You Hide Me

A film by Nii Kwate Owoo16', Ghana, 1970

continuous projection as part of the exhibition Stronger than memory and weaker than dewdrops

In 1970 Ghanaian filmmaker Nii Kwate Owoo gained access to the British Museum to make this short film about the valuable African artefacts held there and make his case for their restitution.

His documentary film You Hide Me is considered the first from English-speaking independent Africa. Controversial in subject matter, it is an exposé of the theft and concealment of ancient and rare African Art hidden in plastic bags and wooden boxes. Owoo has been quoted as saying: "My film was banned in Ghana in 1971 and was rejected by Ghana Television at the time for being Anti-British: it was the result of this banning which was reported and given prominent publicity by West Africa Magazine in 1971 that gave the film its world wide acclaim and controversy.”