‘We are preserving a tradition’: how Ghana’s sensationalist film posters became collectible art

In Ghana, a unique artistic tradition thrives: hand-painted movie posters. These posters are often created by artists like Heavy J, whose real name is Jeaurs Affutu. Working from his porch, Heavy J meticulously applies oil paint to a flour sack, which serves as his canvas. These artworks are known for being dramatically different, or sensationalist, compared to the actual films they promote.

For instance, Heavy J once created a poster for the animated fairytale 'The Little Mermaid'. On his poster, he depicted a man wielding a knife with blood and a skull, elements entirely absent from the original story. The man with the knife was meant to be the kind-hearted Prince Eric. Heavy J explains this creative choice by saying, 'We add more to make people interested.' This approach aims to capture attention and draw viewers to the cinema, often through exaggerated or misleading imagery.

Historically, this practice sometimes led to strong negative reactions from movie-goers. Viewers who felt deceived by the posters would sometimes issue threats, insults, and even physical attacks against the artists or distributors because the film did not match the poster's promise. However, despite these past conflicts, these vibrant and unique Ghanaian film posters have transcended their original advertising purpose. They are now highly valued and considered collectible art, celebrated for their distinct visual style and cultural significance. This showcases a remarkable evolution from functional, if sometimes controversial, advertisements to treasured pieces that help preserve a rich artistic tradition in Ghana.