Final answer:
The film 'I am not a witch' explores power in storytelling within African societies, highlighting the importance of representation and the impact of power dynamics on whose narratives are shared and valued.
Step-by-step explanation:
The film I am not a witch becomes a narrative canvas to explore structures of power within African societies and prompts discussions on how power dynamics are wielded. The Igbo word 'nkali'—meaning 'to be greater than another'—echoes the overarching principle of power determining which stories are told and how they're perceived.
The depiction of African American history and experiences such as slavery, colonization, and civil rights movements in the movie reflects a broader historical context often omitted from mainstream cinema, thereby scrutinizing power hierarchies in narrative representation.
The welcome reception of the film by diverse audiences underscores the potential of Black art to both entertain and educate when representation is sincere. Power in storytelling can be misused to define others' experiences—often starting narratives from a point that suits the dominant narrative, as suggested by Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti. This selective storytelling can dispossess entire cultures of their agency and truth by reframing history.
Ghanaian video films, while criticized for production quality, are powerful in echoing local identities and societal concerns, indicating a cultural assertiveness and autonomy in storytelling.
These films are popular in West Africa, as they resonate with the audience's lived experiences, unlike their Hollywood counterparts. Power in the film industry is further examined through the lens of diversity and representation—whereby the absence or misrepresentation of Black characters in mainstream media perpetuates oppression and narrows audience empathy for diverse perspectives.
Through the lens of African cinema, representation, and power dynamics in storytelling are brought into sharp focus, revealing the importance of who tells the story, whose story is being told, and what stories are considered worth telling.