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For Those Who Slept...6:
West African Edition
Hand-Painted Movie Posters from
Ghana
These posters were once the product of a much larger industry
known as the "Ghanaian Mobile Cinema."
This business started in the late 1980s when a few artistic,
industrious groups of people formed video clubs.
With a television, VCR, VHS tapes, and a portable generator they'd
travel throughout Ghana setting up
make-shift screening areas in villages void of electricity. An
interesting selection of movies became popular
because of this trade including both Hollywood action and horror,
low budget American schlock, Bollywood
films, Hong Kong martial arts movies, and native Ghanaian and
Nigerian features (often referred to as
"Nollywood"). As more people gained interest in this
rising business, competition arose. Mobile cinema
operators found a need to set their products apart, so an advertising
motif came into play. With no affordable
access to printing, the hand-painted movie poster was the most
logical advertising vehicle. Skilled local artists
were now part of this growing entertainment industry in Ghana,
and they surely brought their own distinct touch
to each film they were called upon to promote. By sewing together
two used flour sacks, a perfect sized canvas
for a movie poster was created. Each unique poster varies in
size ranging from 40-50 in. width x 55-70 in.
height. The ruggedness of these posters is immediately noticed.
Though a specific poster might only be
10-20 years old, its appearance will far surpass its actual age
due to the elemental toll one takes from
constant transit, being rolled, folded, left in the sun, rain,
etc. Today access to printing is far less expensive
and movies have become more accessible to the general public
in Ghana. The mobile cinema has all but
passed away, but these hand-painted movie posters remain a wonderful,
tangible product of the time. |
Original Artwork For Sale
(click image for larger picture): |
"Death Wish 3"
Painted by
Heavy J
for the Name Video Club
in Nungua Market, early 2000s
$1100.00
- Sold -
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"Zombie 2"
Painted by
Magasco
for the Name Video Club
in Nungua Market,
early 2000s
$1000.00
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"Slither"
Painted by
J.A. Pastony
This was a travelling poster,
no video club,
early 2000s
$850.00
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"Leprechaun"
Painted by
Flash
for the Name Video Club
in Nungua Market,
early 2000s
$850.00
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"House"
Painted by
Flash
for the Makosa Video Club
in Nima, early 2000s
$850.00
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"Ghoulies in College"
Painted by
D.A. Armahsco
for the Name Video Club
in Nungua Market,
early 2000s
$850.00
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"Freddy Vs. Jason"
Painted by
Casper
for the Royal Video Club,
early 2000s
$700.00
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"Eaten Alive"
Painted by
Awal Sunil Shetty
for the JK Video Club,
early 2000s
$600.00
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"Powers of Darkness"
Painted by
Leonardo
This was a travelling "Nollywood"
poster, no video club, early 2000s
$400.00
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Prints For Sale (click image for larger picture): |
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To purchase a piece, or for more information...Please Click Here |
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