The Witches of Gambaga

The Witches of Gambaga is a haunting 55-minute documentary film about a community of women condemned to live as witches in Northern Ghana. Made over the course of 5 years, this disturbing expose is the product of a collaboration between members of the 100 strong community of ‘witches’, local women’s movement activists and feminist researchers, united by their interest in ending abusive practices and improving women’s lives in Africa. Painful experience and insight create an intimate record of the lives of women ostracized from their communities.  Completed in July 2010, Fadoa Films Ghana and UK, Directed by Yaba Badoe, Co-produced by Yaba Badoe and Amina Mama.

Awards

Winner, 2010 Black International Film Festival Best Documentary Award

2nd Prize, Documentaries, Fespaco, 2011

Reviews

“An excellent exploration of how women are victimized …a valuable resource for understanding how to end this problem.”

Cornelius Moore, California Newsreel 

“A brave and brilliant production”

Hope for the African Village Child Trust

“…will go a long way to promote the rights of women…

African Women’s Development Fund

“An admirably unsensational but powerfully affecting reminder of the terrible influence still wrought by superstition on the lives of so many women.”

Geoff Andrew, film critic, British Film Institute 

“A shocking, extraordinary film…”

Michael Eaton, screenwriter

“… the unacceptable and abusive treatment of women as witches is
exposed…”

ABANTU FOR DEVELOPMENT