A recent BBC News article covering the Africa Cinema Summit in Ghana has come under fire from Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, CEO of the National Film Authority of Ghana and convener of the summit. In an open statement, Asante criticized the BBC for failing to accurately represent the event and Idris Elba’s key announcements during his exclusive interview.
The Africa Cinema Summit, held in Ghana a few weeks ago, featured global superstar Idris Elba as the headline speaker. Elba, who is of both Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean descent, used the platform to share his pride in being a “Ga boy” and revealed plans to move to Ghana while continuing his work across the African continent. This announcement was significant, not just for the film industry, but for the African diaspora, yet BBC’s coverage missed some crucial details.
In her statement, Juliet Asante expressed frustration with the BBC for generalizing Elba’s plans by stating he intended to move to “Africa,” rather than specifying Ghana. “Had he said, ‘I’m moving to the UK,’ would you have reported it as ‘Idris plans to move to Europe’?” Asante asked, pointing out the inconsistency in how African stories are often treated in international media.
What particularly angered Asante, however, was the BBC’s reference to the Africa Cinema Summit as merely an “industry event in Accra.” Asante felt this undermined the importance of the summit and the immense effort that went into organizing it. “If you had interviewed him at Cannes, would you have said ‘industry event in France’?” she asked. “The Africa Cinema Summit is not just another event—it’s a major platform for African filmmakers and industry players to connect and shape the future of cinema on the continent.”
Asante went on to highlight that the summit, which was the result of partnerships with organizations like Silverbird Ghana and the Nile Group, deserved recognition. “We gave the BBC the biggest scoop, and their article was the most-read piece on their platform when it was published,” she noted, adding, “Yet, they couldn’t even credit the summit properly. It’s disingenuous for such a globally respected channel.”
The omission of the summit’s name also disappointed Asante, who emphasized that this is part of a broader issue in media coverage of African events. “I’m voicing my thoughts because it speaks to something larger,” she explained. “When African achievements aren’t acknowledged properly, we risk diminishing ourselves and our platforms.”
Asante also called out local Ghanaian media outlets that mirrored BBC’s article without providing the correct acknowledgments. “This is how we all get erased in the end—even the ones reporting,” she warned, stressing the importance of properly representing African stories.
In closing her statement, Asante urged for greater accountability and accuracy in media coverage of African events. “This isn’t just about an article; it’s about respecting Africa’s contributions and giving credit where credit is due. We deserve the same acknowledgment as any global event.”
