I Sing of a Well is very appropos, considering the current turmoils of world economies. The film recounts the heart-wrenching crisis in leadership, in the Kotengbi kingdom during intra-continental slavery in Africa.
What is leadership? Is it justified by mere entitlement or rather, a set of actions that substantiate the bequeathal of a title? What is leadership when it is only enforced for the most trivial matters, while shirking responsibility in times of need and leaving resistance, for example, to Mansa Musa’s slave raiders in the hands of the poor and unarmed villagers? This is the underlying question in I Sing of a Well.
I only speak what I see – is the phrase that percolates throughout this story, as it speaks truth to the impotent leader, Wenambe played by John Osei Tutu Agyeman. A change in leadership is in order, but what can mere subjects do?
Akofa Ejeani Asiedu and her love interest, Dume the hunter played by Godwin Kotey, were pillars of the film. They showed how one can be trapped in a corrupt society. Unbeknownst to them, leadership is invoked in the most unlikely ways, when the seat of power is corroded. The fate of the Kotengbi kingdom becomes as grim as Alarka, the old seer who seems to roam aimlessly around the village, mumbling about destiny.
Colors in this film are breathtaking, the acting quality is impressive across the board and the 3 African Movie Academy Awards are completely justified. I particularly appreciated how Ghanaian-American filmmaker, Leila Djansi of Turning Point Pictures, took a story set in ancient Africa and expounded on a concern of contemporary relevance, for African and worldwide audiences.
The story beckons us not to sing at the well, mourning our fate. We should fight back overtly and covertly, and topple those who treat leadership as a birthright, instead of a responsibility to others. As a matter of fact, many a nation was birthed out of the turmoil that accompany the search for true leadership.
Some occupy Wall Street, others occupy palace chambers to seize the reins of power and usher redemption, at the opportune time. So do not sing of a well and fill it with tears, but draw inspiration for change at the well! I Sing of Well implores us, to be actors of change. Indeed, true leaders tame imperfect conditions and have an understanding that leadership is sacrifice.
Watch the trailer.
Director: Leila Djansi
Stars: Akofa Ejeani Asiedu, J.O.T. Agyeman, Godwin Kotey, Luckie Lawson, Prince David Osei
Intracontinental slavery is quite a debate out there especially when discussed side-by-side with the Trans-Atlantic-Slave trade. Like Djansi herself said, these are issues people avoid – because it’s not a pleasant history of the immediate African past – as if it never happened.
However, we cannot keep side-stepping them. And I think Djansi and Akofa are daring enough to lay it on the table. At least for us to start thinking, talking and healing at the same time.
Tying it in with the much talked about awakening of the masses for change, like our occupy movements today, is equally fit for the discussion of the present state of mind of Africa’s leaders and how they treat positions of responsibility.
Very interesting movie… I was enthralled. Djansi’s talent is obvious. I Sing Of A Well is a movie a place in the same category as The Destiny Of Lesser Animals whihc recently screened at the Philadelphia Festival. Slowly, some of these Ghanaian filmmakers are imprinting a bigger wider foot on the direction of a true African cinema.
I missed this one somehow. I can’t figure out why though. is the dvd still around anywhere?
Glad to see Ghana and Nollywood make some good stuff. This movie left me reeling with so much anger and frustration. It’s not easy learning the truth about some of the hideous things we’ve done to one another.
Is sure is on the table and we should talk about it. Maybe we’ll get some healing out of it. It can’t hurt.