Tetteh Quarshie was a Ghanaian blacksmith and agriculturalist directly responsible for the introduction of cocoa to Ghana, which today constitute one of the major export crops of the country’s economy. His mother died giving birth to him and he went up against the colonial masters from Spain who had placed a death penalty on anyone who smuggles cocoa seeds off the island of Fernando Po in Guinea. Quarshie did exactly that, bringing the seeds home and going directly against the colonial enslavers.

Director and writer Frank Fiifi Gharbin has transformed the life of this real person into historical fantasy, making a story of the past vibrant and exciting for today’s audiences. The joy of a film festival is the chance to discover new things from countries that I may never learn about. Seek this out and do the same.

Heroes of Africa is playing at Fantastic Fest as part of the Burnt Ends selections.

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