In this small,
boggled-up country of ours, when you bring up your case, we’ll eat and digest
it very well for you. There’s a tall list of acts and scandals committed out of
heroism or sheer carelessness, or sometimes even motivated by incompetence that
would trend on social media until there’s nothing left to be analyzed out of
such issues any longer; Abraham Attah trended (which falls under heroism),
Guantanamo ex-detainees trended (which falls under … erm… ‘scandalism’). Until
we celebrated our 59th Independence Day anniversary, we didn’t know Uhuru
Kenyatta was president of our dear republic - the shame the ineptitude of
some people can bring to our dear nation! Though this issue may have been
over-analyzed, I’ll like to chew some of the bones.
Inasmuch as I
support made-in-Ghana goods & services, I must establish that Kumawood or
even Ghallywood movies do not really keep me glued - especially considering the
fact that I may have to watch Part one, two, three to even part six before I’d
be able to fully appreciate the movie. More annoying is the fact that the next
part features about 30 minutes of the previous part. Scripting, editing,
graphics amongst others, may have been poorly done but our movie marketers put
excellent effort to make sure the movie sells. The grammatical construction of
the subtitles makes you wonder if the translation was done or overseen by the
recently-sacked Acting Director of ISD (Information Services Department). There
are scenes that are totally unnecessary. Yet, for some strange reasons, they
still make it into the final product. For example, Kumawood can spend about ten
minutes to show a man driving from Accra to Kumasi without an event that’s
significant to the plot of the movie, or a whole ten minutes showing people
quarrelling.
Despite all these
and many other flaws of our movie industry, stars, talents and celebrities
(both Kumawoodly and Ghallywoodly) have emerged and have continuously put Ghana
on the international scene.
Getting to the
latter part of last year, a movie was made featuring (ace and handsome actor)
Idris Elba, Ama K. Abebrese (my celebrity crush), and young and promising
actor, Abraham Attah. It took me two days to watch the movie because I’m not a
fan of movies especially when I have to watch it alone. However, the talent and
ability that the young Ashiaman boy was endowed with is worth-mentioning &
commending. But we must ask a few questions:
-What happened to
other's talents in the movie? For instance, Striker never said a word (or so)
but the young man also showed potential.
-Would Agu have
become the star that he is now had Beast of No Nation been directed by our
Kumasi movie industry?
-Why is it that
when (our) people get a little influence or support from the Western world,
they make it big? Look at Reggy and Bollie, Shatta Wale, and others (even
sportsmen) whose arts have soared to greater heights because of foreign
influences.
There are many
talents out there who need just a little support from within. Otherwise, apart
from the grace of God finding them or some external/foreign help coming from
somewhere, we’re likely to lose them. Many cannot push through the system
because of the who-you-know rule and this is very disadvantageous to the
progress of the Arts industry. Now, I hear it is no longer who-you-know, but
who-knows-you. For example, you may know an uncle of yours who may be a CEO or
even an ambassador, but if he doesn’t know you, then your help certainly must
come from the Lord.
I was very sad
when I heard people comparing Abraham Attah to Jay Foley, John Dumelo, Majeed
and other stars who’ve successfully made it through the system and have
survived. Instead of attacking people’s achievements and personalities, why
don’t we rather vent our frustration on the non-supportive system? Ever wondered
where folks like FBS, Joe Frazier, Nkasie, Okurasini Samuel, Andy, X-Doe, and
the likes would’ve been had the system supported them enough? Look at the
Westerners for instance. New stars emerge daily. Some of these stars don’t even
have a drop of talent. See, Asap Rocky is a star.
Being a celebrity
is no joke. Even grownup celebrities ‘no dey see top’, not to talk of the child
ones. Ask Wisa Greid how his one-shot at stardom made him show his childhood on
stage; that thing is too undersized to be called a manhood. Relocating our
young and promising actor to the Hollywood may not only be his career-saving
decision, but also, his life-saving one as well, because before you realize,
eyes would start envying the small boy. We should however not forget the long list
of child celebs who’ve fallen because of the sweetness of celebrity life. Home
Alone star Macaulay Culkin is now nothing near the hope and promise he begun
with. The first time I was informed that one of Disneyland’s princesses had
twerked her way to become Miley Cyrus, showing her small breasts to the masses,
I was disappointed to find out it was Hannah Montana they were referring to.
Justin Beiber has had a fair share of misbehavior. Lindsay Lohan, Selena Gomez,
Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Vanessa Hughes etc have all been victims to DUIs,
alcoholism, drug usage and other ills of celebrity life. Thank God Tyler James
Williams is doing well (at least).
Let’s fast and
pray, and hope that our very one beloved Abraham doesn’t fall into the trap set
by fame. Medaase!
