Ghana’s Hand-Painted Film Posters: A Sensationalist Tradition Goes Global

This report covers ghana's hand-painted film posters: with key details and context.

In Teshie, near Accra, artist Heavy J dips a brush into red oil paint, adding blood to a knife on his canvas—a flour sack. He is creating a poster for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The knife-wielding figure is Prince Eric, not a killer, and a skull looms above. ‘We add more to make people interested,’ says Heavy J, real name Jeaurs Affutu.

This sensationalist approach defined Ghanaian film culture from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. Hand-painted posters were used to advertise screenings at video clubs, where original Hollywood posters failed to draw crowds. Artists competed to create the best ‘forgeries,’ exaggerating scenes with violence, horror, and surreal elements.

Today, these posters are prized collectibles. Deadly Prey Gallery, co-founded by Brian Chankin and Robert Kofi, works with 15 artists like Heavy J and Stoger (born Benjamin Amartey) to meet global demand. Most orders come from the US, with popular titles including The Exorcist and Star Wars. Commissioned pieces start at $600.

Kofi, who manages the artists, emphasizes preserving tradition. ‘We are preserving a history,’ he says. The posters are now exhibited at Accra’s Centre for National Culture, showcasing works like Jennifer Lopez shooting an arrow at a snake in Anaconda.

Article and image source: theguardian.com

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