Guguru Studios, a Nigerian film production company known for its work in various genres including the black and white fantasy thriller “Mami Water” by C.J. Obasi, has recently been awarded a significant grant alongside three other African studios. The grant totals €80,000 (about ₦135 million) and aims to fund the production of a musical drama titled “A Dream To Die For.” This film will highlight the issue of illegal small-scale gold mining, known as ‘galamsey,’ in Ghana.
The grant winners include Guguru Studios from Nigeria, alongside Driving Park Limited and AdomiBridge Studios from Ghana, and Togo Films from Togo. This initiative is supported financially by the European Union in collaboration with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), and partnerships with the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and Creation Africa Ghana, an initiative of the French embassy in Ghana.
“A Dream To Die For,” written by David Masterwille, will focus on a group of young musicians caught up in the galamsey economy, shedding light on the social and economic implications of illegal mining in Ghana. This co-production effort is seen as a significant step in fostering cross-cultural collaboration and enhancing the African film industry’s growth.
Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, the executive secretary of Ghana’s National Film Authority, emphasized the importance of such co-productions in bolstering the continent’s film industry. She highlighted the potential for pan-African collaborations to elevate storytelling and expand industry capabilities, echoing sentiments long advocated for by creators across Africa.
This initiative builds on previous successful collaborations between African studios, such as Nigeria’s Play Network Studios and Namibia’s Mondjila Studios, which worked together on “The Skeleton Coast,” set against Namibia’s distinctive Skeleton Coast backdrop. These partnerships not only enrich storytelling but also strengthen the continent’s cinematic landscape, reflecting diverse narratives and shared cultural experiences.