A 50-minute documentary film titled ‘Music Across Borders’ was last week screened at the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon.
Created and directed by the Ghanaian filmmaker, composer and musician, Gameli Torzdro, the film takes on the exploits of Danish saxophonist, Katrine Sulwalski, who visited Ghana over 20 years ago and collaborated with the renowned Ghanaian percussionist, Odomankoma Okyerema Pra.
The film reveals in intense detail the impact of cross border and cultural collaborations, with the artists narrating their experiences and feelings after rehearsing and performing with people from other cultures with distinct music traditions.
Undeniably, the documentary equally reacts to today’s migration debates and explores musicians’ view on how their music encounters negotiate some of these borders and impacts on people across the world.
The film which also includes Denmark-based percussionist, Ayi Solomon, and singer Elivava Mensah forms part of Gameli Tordzro’s research into creative arts and translating cultures and centres on various issues relating to cross-cultural collaborations and its impact on society as a whole.
Gameli Tordzro’s documentary film making is driven by his passion for music and its role and importance in everyday life while commenting on how Ghana is in danger of losing its rich music and dance traditions.