Ghollywood Archives - GhanaCelebrities.Com

Aside Kumawood, There is Vollywood and Tallywood – Is Ghana’s Movie Industry Turning into Tribal Play?

05/8/2014 3:26 pm

GhanaCelebrities.Com’s investigation has uncovered two other movie industry names in Ghana known as Vollywood and Tallywood.

Vollywood is the name of the movie industry for filmmakers in the Volta region of Ghana or the name of films produced largely in the Eve language or people of Ewe descent. Just as Kumawood or sometimes called Twi speaking movies are produced in Kumasi and its neighbouring villages, Vollywood movies are produced in the Volta region of Ghana, precisely, Adaklu.

Unlike Kumawood movies which are mostly comedy, Vollywood movies narrates true but untold stories of the people of Ewe lineage and general storylines about life. Vollywood movies contain 100% dialogue in Eve with subtitles.

They are largely marketed in areas such as Hohoe, Ho, Aflao, Adaklu, Togo, Peki, Kumasi, Accra and some part of the North.

Putting our ears on the ground and speaking to few VCD (movies) sellers, GhanaCelebrities.Com’s gathered that the Vollywood movies are not that popular because the filmmakers don’t publicize or advertise much. However, those who know Vollywood movies love them and patronize them a lot!

Already, names such as Harriet Odonu, Sheila Nyavor and others are few names of characters we discovered in Vollywood as the emerging stars of the industry.

Our investigation also revealed that whilst some filmmakers in Vollywood intend to make their own stars just as Kumawood has done with names such as: Agya Koo, Kwaku Manu, Mercy Asiedu, Kyeiwaa, and others, some filmmakers in Vollywood rather use already made film stars who are Ewes or of Voltarian descent.

Enough of The Love And Comic Movies!

04/11/2014 8:35 am

by GC Contributor | Ellen Sackey-Addo Ellen

Ghallywood/Ghollywood and Kumawood are the two main movie industries in Ghana at the moment. One cannot disprove the fact that producers within these two industries are doing well. In the course of time, some experienced producers churn out movies that are well structured and interesting to watch. At other times, some of these movies are just as bad as garbage.

There seems to be a clear-cut distinction between these two movie industries. While Ghollywood pays much attention to love, Kumawood on the other hand focuses mainly on comedy. It becomes mundane when a particular approach is used over and over again without employing new techniques.

Ghollywood is Synonymous With ‘Love’

A critical observation of Ghollywood movies will draw ones attention to nothing but love. Over countless movies that I have watched from this industry all focus on love, or better still romance. Romantic movies often place emphasis on passion, emotion, and the affection two lovers (mainly the main characters) display to each other. Just like in our everyday love life that one goes through dating, courtship, and marries in the end, so it is with love movies.

Take time and watch most Ghollywood movies for yourself. Almost, if not all, fall into the category of romance. The ever one-way of telling such stories in movies is increasing rapidly. If a person does not fight another person because the first has snatched the lover, then it’s probably going to be a family opposing the marriage of two lovers. Without doubt, Ghollywood film-makers have proven to be love experts. Take them to that field, and they will surely beat you to that.

Kumawood and Its Obsession for Comedy

Let’s direct our attention to the ‘almighty’ Kumawood. How can you possibly watch a Kumawood movie and not laugh? The titles of the movies themselves can make you laugh your heart out. One movie title in itself is a complete sentence, if not a paragraph.

Pioneers of the Akan-speaking movies like Agya Koo are people who started their careers as comedians. The act of creating humour was however utilized in their movies. This course has repetitively gone up till this day. With the introduction of some acts like Kwaku Manu and Lil Win, production of comic movies has increased tremendously.

Anansekrom And Ghollywood – Which Is More Appropriate For Ghana’s Movie Industry?

01/17/2014 10:35 am

by GC Staff Ob

In the field of filmmaking, when one mentions Hollywood, the country that comes in mind is America. Bollywood (Bombay) is for India and Nollywood for Nigeria respectively. Research has it that Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood are the three most influential film industries in the world. Indeed, they are referred to as the “three film nations”.

For many years writers like myself have been advocating for a name to be used to brand or call Ghana’s movie industry. In my candid, I suggested Anansekrom. Below were my reasons. First, Ananse is a legendary fiction character around whom most of Ghana’s folktale revolved – as told by our ancestors from generation to generation.

As far as story telling in Ghana’s history is concerned, folktale is the origin of storytelling and has evolved from folktale to novel, play or theatrical performances and now on screen storytelling popularly known as movies or motion pictures (as Hollywood will term it).

It therefore makes perfect sense to tag the name of our story telling industry with the name of such a character whose name and stories are deeply rooted in our storytelling history and has also lingered on for more than five millenniums and is still relevant in today’s generation.

‘Ghollywood’ Finally Accepted As The Official Name Of Ghana’s Movie Industry

12/30/2013 2:51 pm

by Osarfo Anthony

Ghallywood has for some years now been known (unofficial though) as the name of the Ghanaian movie industry, but, during the launching of Ghana Movie Awards for 2013 on Tuesday 3^rd Dec, 2013 at the Golden Tulip hotel in Accra, the President of the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), Mr. Stephen Hackman, annulled it.

In his own words he said “Ladies and Gentlemen, one thing which has been on my heart personally for some time now and I believe most of my colleagues is a name for Ghana’s film industry. May I therefore suggest, as many seem to think along with me, the name Ghollywood for our movie industry.

Please note the spelling – GHOLLYWOOD, Mr. Hackman spelt the name out well for journalists around to take note.

In an exclusive duologue with Mr. Hackman recently, he told GhanaCelebrities.Com that they (FIPAG) shall launch Ghollywood in a grand style for all and sundry to know.

Nollywood is 20 years now – since the name Nollywood was suggested by a Nigerian journalist and ever since, became the official name of Nigeria’s movie industry. On Saturday, 2^nd December, 2012, was the historic celebration of Nollywood at 20 with a grand opening event themed “Nollywood Celebrity Glam Night,” at the magnificent Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

Chit Chat With Leila Djansi! She Is Not Shooting Movies In Ghana Again After ‘Ties That Bind’ Partly Because Of Comments People Leave On The Internet About Her!

04/5/2011 4:18 pm

by GC Staff bG

Ghanaian movie enthusiasts, especially die-hard fans of Leila Djansi will be very disappointed to hear that, the movie maker will no longer shoot any more movies in Ghana after wrapping up her latest project ‘Ties That Bind’.

Leila said “It’s 90% true” that she will not be shooting again in Ghana. This, she said at a press conference organized in Ho, Volta Region.

After the press conference, GhanaCelebrities.Com had a chit chat with the founder of Turning Point Pictures, a Los Angeles based production house to dissect more on the news of her moving out from Ghana.

It can be recollected that Leila Djansi did put on her facebook status sometimes back that, she will be using actress Nia Long in her latest movie. Weeks later she wrote up a different status announcing that Kimberly Elise has actually touched down in Ghana to feature in her movie instead of Nia Long.

People who wanted to see Nia Long in Ghana shared their opinions on that development; many said Leila should have waited and confirm who indeed will feature in her movie before going to public with names. Suddenly Nia Long seemed to have been swapped with Kimberly Elise.

“There was no swap. It wasn’t suddenly! I think it was a media thing. You media guys are hungry [not literary]. Seriously, it’s like you are starving sometimes, when something blows up in the air, you grab it and run instead of waiting for the meat, you just want to eat the bones. Just wait for the meat.” She defended herself.

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