6.9/10
517
21 user 5 critic

Sankofa (1993)

| Drama | 28 May 1993 (USA)
Sankofa Poster
A self-absorbed Black American fashion model on a photo shoot in Africa is spiritually transported back to a plantation in the West Indies where she experiences first-hand the physical and ... See full summary »

Director:

Haile Gerima

Writer:

Haile Gerima

Stars:

Kofi Ghanaba, Oyafunmike Ogunlano, Alexandra Duah | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
1 nomination. See more awards »

Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kofi Ghanaba Kofi Ghanaba ... Sankofa
Oyafunmike Ogunlano ... Mona
Alexandra Duah Alexandra Duah ... Nunu
Nick Medley Nick Medley ... Joe
Mutabaruka Mutabaruka ... Shango
Afemo Omilami ... Noble Ali
Reggie Carter Reggie Carter ... Father Raphael
Mzuri Mzuri ... Lucy
Jimmy Lee Savage Jimmy Lee Savage ... Mussa
Hasinatu Camara Hasinatu Camara ... Jumma
Jim Faircloth Jim Faircloth ... James
Stanley Michelson Stanley Michelson ... Mr. Lafayette
John A. Mason John A. Mason ... Big Boy
Louise Reid Louise Reid ... Esther
Roger Doctor Roger Doctor ... Nathan
See full cast »
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Storyline

A self-absorbed Black American fashion model on a photo shoot in Africa is spiritually transported back to a plantation in the West Indies where she experiences first-hand the physical and psychic horrors of chattel slavery, and eventually the redemptive power of community and rebellion as she becomes a member of a freedom-seeking Maroon colony. Written by L. J. Allen-2

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

west indies | model | fashion | plantation | africa | See All (32) »

Genres:

Drama

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

"Sankofa" is an Akan word that means that we must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today. See more »

Connections

Referenced in 500 Years Later (2005) See more »

User Reviews

Great story and message, poor execution.
7 January 2003 | by endo_zen – See all my reviews

i have to say first that i have the complete and utmost respect for this film and the message it conveys. i am writing a large paper about it for my english class and i have put much thought into the story and characters. yet as much as i love

what this film does for showing viewers a real and raw account, i cannot help but notice that this film is, for lack of any other word...cheap. i feel that with a better budget haile gerima could have wokred wonders. however, sadly, the fact still remains that the acting is mediocre at best, the music is horrid and the editing is amatuer. i feel bad about putting these things into writing, however when i critique a film, i cannot ignore the quality of aspects of the film because of it's great social importance. i would like to see more from gerima in the future.
4 of 11 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 21 user reviews »

Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA | Ghana | Burkina Faso | UK | Germany

Language:

Akan | English

Release Date:

28 May 1993 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Санкофа See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,198,984

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,198,984
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Diproci, Ghana National Commission on Culture See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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