Dagomba movies have come of age - Jehanfo

A scene in Torbu-Nyango

ONE of the popular movie producers and directors in Tamale, Alhassan Yushawu Jehanfo believes that Dagomba movies have come off age and needs a shot in the arm to reach the next level.

“We have come a long way in spite of the difficulties and I think we deserve some recognition for surpassing numerous hurdles to keep the industry alive,” is what he said when the Graphic Showbiz interviewed him in Tamale.

“It is not easy to finance the production of movies, but we have managed to keep producing more and more movies each year,” Jehanfo, who is the Vice Presdient of the Northern Drama and Film Makers Association (NODRAFIM), stated.

He said averagely 90 movies were released annually in the region and that although not all of them met the mark, a number of them were commendable.

“It is still a growing industry and so we do not expect all the movies to be standard. We are still discussing about reduce the numbers and improving on the quality,” he further noted.

Jehanfo receiving his award from Prez Mahama

Jehanfo has become a household name in Tamale due to his exploits in the local movie industry, which has earned him some recognition outside the region.

In 2012, his movie ‘Bibil-Tindana’ was adjudged Movie of the Year and Traditional Movie of the Year at the 2012 Kumawood Awards.

Jehanfo’s production company, Dahin Sheli Film Production boasts of 15 movies in its 15 years of operation.

Aside pure entertainment, Jehanfo’s movies, which include ‘Dabaata’, ‘Sochira’, ‘Bibil-Tindana’ and ‘Torbu Nyanga’, carry important messages which he intends to convey to his audience.

“I mostly do my movies to reflect certain wrongs in society and try to create change,” he said.

In his movie, Torbu Nyanga (The Aftermath of War), Jehanfo attempts to warn the people of the north about the repercussions of conflict, if allowed to degenerate into violence.

The failure of two villages to amicably resolve a raging conflict led to a bloody confrontation that resulted in a near wipe out of the population of the two villages.

The lesson: “nobody wins in war.”

“I do my movies based on my experience with rural life,” Jehanfo said, explaining that this was the reason why most of his movies had traditional settings.

“I get the stories as I walk through the village,” he further noted.

Jehanfo believes that the Dagomba movie industry could do better if it gets the needed financial and technical support.

“We need funding support from government and non-governmental organisations to grow the industry,” he said, whilst also stressing the need for movie producers in the north and south to establish partnerships for collaborative productions.

“The industry is providing employment to several people and so it must not be neglected to die,” Jehanfo stated.

(Published in the Graphic Showbiz, May 23, 2013, p. 3)