How many Ghanaian movies did you have the privilege of watching in the 90s and how old were you then – and do you sometimes wonder where they are at all?
Ghana started making films as far back as 1920 when we were ruled by the British – as our colonial masters. Growing up in the 90s, I can boast of having watched most Ghanaian movies produced in the 90s – – I long to see them back on our TV screens.
I recall David Dontoh in the movie ‘Confessions’– in which despite his friend, Fred Amugi’s advice to him to check his sexcapades, he refused to listen until he had his manhood chopped off by an angel in a dream.
Then was ‘Fatal Decision.’ Do you remember Super OD’s funny lines when he saw the ghost: ‘Ataa na nyungb) heee bajoo bi eeee!’
I remember Mac Jordan Amartey and William Addo in the movie ‘You Can’t Laugh.’ Indeed one couldn’t help laughing at Mac Jordan, seeing his wife being bonked as he sleuthed on from afar with his penis erect!
I recall vividly, the movie ‘Dangerous Game’ in which Victor Lutterodt disguised himself into a mysterious Papa Ninja – killing people by heart but was caught at last.
I remember Brew Riverson Junior in ‘The Police Officer.’ Brew Riverson’s family house was robbed, his father killed, sister raped and younger brother crippled. The only way to appease his conscience was to join the police force to take revenge. It was an emotion laden movie worth watching.
I enjoyed watching Kwame Sefa Kayi’s giraffe neck in ‘Escape to Love’ and Kalsoume Sinare’s bonny framework in ‘Babina.’ Those days if I was dashed Kalsoume Sinare, I would have rejected her — but today, her front ‘towers’ alone will make me lie prostrate for her.
After David Dontoh’s best friend went to prison for him, he forgot about him and rather started chopping down his friend’s wife. David Dontoh, then known as Ghanaman, gave us a tragic ending in the movie ‘Justice.’ —- I hated David Dontoh for that role he played. Indeed, he played his role with precision as a blunt-circle actor should.
Again, I recall David Dontoh in ‘Out of Sight, Out of Love’ – in which he slept with a woman whose husband travelled abroad – – Mr. Dontoh was the real Majid Michel or John Dumelo of that time in movies.
I enjoyed Nat Banini who gossiped in almost every movie – oh yes he gossiped in the movie ‘Expectations.’ In that movie, I recall that strange hand (without a body) that sprinkled a poison into a character’s food — that was technology at its best from Ghana.
I still hold fond memories of Akata and Akatsa in the movie ‘Kanana.’ I wondered how an antelope caught in a snare could turn into a lady’s thigh around a character’s neck in the bush. That directorial trick baffled my mind then. ‘Kanana’ was a master’s masterpiece.
I can’t forget that romantic comedy movie, ‘When The Heart Decides.’ It remembers me of the song the two love birds (characters) sung; “Sekinaaaaa! I love you from the bottom of my heart (2x)…..oh Sekina!” The late Alexandria Duah was excellent in that movie!
And the others: Ghost Tears, Dark Sands, Suspense, Namishia, The Noise of Silence, A Mother’s Revenge, Baby Thief, My Sweetie, A Stab in the Dark, Loving You, Unconditional Love, Who killed Nancy?, Double Trouble, I Surrender, Fatal Decision, Candidate for Hell, Marijata, Just Once, Cracked Illusion, Diabolo, Step Dad, A Call at Midnight, Black Sunday, and Okukuseku.
Today, We watch television and most of the movies we see are Nigerian and Hollywood movies which were produced many years back – not to talk of the foreign telenovelas and sitcoms which have flooded our TV channels. I don’t even know who to blame again in this regard.
How delightful it will be to watch our own old movies and remember where we started from and where we are now. Those movies defined us! They depicted who we are! They were stories about us – stories we could all identify with! Stories with a positive orientation-to-change.
I watch our current movies and most of the orientation I see are tramontane to me. We have improved anyway, but losing our identify is a big minus to us. I feel nostalgic as I pen down this piece. I long to see the aforementioned movies back on our TV screens. Until then…MOTWUM!!
