Stop copying Nigerians – Leila Djansi to Ghanaian filmmakers

Filmmaker Leila Djansi has called on Ghanaian filmmakers and producers to stop copying Nigerian movie styles and focus on telling stories that suit Ghanaian audiences.

In a post on Facebook, sighted by MyNewsGh, she said, “You need to STOP copying Nigerian filmmakers. Please. I say this as family. Nigeria is not Ghana. Our differences are not the same.”

She explained that audiences in the two countries respond to different kinds of storytelling.

“Nigerians reward grandiosity. Boldness. Loud and extra stories. But those same traits intimidate Ghanaians,” she said.

According to her, Ghanaian audiences prefer calmer and more humble characters.

“Ghanaians reward softness, humility, and an unthreatening nature,” she stated.

She used public figures to support her point. “Why did Akufo-Addo win when he rebranded as a humble Christian? Why does everyone love Jackie Appiah?” she asked.

Leila also spoke about how different regions of the world respond to films.

“American audiences reward fast pacing and high-concept stories. European audiences prefer subtle and slow storytelling,” she noted.

She said filmmakers must study their audience before creating content.

“Filmmakers must understand these mechanisms instead of copying blindly,” she advised.

She encouraged Ghanaian creatives to focus on their identity.

“You don’t have to copy strategy or style. Lean into your authenticity and make it work,” she added.