In this episode we’re grilling tilapia on the beach and washing it down with a Club beer…

If you're dreaming of listening to African jazz in streetside bars and soaking up the tropical climate right now... first you can binge on our pick of a film, book, podcast, documentary, and song inspired by Ghana.

Azali

“Foreign film markets have not had interest in African films beyond those that show war, extreme poverty or white saviors and this also largely limited the creative voice and, of course, income…”

Azali is a watershed moment for African film and culture.

Ghanaian director, Kwabena Gyansah, tells the story of 14-year-old Amina. The teen flees her northern ghanaian village to escape an arranged marriage to a 70-year-old farmer. She ends up being trafficked to Burkina Faso. Saved. And eventually spat out into the slums of Accra.

She now has a terrible choice. Try and survive in Accra, or return to the village and be forced into the marriage.

Amina is played by Asana Alhassan and it’s her first role. Which is mind-blowing once you’ve seen it. The film is also the first ever Oscar submission from an African country.

Homegoing

Two half sisters. Born in different villages. One is the others prisoner.

THE DRAMA, PEOPLE.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi spans 300 years of a families’ history. Effia and Esi are sisters born in 18th century Ghana. Effia is hitched to a rich Englishman and lives in Cape Coast Castle. Esi is a prisoner in the castle dungeon. Neither know they are connected in any way.

One storyline follows Effia’s descendants through the Ghanaian war, British colonization, and slave trade. The other focusses on Essi and her children as they journey through American plantations to 20th century Harlem dope houses.

Oh and this smash hit happens to be Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel. Casual.

African Lit Nollywood Hit

Want to get more Ghanaian and African culture in your life but have no idea where to start?

Not the start of a bad infomercial.

Ijeoma has a delightful podcast where she spotlights Nollywood (Nigerian Hollywood) films and African literature. She’ll do reviews and book clubs with spesh guests. Half of a Yellow sun is a goodie.

Sakawa

You know half of the story…

Sakawa is a doc about the other side of internet scamming, seen through the eyes of the people who are doing it. The film follows a group of Ghanaians con artists as they cheat wealthy westerners out of their money.

But it also shows the poverty and desperate situations the scammers are trying to escape.

Juliana by Sweet Talks

“Started in a Ghanaian glass factory look at us now…”

Sweet Talks are a 70s supergroup and popular highlife band - which is a genre of music that blends tradish Akan with Western instruments and jazzy horns. A vibe.

Listen to their song Juliana. It'll make you move.