Sankofa (film)

Sankofa is a 1993 independent historical drama film directed by Haile Gerima. The film tells the story of Mona, a contemporary Black American fashion model on a photo shoot in Ghana, who is transported back in time to a plantation in North America.

The film's title, Sankofa, derives from the Akan word meaning "go back and fetch it" (san - to return; ko - to go; fa - to fetch, to seek and take). This concept is embodied in the Akan symbol of a bird looking backwards, taking an egg from its back. The film uses this concept to explore the legacy of slavery and its impact on the African diaspora.

Through Mona's forced journey back in time, she experiences the brutality of slavery firsthand and is forced to confront her own disconnectedness from her African heritage. She is renamed Shango and becomes a slave, experiencing the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon enslaved people. The film depicts the daily lives, resistance, and spiritual practices of enslaved Africans.

Sankofa is known for its unflinching portrayal of slavery, its Pan-Africanist themes, and its focus on the importance of remembering and understanding the past in order to shape a better future. The film received mixed reviews upon its initial release but has since become a significant work in African and African diaspora cinema, and is often used in educational settings to teach about the history of slavery. Its impact and importance have grown over time, prompting wider recognition of Gerima's work and independent Black filmmaking.