A robust attraction to safeguard Ghana’s cinematic and cultural reminiscence echoed in the course of the University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Film and Television (UniMAC-IFT) on 27 October because the Faculty of Digital Media and Design partnered with UNESCO and the Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA) to mark the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage.

The tournament, held on the institute’s tv studio at Cantonments in Accra, was once themed “Preserving Our Stories: Ghanaian Audiovisual Heritage within the Digital Age.” It introduced in combination scholars, teachers, filmmakers and cultural stakeholders for movie screenings, lectures and open discussions on protective Ghana’s inventive legacy in a abruptly converting virtual international.

Opening the rite, Dr Rebecca Ohene-Asah, Dean of the Faculty of Digital Media and Design, described the instance as “no longer only a party however a decision to motion.” She mentioned Ghana’s audiovisual archives constitute “a dwelling mirrored image of the place we had been the previous day, the place we’re as of late, and the place we aspire to be day after today.” Dr Ohene-Asah additionally introduced a approaching Master’s programme in virtual archiving and preservation to coach pros in safeguarding Ghana’s inventive heritage.

Speaking on behalf of the Rector of UniMAC-IFT, Registrar Madam Jennifer Akude wired that audiovisual fabrics are “cultural artefacts that reflect our id, historical past, and aspirations.” She known as for more potent collaboration amongst establishments, creatives and policymakers to handle the fragility of bodily movie and the urgency of digitisation.

Delivering the keynote cope with, Professor Kodzo Gavua, Chair of the Ghana Heritage Committee and Council Chair of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, introduced a ancient mirrored image on reminiscence, id and preservation. Describing himself as a “authorized rubbish collector” within the carrier of reminiscence, Prof Gavua traced Ghana’s audiovisual adventure from the colonial generation to the virtual age. “If we fail to keep our tales,” he warned, “we lose the language of our id.” He suggested filmmakers and archivists to regard preservation as each a technical accountability and a cultural and political act.

Dr Fara Panbonor Awindor, President of GAFTA, delivered a transferring cope with that tied at once to the day’s theme. He described audiovisual paintings as “an intentional act of recording reminiscence, tradition, and humanity,” including that preservation should ensure that accessibility. “We have a large number of visible subject matter saved out of the country, specifically in the United Kingdom, but we can’t simply get entry to them for the reason that apparatus to view them now not exists,” he mentioned. Dr Awindor published that digitising those fabrics would price about 5 hundred thousand kilos and challenged each govt and personal establishments to beef up the hassle. “Would we, as a country, be prepared to take a position that quantity to safeguard our heritage?” he requested.

He additional highlighted GAFTA’s ongoing collaboration with UniMAC-IFT to digitise and keep audiovisual fabrics lately saved on out of date tapes. “It is a cultural accountability,” he mentioned, “that what we document as of late can also be preserved for posterity.”

During the open discussion board, filmmaker Owusu Ansah Castro Sarpong raised the want to stability industrial viability with cultural integrity in movie manufacturing. He argued that whilst leisure will have to draw in markets, it should nonetheless replicate unique Ghanaian narratives. Responding, UniMAC-IFT lecturer and National Film Authority (NFA) board member Mr George Bossompim disclosed that GAFTA not too long ago contributed 100 thousand Ghana cedis to the NFA’s nationwide movie fund, reaffirming its dedication to strengthening Ghana’s movie market system. Mr Bossompim, who could also be a part of the “Bring Back Our Old Films” challenge, famous that repatriating and digitising Ghana’s early motion pictures from the United Kingdom calls for collective effort.

Panel discussions that adopted emphasized the position of preservation in nationwide growth. Dr Philip Owusu Asaase of the Institute of African Studies mentioned audiovisual archiving will have to be noticed as an financial and developmental device. “Preservation is not only about maintaining recollections; it’s about developing an information market system that fuels analysis, approach, and cultural exports,” he remarked. Dr Joseph Aketema, Acting Head of Production Techniques at UniMAC-IFT, known as for reinforced native capability for movie recovery and metadata cataloguing, caution that with out such methods, “we chance shedding no longer best knowledge but in addition the inventive DNA of a technology.”

The spotlight of the development was once the screening of Freedom, a restored Ghanaian movie beneath the “Ghana Film Library Analogue Video Digitisation Project.” The screening introduced contributors a glimpse into how investment can revive the country’s cinematic heritage.

UniMAC-IFT lecturer Mr Joshua Otable suggested that archives will have to come with no longer best motion pictures but in addition manufacturing equipment and gear that cling ancient worth. “When we retailer visuals, we should ensure that they give a contribution to historical past somewhat than simply fill cabinets,” he mentioned. Student Makida El Husseini appealed for extra public screenings of restored Ghanaian motion pictures to reconnect more youthful audiences with their inventive previous.

Closing the development, Dr Emmanuel Ayu Nyarko, Acting Head of Animation and Game Development, summarised the day’s message: “What we create and keep as of late will inform the tale of who we’re day after today.” He thanked UNESCO, GAFTA and all companions for his or her beef up and known as for persisted collaboration past the anniversary.

As Ghana joined the arena to mark the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, one message stood out obviously: protective the country’s audiovisual archives is each a cultural accountability and an financial achievement. Through recovery initiatives, instructional partnerships and worldwide cooperation, Ghana’s inventive reminiscence is being renewed with a way of urgency and goal. The problem stays to make sure that the rustic’s tales, pictures and voices bear for generations to return.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made via Readers and Contributors in this platform don’t essentially constitute the perspectives or coverage of Multimedia Group Limited.