‘Sankofa’ – a Film that Goes Back to the Past – Twice

The film tells the story of an African American model, Mona, who goes to Ghana on a photo shoot where she is suddenly transported back in time to the days of slavery. There, she tells the story from the point of view of Shola, a slave who lives on a plantation with several others. Gerima spent nearly two decades researching the trans-Atlantic slave trade before creating the film. Despite its limited initial release, “Sankofa” has remained an important piece of work in both filmmaking and African studies. With its availability on Netflix, the film has continued to receive praise and renewed interest from its captivating and rich storytelling.