DAGBANLI FILMS: A POLITICAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE CONVERGENCE OF ORALITY AND FILM IN NORTHERN GHANA
Open Access
Author:
Mohammed, Wunpini Wunpini
Graduate Program:
Mass Communications
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
May 29, 2019
Committee Members:
Anthony Olorunnisola, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Anthony Olorunnisola, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Michelle Lyn Rodino, Committee Member Kevin J Hagopian, Committee Member Maha Marouan, Outside Member
Keywords:
indigenous language film indigenous knowledge systems film distribution film production film reception Northern Ghana oral epistemologies political economy of communications
Abstract:
There is a dearth in indigenous language media research in Africa and Ghana specifically. This dissertation examines indigenous language film in Northern Ghana paying attention to the intricacies of film production, distribution and reception. Through a political economy of communication approach, postcolonial film theory and drawing on indigenous knowledge systems, I critically examine the convergence of oral epistemologies and film in Northern Ghana. I argue that despite little support from the Ghana government and external stakeholders, the Tamale-based Dagbanli film industry has drawn on indigenous knowledge systems to sustain the film industry for decades. I utilize postcolonial film theory to complement an oral epistemological framework to analyze data collected through observation, in-depth interviews and what I call communal conversational circles. I parse out the intricacies and power dynamics at play in the Dagbanli film industry paying attention to its attempts at globalizing film products and the various cultural flows happening within the film industry intra-nationally and transnationally. I present practical and theoretical recommendations to address the challenges faced by the film industry and epistemological challenges in research of this nature respectively.
