruction, as the era of its height of usage was faced with limited technology for preservation of materials.
Participating video pioneers readily welcomed the project and collaborated fully by providing copies of their films and participating in video interviewed on their body of work. Most of the participants were men with only one woman who worked as a producer and sometime, production manager. Most of the films received from them were in a destructive stage. For instance, out of the over 40 video films produced by Socrates Safo the team collected only 8 copies from him and most were beyond salvage. Regardless, some have been salvaged and placed on an accessible website https://ghfilmarchive.com . This is an ongoing project aimed at bringing alive, the contents of analogue video films which we consider to be at the most risk of total destruction. The channel will however expand to incorporate all other films and formats of archival importance to Ghanaians and beyond.