How Agya Koo Revived Kumawood and Challenged Nollywood’s Dominance in Ghana
The veteran actor reflects on his role in revitalizing Kumawood and overcoming Nollywood’s dominance in Ghana.
- Agya Koo revitalized Ghana's film industry by bringing attention back to local productions
- Agya Koo chose to remain committed to building and promoting Ghana’s film identity
- His humor and authentic portrayal of Ghanaian life helped reignite local audiences' love for Ghanaian films
Veteran Ghanaian actor Agya Koo, born Kofi Adu, has shared how he played a crucial role in reviving Ghana’s film industry during a time when Nollywood had taken over the local movie scene.
For years, Nigerian films were the dominant force in Ghanaian cinema, pushing homegrown productions to the background.
But Agya Koo was determined to change that. “Nigerian movies were everywhere,” he recalled.
“They nearly overshadowed Ghallywood and Kumawood. I knew we had to act fast to prevent our own voice from being drowned out,” he told Kwame Tanko on the Lawson TV/Radio Ghana Se Sen Morning Show
His infectious humor and authentic depictions of Ghanaian life soon brought audiences back to Kumawood, sparking a revival. However, his rise wasn’t without challenges. “Nigerian filmmakers were curious about my sudden success,” he laughed. “They asked, ‘Who is Agya Koo, and why are Ghanaians only watching his films?'”
Despite lucrative offers to join Nigeria’s booming industry, Agya Koo chose to remain loyal to Kumawood, focused on helping elevate Ghanaian cinema.
“It wasn’t just about my career; it was about building our own industry,” he said.
Though there were talks of collaboration with Nigerian stars like Mr. Ibu, Agya Koo remained strategic, prioritizing the growth of Ghana’s film sector first.
His decision paid off, as his contributions were key to establishing a distinctive identity for Kumawood. “I wanted to make people fall in love with our films again,” he reflected. “Looking back, we succeeded.”
