Christine Boateng and Hajara Chambas Detail Feature Debut ‘Zjili’

Ghanaian filmmakers Christine Boateng and Hajara Musah Chambas have outlined the creative intentions behind their feature project, Zjili: A Story of Sisterhood and the Burdens of Excess. Slated for 2026, the film explores the daily realities of young women working as head porters, commonly known as kayayei, within the bustling environment of Accra’s Kantamanto Market.

The narrative centers on Zoya, played by Rahana Abdallah, a young girl from Botingli who harbored ambitions of becoming president. Following the death of her father and under the imminent threat of child marriage, Zoya flees to Ghana’s capital. There, she crosses paths with Teiya, portrayed by Esinam Semordzi, an experienced porter whose body is gradually deteriorating under the physical strain of hauling massive bales of imported second-hand clothing across the commercial district.

Authentic Depictions of Labor and Survival

In Accra, the two women reside in a modest compound managed by Mma Chalpang, an abrasive and guarded landlady played by Zaharawu Fuseini. Through these overlapping personal journeys, Boateng and Chambas examine broader themes of internal migration, labor, gender dynamics, and community survival in modern Ghana.

Addressing the thematic approach behind the project, Boateng explained that the directors sought to avoid common cinematic conventions that portray women in rigid archetypes. The filmmakers intended to depict their characters with complete emotional range, moving past narratives that strictly frame women either as helpless victims in need of rescue or as detached symbols of pure endurance.

The film marks the feature directorial debut for both Boateng and Chambas. Boateng previously worked on notable Ghanaian productions, including The Burial of Kojo and Tejiri. By rooting the drama in the realities of Kantamanto, the production focuses directly on the economic and social pressures shaping working-class urban spaces in West Africa.

For the wider African creative arts and audiovisual sector, projects like Zjili underline the ongoing interest in authentic, locally grounded stories. Such cinematic efforts also provide essential platforms for regional talent across acting, production, and soundtrack composition to reflect contemporary Ghanaian experiences on an international scale.

Source: Afrocritik