“Allumuah, simply put, is a love letter to all Africans around the globe," says emerging filmmaker Curtis Essel. His accomplished new short explores how the internet is writing new histories for Africa as well acting as a beautiful reminder of the myriad wisdoms connecting the continent’s ancient cultures and contemporary aesthetics.

“The film intends to challenge Africans to reflect on their own lives and revise what they think they know about their heritage, and subsequently about their identity,” Essel adds. “Proverbs in multiple African languages from various countries and cultural visual references are incorporated in the film to showcase elements of our collective identity and how we communicate with one another.”

Allumuah was commissioned as part of the No Direct Flight series by Nowness in partnership with the BFI and British Council and has gone on to win the Vimeo Staff Pick award at the 2020 BlackStar Film Festival and be selected for the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Its beauty lies in its mix of digital imaginings, spoken parables and vivid scenes shot in Ghana, where this London-based director’s family hails from.

Inspirations were drawn from the films of John Akomfah and Ngozi Onwurah, the photography of James Barnor and Samuel Fosso, the buildings of David Adjaye and the writings of Ekow Eshun. Meanwhile he worked with a dedicated team including stylist PC Williams, cinematographer Kofi Asant, motion designer Kojo Ampo and creative strategist Dami Khadijah to realise the production.

Above all though, Allumuah, meaning ‘leader’ in Nzima, is Essel’s way of honouring his late grandmother who was revered in her community as an oral storyteller and leader. “It was paramount for me to shoot in Ghana and most of the people cast were family and friends, which adds to the sentiment of the film,” he says. “From filming in my grandmother’s home in Kaneshie to the shores on Jamestown Beach to a lake in Tema, we maintained the authenticity of a place I also call home.”

Words Helen Jennings

Published on 30/09/2020