Kweku Ananse Surfaces In Accra

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 16 December 2006

When was the last time you sat by the fireside to be told stories about Kwaku Ananse?

Well, the mischievous Kwaku Ananse, as he is mostly portrayed in the country’s folklore is wanted and as such he must die!

However, Ananse the trickster, is no more in the village stealing from farms as he used to. He is now in a city called Akwaaba — "A land rich with stories" — and making headlines in the dailies for his mischievous acts.

This is the storyline of "Ananse Must Die!"a new, animated cartoon which seeks to address pertinent socio-cultural issues in an exciting new way.

The one hour movie, which will be released next March, was written by Cecil Jones Abban, a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and produced by Parables Productions,a Christian broadcasting organisation.

The movie was unveiled by the Director of the Geothe-Institut, Ms Ellenure Sylla, in Accra on Thursday.

It is aimed at producing an animated story in a modern way as a means of reviving the age-old folktale hero, Kwaku Ananse, who is conspicuously missing in present times.

It opens with a unique African tune which is the theme song.Ananse is brought into the modern world in the movie, accessing the Internet, driving and doing a host of other things.

Living in a land full of stories, the almighty tasks a group headed by Ananse to weave stories in the House of Tales for the people.

Being selfish as usual, Ananse leaves the house to pursue his mischievous acts and is given an ultimatum to find his way back to the house. The heat then starts when ‘Sasa-bronsam’ (the evil one) tries to prevent Ananse from meeting the deadline given him to find his way back to the House of Tales.

But Ananse’s mentor, Suhuroo, tries to help Ananse find his way to the house. But will he be able to assist him. And will Ananse die or not?

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Jones Abban noted that animation in Ghana has become more of commercial work than movie, saying "comparing what is happening in the outside world, there is much more to do in animation in the country."

He said that animation can be used in so many ways, especially in addressing the moral decadence which has plagued the country.

The movie will be produced on DVD, VCD and VHF cassettes. There will also be a series for television stations.