Kwaw Ansah

 

Kwaw Paintsil Ansah (wey born 1941) be one Ghanaian filmmaker, wey him work as writer, director or producer include Love Brewed in the African Pot for 1980 and Heritage Africa for 1989. Ein first big film, Love Brewed in the African Pot, get plenty praise and awards all over English-speaking Africa. But despite all de awards and success, e take am nearly 10 years to complete him next big film project, de ambitious Heritage Africa (1989). Again, de film get plenty praise and awards. Since den, Ansah produce other films like Harvest at 17 (1994), Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade (1994) and The Golden Stool, de Soul of de Asantes (2000). Ansah be one person wey dey fight for African filmmaking and dramatic art, working hard for better funding and distribution of African films within Africa. Him be chairman of FEPACI and leader for FESPACO. For 1998, Ansah get Acrag Prize, de Living Legend Award for Contribution to de Arts of Ghana.

Early life

Kwaw Paintsil Ansah born 1941 for Agona Swedru, Ghana. Him mama be trader, and him papa be photographer wey learn well (and also painter, musician, and dramatist). After him start school for Anglican Mission School, Ansah go study for him O-Levels for Accra, de capital city, while him dey work as textile designer for United Africa Company. Him dey thank ein poppy plenty for ein success and growth as filmmaker, but him papa want am to follow ein own trade, photography. But de young Ansah, wey discover say him sabi draw and paint, get other plans.

Ein Education

From 1961 go 1963, na he dey London's Regent Street Polytechnic, where him get diploma in theater design. After him finish school for England, him go US, where him graduate from American Academy of Dramatic Arts and American Music and Drama Academy from 1963 to 1965. Him first theater play, The Adoption, come out off-Broadway for 1964.

Ein Career

When Ansah come back Ghana for 1965, him find work for film and TV. Him work two years as Production Assistant and Set Designer for Ghana Film Industry Corporation, and also do commercials for Lintas Advertising Agency for Accra. Him design set for Egbert Adjesu's film I Told You So (1970). Ansah later start him own advertising firm, Target Advertising Services, for 1973. Him still dey do commercial advertising work (him company now dey called Target Saatchi & Saatchi Ltd), wey him say "dey pay de bills". One of him TV commercials win am CLIO Award for New York for 1989.

Ansah no stop for commercial work, him still dey engage with theater and arts world. Soon after him come back Ghana, him become big man for Ghana Drama Association, Ghana Association of Writers, and officer for Film Guild of Ghana. Him play, Mother's Tears, show for Drama Studio for Accra for 1967, and people like am well well. Dem later show am again for Accra Arts Centre for 1973, 1991, and for National Theatre for 1995.

Love wey dem Brew for African Pot insyd

Ansah start ein own film production company, Film Africa Limited, for 1977, and begin work on de project wey become Love Brewed in de African Pot (1980). De film be instant hit for English-speaking Africa, break all previous records for film by African director, while also get critical acclaim and respect. De film win awards worldwide, including Omarou Ganda Prize for "most remarkable direction and production in line with African realities" at FESPACO, de first time dem give award to film from Anglophone country; UNESCO Film Award for France, and Jury's Special Silver Peacock Award, "For Genuine and Talented Attempt to Find National and Cultural Identity" at International Film Festival of India.

Heritage Africa

Despite all de awards and success, e take Ansah nearly ten years to complete him next big film project, de ambitious Heritage Africa (1989). Ansah face plenty challenges wey dey worry filmmakers for Africa. Making de film be one long struggle to find money and get de necessary things. Like Love Brewed, him do almost everything for de film's production - even write de theme music, direct, write, and produce. But de logistical challenges be de most difficult. E be exhausting, even debilitating process. Him come out of de experience with him health no good, but with one impressive, widely acclaimed film. Heritage Africa win grand prize for FESPACO for 1989 (again, de first from Anglophone country), Organization for African Unity's Best Film Award, Outstanding Film Award for 1989 London Film Festival, and plenty others.

Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade

Ansah's documentary, Crossroads of Trade, Crossroads of People, wey him make for Ghana Museum and Monuments Board and wey Smithsonian Institution sponsor, now dey show continuously for Cape Coast Castle, as part of one controversial plan to renovate de slave forts and castles.

Him receive plenty awards for him country, outside him country, and for him work, including The Order of the Nation of Burkina Faso (March 1995) for Arts & Culture; Best Documentary and TV Production Award for Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade (FESPACO-1995); The Grand Prix Award for Heritage Africa for FESPACO, Ouagadougou, 1989, wey be de first from Anglophone Africa.

Ansah come back to filmmaking after some time in 2010 with de release of Good Old Days: The Love of AA (2010).After dat, him make films like The Good Old Days: Papa Lasisi Good Bicycle (2011), The Good Old Days: Suffering to Lose (2012) plusPraising The Lord Plus One (2013). For de first NAFTI Film Lectures for 2011 on Ghanaian Motion Picture Industry, dem honour Ansah for him big contribution to cinema. For de same event, GAFTA sana give am Osagyefo Lifetime Achievement Award.

For October 2014, Ansah launch comic book based on him award-winning film for 1980, Love Brewed in de African Pot, de first film wey dem adapt into comic book for Ghana. Ansah be one of de founders of Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Filmography

• Love Brewed in the African Pot (1980)
• Heritage Africa (1989)
• Harvest at 17 (1994)
• Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade (1994)
• The Golden Stool, The Soul of the Asantes (2000)
• The Good Old Days: The Love of AA (2010)
• The Good Old Days: Papa Lasisi Good Bicycle (2011)
• The Good Old Days: Suffering to Lose (2012)
• Praising The Lord Plus One (2013)