Gladstone collection 3: Northern Territories, Ghana Part 2 c.1961

Filmmaker: Wilma Gladstone General description In this film, Gladstone and her friend Joyce Trott record a driving tour they made of the northern and eastern regions of Ghana. The footage shows a variety of everyday scenes depicting roof thatching, children learning and playing at school, various markets and children weaving cloth as well as scenes from the Independence Day celebrations in Ghana. Detailed description Ferry crossing the Volta River at Yeji Clip shows trucks driving off a car float ferry with side tug on one side of the river while other vehicles wait to drive onto the ferry. Men and women walk onto the ferry as well, including a young bread-seller balancing a large tray of bread loaves on his head. Scene switches aboard the ferry itself as it crosses the river, closing in on the opposite riverbank. Shots of cars and people waiting on the opposite side. Schoolchildren at Pong-Tamale Footage begins with a class of boys, mostly in khaki uniform, clapping and singing outdoors in a clearing near a village. Their teacher leads them enthusiastically. Later shots show girls as well, and some close-ups of the children's smiling faces. Some children are happy to play up to the camera. Children carry small wooden chairs on their heads. A woman sitting on a veranda ladles food from a big basin into dozens of smaller basins. The children collect their bowls and take them to their chairs beneath shady trees. They eat with the fingers of their right hand, while a bigger girl in blue uniform distributes water from a bucket for drinking and washing of hands. Older girls, mostly in blue uniform, sit and eat separately. They wash their hands after eating and a teacher collects their bucket. Independence celebrations near Navrongo Elaborately costumed men dance to the music of drummers and horn-players in a clearing, surrounded by a large audience, including people perched up in trees. In front of the musicians are a gold-coloured moulded eagle, elephant and lion/leopard, street decorations issued by the government for the celebrations. The Ghanaian flag also features. Boys riding a donkey at Navrongo Two boys ride a donkey bareback around some trees, stopping to be photographed by a European woman. Scene switches to a string of laden donkeys trotting past on a nearby track with their drivers.