Movie enthusiasts who are uncomfortable with the ghostly spectacle of witchcraft in African movies, may have to continue looking away because African filmmakers and actors insist that sorcery in local films has come to stay.
Some filmmakers and actors at the just-ended Multichoice Africa Content Showcase Extravanganza held at the Trou Aux Biches Resort in Mauritius defended the continued production of so-called witchcraft movies and rather criticised Africa’s elite for attempting to deny the existence of witchcraft in the life of Africans.
The movie players rather called on elites and professionals like lawyers, doctors, lecturers and accountants to show interest in the African movie and entertainment industry in general, in order to enhance its operational efficiency.
Interacting with journalists at an AfricaMagic press conference held as part of the content showcase, celebrated Nigerian filmmaker, Mildred Okwu, questioned why people would reject movies that depict witchcraft and its effects on the African society.
“Witchcraft is part of life and our movies tell real life stories including issues of witchcraft,” she pointed out.
“Indeed, Africans watch Western horror films and Halloween movies, why would they condemn movies that display witchcraft?” Nigerian star actor, Chinedu Ikedieze, aka Aki of Aki and Pawpaw fame, also queried.
According to Ghanaian actor, Majid Michel, “People buy movies that display witchcraft. So who is saying movie lovers do not like them?” He quizzed the journalists who sought to suggest that movies that portrayed witchcraft were bad for the image of the continent.
The M-Net Regional Director for West Africa, Ms Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu reiterated AfricaMagic’s commitment to the development of the African film industry.
The Multichoice Africa Content Showcase Extravaganza brought together key television personalities, content producers, film/music celebrities and journalists to share ideas on how to bring “only the best” programmes to television viewers in Africa.
The event which began at the Trou Aux Biches Resort on Tuesday, June 24, ended on Saturday, June 28. It was on the theme; “Only the best”, which was in line with Pay TV provider, Multichoice Africa’s resolve to continue to deliver the best local and international television content in Africa on its DStv and GOtv channels.
