Amma Prempeh’s Kente documentary wins 3 awards
Ghana’s first kente documentary, “Kente Culture Story Documentary Film: The Importance of Kente to Ghanaians & Black Africans,” about the rich story behind Ghana’s iconic cultural fabric known as Kente has been celebrated on an international stage with three awards at the fourth edition of the Golden Age Business and Creative Arts Awards on May 1.
Produced, directed and funded by award-winning, BBC journalist Amma Prempeh, the film won the awards for Woman of Excellence: Creative Art Personality of the Year; Woman of Excellence: Tourism and Arts Personality of the Year; and Yaa Asantewaa Woman of Valour and Honour Award. The Awards event held in Accra, Ghana was sponsored by Silver Hair Ghana.
The film was first premiered in Ghana on August 26, 2023, at the Golden Eagle Cinema in Kumasi City Mall and subsequently screened at the African Regent Hotel in Accra on September 10, 2023 before being screened on the world stage this year.
The documentary which delves into the intricate artistry, cultural significance, and global impact of the Ghanaian Kente cloth, also premiered in the United States for the first time earlier this year at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA on February 1.
“Its international debut marked a significant milestone in bringing the Ghanaian culture to a wider audience and sparking dialogue about identity, representation and cultural exchange,” said Amma Prempeh to TheAfricanDream.net in a conversation.
It made further successes on the international scene on April 17 when the Amma Prempeh engaged in three historic meetings in Washington DC with H.E. Ambassador Hajia Alima Mahama, Ghana’s Ambassador to the US; Congresswoman Barbara Lee; and students of Howard University for the purpose of screening the Kente documentary.
“The film has thus premiered at the top university in the world and best black historic university in America within three months. Her Excellency Hajia Alima Mahama noted that the film, which has detailed all about the Kente fabric, is important to the system and culture and recommended that Ghana Tourism Authority should support the project to promote tourism,” said Amma Prempeh to TheAfricanDream.net.
Kente, is a traditional Ghanaian textile with deep historical roots. It explores the evolution of Kente from a symbol of Ghanaian royalty to a powerful global icon of resistance and identity. It also showcased its cultural and social importance through the perspectives of weavers, historians, and cultural experts.
Prempeh believes the film offers a compelling narrative on the enduring legacy of Kente.
“Kente is more than just a cloth; it’s a living embodiment of our history, values, and aspirations. I dedicate it to the generations of weavers who have kept this tradition alive, and a celebration of its continued relevance,” said Amma Prempeh to TheAfricanDream.net in a post-award conversation.
Source: TheAfricanDream.net
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
