Veteran actress and filmmaker Selassie Ibrahim has called on Ghanaian filmmakers to pay closer attention to cultural accuracy, warning that borrowing elements from other countries weakens the identity of local productions.
Addressing creatives at a recent industry gathering, Selassie said authentic storytelling goes beyond dialogue and extends to costumes, traditions and the overall presentation of Ghanaian culture.
“Nigeria will not come and tell your stories for you. We will not tell their stories for them.”
She argued that filmmakers undermine their own work when they mix cultural identities in productions meant to represent Ghana.
“You cannot be telling a Ghanaian story and dress like a Nigerian Igbo man. Are you okay?”
According to Selassie, international distributors pay close attention to such details when deciding whether to acquire a film.
“These are the things they will look at before they take your movie and say, ‘Listen, I want to pitch it.’”
She said preserving Ghana’s cultural identity in films is essential if the country wants its stories to stand out on the international stage, urging filmmakers to remain true to their heritage instead of borrowing from neighbouring industries.
