Hawa Essuman's guest appearances

Hawa Essuman

The NDINI Podcast

Elsa Isaac

Lisa Nichols

Michelle Lee

Camille Dundas

Sandra Chuma

Vivian Kaye

Thembi Bheka

Aisha Addo

Mpumi Nobiva

Makini Smith

Tomi Gbeleyi

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

Meera Estrada

Anjali Nayar

Caroline Wanga

OwlTail

Hawa Essuman is a Ghanian-born award-winning filmmaker currently based in Kenya.  Her most recent film Silas, which is a documentary about Liberian environmental activist Silas Siakor, recently opened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.  Since then it has gone on to screen at film festivals around the world.   But Hawa wasn’t always a film director or producer – she started out as an actress in theatre productions, before moving into film production.   In 2010 Hawa directed the narrative film Soul Boy, which has played at more than 40 film festivals around the world and won numerous awards.  Hawa has also produced music videos. In our conversation, Hawa shared how the life of a filmmaker is not always glamorous!  She shared some of the challenges she’s faced in making her films, as well as her advice for anyone looking for a career in the industry.   Hawa also shared a more personal story – her sister Rafia has sickle cell anemia, which has caused her bones to become brittle.  Hawa talked about what she’s doing to help her sister.     WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE What made Hawa want to be a filmmaker The greatest misconception about women in the film industry in East Africa Why tell Silas Siakor’s story was so important to her The best advice she has for anyone wanting to become a filmmaker How Sex and the City 2 led to her most recent filmmaking partnership What she’s working on next What Hawa’s greatest hope is What Hawa’s “I am…”is   EPISODE LINKS Hawa on Instagram Hawa’s  Indiegogo Fundraiser for her sister Rafia    SILAS  Silas Movie on Facebook Silas Website   SOUL BOY   Soul Boy Trailer 

Hawa Essuman is a Ghanian-born award-winning filmmaker currently based in Kenya.  Her most recent film Silas, which is a documentary about Liberian environmental activist Silas Siakor, recently opened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.  Since then it has gone on to screen at film festivals around the world.   But Hawa wasn’t always a film director or producer – she started out as an actress in theatre productions, before moving into film production.   In 2010 Hawa directed the narrative film Soul Boy, which has played at more than 40 film festivals around the world and won numerous awards.  Hawa has also produced music videos. In our conversation, Hawa shared how the life of a filmmaker is not always glamorous!  She shared some of the challenges she’s faced in making her films, as well as her advice for anyone looking for a career in the industry.   Hawa also shared a more personal story – her sister Rafia has sickle cell anemia, which has caused her bones to become brittle.  Hawa talked about what she’s doing to help her sister.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE What made Hawa want to be a filmmaker The greatest misconception about women in the film industry in East Africa Why tell Silas Siakor’s story was so important to her The best advice she has for anyone wanting to become a filmmaker How Sex and the City 2 led to her most recent filmmaking partnership What she’s working on next What Hawa’s greatest hope is What Hawa’s “I am…”is EPISODE LINKS Hawa on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ekuahawa/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> Hawa’s <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rafia-s-appeal%22%20%5Cl%20%22/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Indiegogo Fundraiser</a> for her sister Rafia  SILAS  Silas Movie on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/moviesilas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> Silas <a href="https://www.silasthemovie.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Website</a> SOUL BOY   Soul Boy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXaNPylNjrI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trailer</a>

018 | Hawa Essuman: We have power.  We have will that we could use to great effect.