Watch out for Animator Abdul Ndadi!
I want to shine the spotlight on animator extraordinaire Abdul Ndadi. He not only was one of the first followers of Discover African Cinema, but also reached out to me in appreciation.It really is an honor when you guys display your thoughts about the site and I love your genuineness.
Ndadi is an animator from Ghana and has expressed Africa as his inspiration. He graduated SVA class of 2013, but took a bit of time to complete his very ambitious film. Ndadi offered me the chance to view his thesis film which is an animated short titled: Orisha’s Journey (2014).
It’s a dream/fantasy-like tale of a girl learning through a short journey about the importance of where we hail from.The music and the filmic quality of the animation ships the viewer deep into the story.As I’ve commented to him before, It’s a simplistic folkloric tale with a great truth enveloping it. It almost carried the essence of the famous animated feature film Kirikou and The Sorceress (1998,Michel Ocelot) in terms of a journey a child makes to discover the truth.
Abdul Ndadi recently discussed a bit about his film in his alumni blog at the School of Visual Arts: Film & Animation located in New York.
Here is what he enlightened viewers:
“I have just finished my film Orisha’s Journey, which was too complex to do my thesis year. The film is based on African folklore. I want to show another side to Africa besides safaris, so I explore different aspects of different countries around Africa in order to give the viewer a pan-African experience.
It’s important to me that Africans feel that no matter where they’re from, they’re part of my film. In the West, there is not a lot of exposure to real Africans — most people only go as far as The Lion King. I want to take people farther, to create a deeper meaning. There is a word in Ghanaian: “Sankofa” – it means to return that which was lost. It is a symbol for not forgetting your roots and learning from the past. It is said that a tree without roots cannot stand.
Orisha’s Journey is about a little girl and the transcendent power of imagination. Orisha – who doesn’t believe in fables – finds herself in one, after meeting a “lost-flower spirit.” She must journey through the world of spirits, and the depths of her imagination, to return the lost flower to the mysterious walking forest. The word “Orisha” is a Nigerian term for a nature deity or spirit. Throughout African folklore, it is believed that all things possess a spirit – from the rocks below, to the trees above – even the wind around us. The entire world is as alive as you and I.”
A very candid description of what his intentions and drives were in creating this inspiring film don’t you agree? I wish you the best in your future endeavors Abdul and I hope to cover it as well! I’m sure you will do well as you make the rounds at film festivals.
Are you in New York?
Orisha’s Journey will be playing at SVA Theatre on May 11th (Mother’s Day) 333W 23rd St., New York, NY 10011 at 7pm.It’s FREE and open to the public so come and check out many fun films premiering that night!
Also look out for more of Abdul Ndadi’s work on his tumblr!