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Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson, renowned for her work, expressed feeling betrayed by her colleagues in the film industry during a ban imposed on her by the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) in 2010.
Nelson’s ban resulted from a dispute with movie producer Abdul Salam Mumuni.
She mainly felt let down by the older female actors who turned their backs on her instead of supporting her when she faced harassment from the all-male movie producers.
In her recently published book titled “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,” launched on June 18 at Peduase Lodge, she mentioned that actor Majid Michel was the sole individual who stood by her during those difficult times. She acknowledged his efforts to mediate her conflict with Abdul Salam.
“I also felt betrayed by my colleagues in the movie industry, particularly the older female actors. I believed I was bullied and needed their backing to confront the male-dominated producers. If they intended to send a message to those employed to act for them, to demonstrate that nobody was irreplaceable and that they could teach anyone a lesson at their discretion, I expected a collective disapproval from the actors. However, that has yet to happen. I was alone, and I faced it head-on.
Majid Michel was an exception; he supported me throughout. He defended me and attempted to reconcile with Abdul Salam. Along with Fred Nuamah and Frank Raja, he was one of the three individuals who accompanied me to meet the film producers in Akosombo. Among those present was Augustine Abbey, widely known as Idikoko, whom I admired while growing up and hoped would inspire and encourage young talents. Instead, he sided with men who believed they held absolute power over the industry and could withhold opportunities from those who refused to submit to their unjust ways. Their extreme rudeness marked the meeting.”
She further detailed how Abdul Salam, the initiator of the ban, later approached her to mend fences.
“Even now, I cannot comprehend their purpose in meeting me, as no concrete outcomes resulted from that encounter. Perhaps they expected me to kneel and plead for the ban to be lifted, but I refused. Frank Raja, Majid, and I left Akosombo with no sign from them they would take action regarding the ban. The ban persisted.
However, cracks began appearing in the producers’ unity that year. David Owusu of Media Five Productions defied the ban and cast me in a film, although its release was postponed until the ban was lifted.
Abdul Salam, who had instigated the ban, later approached me to reconcile. He suggested we put the past behind us and collaborate. I subsequently worked on two movies with him without the knowledge of the other producers, given the ban was still in effect. Socrates Sarfo, a producer who invited me to dinner, expressed disappointment in Abdul Salam’s actions.
I cannot fathom why they suddenly abandoned their positions of authority and sought my favor. If I were to speculate, I would attribute it to the failure of their intended impact from the ban. They had expected the ban would crush me, but they soon realized their actions had elevated my reputation.”
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Source: Omanghana.com
