Sankofa (film)

Sankofa (Amharic: ሳንኮፋ) is a 1993 Ethiopian-produced drama film written and directed by Haile Gerima that is centered on the Atlantic slave trade. The storyline features Oyafunmike Ogunlano, Kofi Ghanaba, Mutabaruka, Alexandra Duah, and Afemo Omilami. The word Sankofa is derived from the Akan language of Ghana and means to "go back, look for, and gain wisdom, power and hope," according to Dr. Anna Julia Cooper. The word 'Sankofa' stresses the importance of one not drifting too far away from one's past in order to progress in the future.

In the film, Sankofa is depicted by a bird and the chants and drumming of a Divine Drummer. Gerima's film shows the importance of people of African descent not drifting far away from their African roots. Gerima uses the journey of the character Mona to show how the African perception of identity included recognizing one's roots and "returning to one’s source" (Gerima).