Get Familiar: Thaniel Owusu Agyemang
Get Familiar: Thaniel Owusu Agyemang
Interview by Passion Dzenga | Photography by Kala CitéFor filmmaker, photographer, and multidisciplinary artist Thaniel Owusu Agyemang, creativity is about more than just expression - it’s about connection. With Home: Where It All Begins, his first official film release, he takes audiences on a deeply personal journey back to Ghana, exploring themes of heritage, identity, and belonging.Thaniel’s work spans filmmaking, DJing, and photography, allowing him to move fluidly between disciplines while staying rooted in community. He’s got love for all - collaborating with artists and using the platform Sankofa Archives to create spaces where stories of the African diaspora can thrive.As he gears up for his film screening and the Onyx Vision exhibition at OSCAM, Thaniel invites people to get familiar with his vision - one that’s about archiving, storytelling, and reclaiming narratives through art. How did you first get into film, and what does it mean to you?Film is a powerful medium of expression. My love for it started in childhood when I watched Nollywood and Ghanaian movies with my parents. I’d always try to predict what would happen next and even create my own plots in my head. Later, as I got into photography, I wanted to bring my photos to life, and film became a way to add new dimensions to my storytelling. You work across multiple disciplines - filmmaking, DJing, photography, and directing. How do these different roles influence each other?Being multidisciplinary allows me to collaborate with a variety of artists and communities. For example, alongside my film event, I’m part of an exhibition, Onyx Vision at OSCAM, featuring artists Lenny Pharrell and Hamilton Chango Harris. Engaging in different mediums broadens my connections, keeps me inspired, and lets me create in different ways.With an exhibition and a film screening happening in the same week, how do you see this film shaping the conversation around your work?This is actually my first official film release. I’ve done short projects before, but nothing on this scale. It marks an important step in my journey, blending all the creative elements I’ve worked with into one larger vision.What inspired the title Home: Where It All Begins?The title reflects my journey of returning to Ghana for the first time. It represents the idea that my journey truly begins now that I have reconnected with my homeland. I want people to feel the importance of returning to their roots, learning from the past, and building for the future. This idea is also tied to the philosophy of Sankofa, which means "return, bring it back"What was the main motivation behind your trip to Ghana?I had always wanted to go back to Ghana, but financial constraints made it difficult. My mother, who has many children, often went alone. When I finally had the opportunity, I decided it was the right time. I wanted my mother to be with me for my first visit, so I paid for her ticket. Later, my friend Ian Bodo, a director of photography, joined me. We started filming spontaneously without planning to make a movie—it just happened organically.Why did you choose to release the film on the same week as Ghana’s Independence Day?It felt symbolic. Ghana’s Independence Day represents freedom and reclaiming identity, which aligns with the film’s theme of reconnecting with one’s roots.What were your expectations before visiting Ghana?My expectations were shaped by stories from my mother and friends, but experiencing it firsthand was completely different. People had always asked if I had ever been to my homeland, and I hadn’t. When I finally went, I realized that stories can only tell so much—you have to feel it yourself.What was the most powerful moment for you during the trip?Seeing an entire space filled with only Black people for the first time in my life. In Europe, I had never experienced that before. It was a profound moment of reflection and belonging. The warmth I felt from the moment I arrived at the airport was overwhelming.How did meeting your family in Ghana impact you?It was deeply emotional. I met many family members for the first time, including my grandmother, whom I hadn’t seen in 15 years. I had talked to my relatives over video calls, but meeting them in person was completely different. You can’t fully understand someone’s presence through a screen—it’s something you have to experience.What was the biggest lesson you learned from your trip?I realized that in Africa, people don’t overthink problems like we do in the West. In Europe, we tend to pile problems on top of problems, but in Ghana, people just go with the flow. They accept that some things are beyond their control and trust in God. This mindset shift was one of the most powerful takeaways for me.What can audiences expect to see in the film?The film captures raw moments of reflection, like me standing in Independence Square in the rain, simply taking in the view. It’s about embracing stillness, something that’s rare in the fast-paced Western world. In Ghana, I felt like I could truly reset and breathe. That’s what I want audiences to experience through the film.How did your trip to Ghana change your sense of identity and connection to your roots?I wouldn’t say I feel more Ghanaian because I already felt Ghanaian. But I do feel more connected to the core—to my great-grandparents, to the land they walked on, and to my ancestors. That deeper connection is what changed for me.Do you see this film as the beginning of a larger project, or is it a standalone adventure?Initially, it was just an adventure I wanted to share with family and friends. I held a small private screening at the Black Activation Month in Amsterdam curated by Bamba Al Mansour, but after that, many people told me it could grow into something bigger—maybe a series or even an exhibition. Right now, I’m still weighing my options, but the message is powerful, and it has the potential to expand in different ways.How does your film differ from other narratives about African heritage and the diaspora?Many African films, like Touki Bouki from 1973, focus on people leaving Africa for Europe. That’s also the story of my parents, so I understand why those narratives exist. But I wanted to do something different—something about going back home and centralizing African countries in the story. The new generation needs to archive our heritage and encourage future generations to return, rather than always seeing Africa as a place to leave.Why is it important to tell stories about returning to Africa, rather than just leaving?Migration stories usually highlight Africans moving to Europe or America, reinforcing the idea that success is found elsewhere. But we also need stories about Afro-Europeans and people in the diaspora going back to Africa - reconnecting with the land, culture, and history. It’s about shifting the narrative and showing that home has value, too.What made this trip particularly special for you?Going with my mother was important because she’s from Ghana, and I wanted to experience it with her first. Then, having my friend join later allowed me to experience Ghana both as a son and as a young man in my early 20s, navigating my own journey. That mix of perspectives made it even more meaningful.Can you tell us about your collaboration with Sankofa Archives and Free the Art? How did it all come together?As the founder of Sankofa Archives, my events always align with building out the archive. My connection with Free the Art happened organically - I’ve known Tim and Berano from Free The Art for a long time. We always talked about supporting each other's projects, and when I did a small, private film screening last October, I wanted to do something bigger. I reached out to Berano about hosting a screening at the Eye Film Museum and expanding it into a full experience. He was on board, and from there, everything came together.Why did you choose the Eye Film Museum as the venue?Growing up, I visited the Eye Film Museum during school trips, and it always inspired me. School wasn’t as creative as I wanted, so these visits felt like an artistic escape. Over time, I kept the idea in my mind that one day, I would screen my film there. Now, it feels like I’m fulfilling a childhood dream.How does the film connect with the exhibition?The exhibition, Onyx Vision by Free The Art, features my photo series Home, which includes pieces made in Ghana. It connects with the film because it visually expresses moments from the film through photography. I took all the pictures myself and some of the pictures from the series also appear in the film. The film is called Home: Where It All Begins, and the photo series is also titled Home. Both capture different aspects of Ghana - the city, the beach, and the people. You often collaborate with Lenny Pharrel. What is it like standing next to your friends in creative spaces?It’s a beautiful moment because we’ve been friends for a long time, and in the beginning, we were both figuring out our paths. Seeing everything come together now feels like a full-circle moment. Exhibiting together in my own neighborhood, Amsterdam Southeast, at OSCAM, alongside Lenny, is really special. We are part of a community - Sankofa Archives - that aligns so well with what we do, so being able to share this moment is incredible.Being able to grow and experience it with friends is a blessing. Creating isn’t just about putting work out into the world - it’s about the act of creating itself. And when you do that alongside your friends, it makes the process even more meaningful. It becomes more of a family affair rather than just work.We've seen Sankofa Archives do their own thing, partner with Patta and provide creative opportunities for people already. What’s next for Sankofa Archives? Sankofa Archives is more of a community platform than a collective. The next goal is to collaborate more while making it clear that it's not just about the people running it - it’s for anyone who has ideas but finds the barriers too high. We want to create opportunities for young and emerging artists.For example, with the Sankofa Archives community, we created an exhibition alongside our film screening to showcase diaspora talent in the Netherlands. Artists like Rarri Jackson, Nora Sofie and Gabriela Akyea, who are incredibly talented but may not always get the platform, are being featured. Our goal is to provide these opportunities through exhibitions, community events, screenings and more.It sounds like you're building something bigger than just an art platform. What’s your long-term vision?Yes, we want to establish a space - both physical and digital - where we archive art, music, film, and culture. We want to document not just the past but also the present, creating an archive for future generations. The next step is expanding our reach, bringing in more people, and forming new connections.If you could take this film and your work anywhere in the world, where would it be?I’m actually traveling to Senegal in March—not for work, but to explore Africa, gather inspiration, and exchange stories. I see a new wave of Afro-European artists reconnecting with their roots, and I want to be part of that. Learning more about where I come from is a big part of my creative journey. My work and my philosophy are deeply rooted in African ways of thinking, and I want to continue developing that perspective.On March 5, the second edition of MovieZone’s: KinoTalk will take place at Eye Filmmuseum, presented by Sankofa Archives and Free The Art. This special edition is led by Thaniel Owusu Agyemang and will feature his film Home: Where It All Begins, a personal account of his journey to Ghana—a deeply meaningful experience that allowed him to explore his identity, connect with his ancestral homeland, and embrace the Sankofa philosophy. Following the film, a panel discussion will take place with Thaniel and other artists, delving into themes of identity, heritage, and cultural connection. To conclude the night, Eye Bar & Restaurant will host a celebratory gathering with drinks and music inspired by the film’s themes. Doors open at 7:15 PM. Admission is free, but registration is required via this RSVP link.
