African horror screenwriter, Osarfo Anthony, has called on African filmmakers to make significant contributions to the global horror filmmaking industry.
His appeal follows a recent interview in which Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari expressed her interest in exploring the horror genre. “I prefer to do horror and thriller films. Yes. At N.S. B Studios, we like to challenge ourselves. We want to do something creative,” Nadia stated.
Osarfo, who aspires to see more horror movies produced in Africa for global distribution, said, “I felt a deep sense of joy when I heard Nadia express her intention to venture into other genres during her interview with Abeiku Santana a few days ago. It’s time for variety and diversity. I’m proud she is willing to take on this challenge.”
He emphasized that horror is one of the most profitable genres in cinema. “Unimpeachable data shows that horror movies delight audiences, consistently draw large crowds, and yield substantial returns on investment. Unfortunately, we Africans have excluded ourselves from this lucrative opportunity.”
Osarfo also expressed disappointment at the lack of representation from Africa in articles or data about horror screenwriters and filmmakers.
“When I search for ‘the 10 best horror movies of all time,’ not a single African film appears. I am currently developing course material for a horror presentation, but regrettably, all the screenwriters, films, filmmakers, directors, posters, and authorities I reference are non-Africans.”
Despite these challenges, Osarfo remains optimistic. “I envision a future where Africa contributes more horror films to the global film industry. It is possible.”
