Pro longboarder and activist Lucy Small often likes her surf travel to have a purpose beyond catching waves. So, when wetsuit company Project Blank gave Lucy the green light to make a film on a chosen subject she started scouting around for a worthy theme. Lucy soon stumbled across SurfGhana on Instagram and was immediately intrigued by the heady mix of surf, skate, music and pop culture; all permeated by a distinctly West African vibe.
Although Lucy knew that making a film in Ghana would be logistically and creatively challenging once the idea was in her head there was no turning back. Lucy would partner up with Maddie Meddings who filmed and edited their full experience in Ghana.
Yama – Official Trailer from lucy small on Vimeo.
“I thought not only is the story interesting, it’s like a grassroots development of this project, in a place that probably doesn’t have a lot of sort of surfing infrastructure. And then also a really visually interesting place – a lot of colours, a lot of kind of variety. And so I literally just sent them a message saying, ‘hey, I want to make a film’.”
It didn’t take long for Lucy to get in touch with Sandy Alibo, the woman behind the SurfGhana project, which involves both skating and surfing initiatives.
Talking to Tracks over the phone Lucy emphasised that Sandy wasn’t looking to collaborate on another clichéd project that made an appeal for western sympathy. Historically, Ghana was plundered for its gold by colonisers and then became the centre of the international slave trade in the 17th century. However, it’s now proudly Africa’s first independent nation and determined to unshackle the legacy of its colonial past. “Sandy talked a lot about how there’s such a common perception of many places in Africa, including Ghana, that it’s poor people that need help from white people in Western countries,” explains Lucy. “And she said that that trope is really damaging. And there’s a lot of people in Ghana who are so sick of it because they feel like they don’t get represented accurately…”
Lucy learnt a lot about Ghana while making her new movie, which is titled ‘Yama’. Turns out the Ghanaians have their own distinctive take on surfing history. As Lucy discovered, ‘Yama’ is a Fante word for boat and there are well-documented, early accounts of Ghanaians riding waves. However, while the title of the film, which is filmed and edited by Maddie Meddings, tips its hat to ancient traditions much of the focus is on the modern surf and skate culture that is flourishing amongst young women in Ghana.
‘Yama’ premieres on March 28 (Tuesday night) at the Randwick Ritz. Click here for details and how to purchase tickets.
Check out the upcoming issue of Tracks for a full interview with Lucy about the trip and the making of the movie.
