It Was Embarrassing- Gloria Sarfo Laments Absence of Stakeholders at Africa Cinema Summit

Ghanaian actress Gloria Sarfo didn’t hold back her disappointment over the absence of key stakeholders at the second edition of the Africa Cinema Summit held in Accra.

During an interview with TV3, she expressed her frustration, reflecting on what she saw as a missed opportunity for Ghana’s film industry.

“We’ve really learnt a lot,” she said, emphasizing the importance of promoting Africa’s local languages and cinema on a global stage. “It’s all about Africa, projecting our local languages and also our cinema markets.”

However, despite the significance of the summit, Sarfo was disheartened by the lack of attendance from many industry players, including producers and actors who should have been there to champion their work and support the growth of African cinema.

Sarfo recalled an awkward moment during the event when Nigerian filmmaker Kule Afolayan addressed the crowd, asking where the producers and actors were.

“It was so embarrassing that there was silence in the entire auditorium,” she recounted, highlighting the uncomfortable reality of the situation.

For her, the absence was not only noticeable but also indicative of a broader issue within the industry—one where opportunities to elevate African cinema are sometimes missed due to a lack of participation.

While she acknowledged that some of these key figures may have been busy with ongoing film projects, she felt that their presence at the summit was equally important.

“It’s possible that most of them maybe filming, maybe on set at the moment, but trust me, we could have also made some time for this, for the industry,” Sarfo added, stressing the importance of prioritizing such events for the benefit of the entire sector.

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