Photo Credit: Studio Eveliz by Eveliz and Tony Prince Tomety
An African City is the brainchild of writer and producer Nicole Amarteifo Millie Monyo. The webseries follows the lives of five women recently returned to the motherland, more specifically, their motherland– Accra. We find the women all in their thirties, single or divorced, and looking for love in a country ruled by men, but on the throngs of change. With the series, Nicole has painted African women as we rarely see them in the media— young, beautiful, successful, sexual, funny and flawed all at the same time. Nana Yaa (played by MaameYaa Boafo), a journalist and the comparative ‘Carrie’ of the group, struggles with the choice of financing her own apartment with the sky-rocketing rent inflation in Accra as well as an ex-lover who is set to be married to another woman. Makena, a lawyer and Oxford alum, is the unemployed one of the group, while Zainab is a successful business owner (she sells the illustrious Shea Butter that we all love). Ngozi, with a degree in international affairs and a hand on the bible is the adorably religious friend, the exact foil to Sade, the ‘Samantha’ of the group— a Harvard graduate, marketing manager and self-assured sugar baby and "sexpert." Nicole refers to her characters as "Afropolitaines," and the show itself is a finely knit curated effort that integrates gorgeous African-inspired garments, natural hair, Ghanaian reggae and hip hop, sex and social awareness all into ten fifteen-minute episodes. We caught up with An African City star MaameYaa Boafo on the heels of the first season finale.
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Akilah for Okayafrica: Tell us about the show’s inception? How did the idea come about? Did you have to audition? When did you come on board?
MaameYaa: Yes, I had to audition. I saw the post on a Facebook acting page and submitted for it. I was actually leaving town the day of the audition so I couldn't stay long at the audition, but Nicole (the series creator) let me send a taped audition. I think she called me about a week later and I've been a part of the AAC family ever since.
OKA: You, being a Ghanaian woman living in the United States, do you find that a popular sentiment is many young Ghanaians in the states are moving back to Ghana?
MaameYaa: I do see that my friends here in New York are moving back home. And they sound so happy that they made that choice- makes me jealous lol. But they are leaving when the time is right for them based on their career and where they are personally and professionally. The timing has to be right, more so than it is popular, that's how I am approaching it for myself.
OKA: The show is innovative, insofar as its depiction of young African women in Africa as independent, successful and sexual beings in all of their roundedness. Can you speak more on this?
MaameYaa:An African City showcases Ghanaians from the point of view of "Reaspora." Look at Nicole and how she created the series. She wrote this based on stories that women can relate to whether they are returnees are not. In fact some of the episodes start out saying that these were real events, just different locations and different names. She's shedding light about African Women in the 21st century and what we go through with jobs, image, men, tradition etc. I can personally say that my friends back in Ghana are represented by the "Fabulous Five" (characters on the show). My friends are women who have started their own businesses--fashion lines, consulting companies etc. Some of my friends have decided to make the move back home (to Ghana) solely on faith with no job prospects.
OKA: Ghana seems to be booming as far as tourism. Why do you think that is? What has changed in recent years?
MaameYaa: I’ve never lived in Ghana but I've noticed that more universities have study abroad programs there. Foreign designers are very much into African print– West African print to be exact. I read somewhere not long ago that Ghana is #5 in countries one should visit-- that might have something to do with it! Public figures of Ghanaian descent are being featured everywhere- Amma Asante, Taiye Selasi, Ozwald Boateng etc. which also spark interest. Most people I've met and who have visited Ghana always have wonderful things to say. I just closed a play here on the east coast and my castmate studied abroad and lived on campus at University of Legon about 10 years ago, but he tells me about his time there as if it were yesterday with such joy. He's a fan of AAC and tells me how much just watching the show makes him want to go back.
OKA: The show features many unique, African inspired designs. Are there any particular designers that stand out to you? Who are some of the designers worn on the show? Are they Ghanaian?
MaameYaa: I loved all the designers! They were so generous with their clothes and I've kept in touch with some of them after season 1 wrapped. Chemphe Bea, Christie Brown, Ameyo were a few of the designers featured, but not all of them are Ghanaians. The blue dress Nana Yaa wore in episode 2 is from a popular peacock dress from my friend, a Haitian American designer named Marie Jean Baptiste of Rue 107 and the matching ankara crop top and skirt from episode 8 is by Maya Gorgoni of Royal Jelly Harlem.
OKA: Can you tell us more about the music on the show? How is it chosen? Is it mainly Ghanaian music? Who are some of your favorite Ghanaian artists at the moment?
MaameYaa: What I love about our show is that we showcase what we as African artists have to offer. The song at the end of episode 1 is called "Wooye" by Maurice Kirya of Uganda. A lot of the music highlights Ghanaian artists as well. I love Jayso's music who is also on the production team (his song "Pizza & Burger" is currently on repeat on my ipod) and I'm also digging Blitz the Ambassador and other Ghanaian artists such as ABIAH and Efya. I look forward to hearing their music on future episodes.
Continue to page 2 for the rest of the Q&A
OKA: Your character, Nana Yaa, seems to me, to be the ‘Carrie’ of the show? Would you agree? What are the similarities between you and Nana Yaa?
MaameYaa:An African City has been compared to Sex and the City. I think people say that often because of the voice-over factor, but Nana Yaa and Carrie are different. They have different careers, different backgrounds and are in different circumstances. As for Nana Yaa and myself, we both have journalism degrees and our mothers would prefer our hair to be permed and we embrace our culture. Unlike Nana Yaa, I do speak Twi while Nana Yaa is now learning.
OKA: You are an actress living and working here in NYC. Can you speak a little on the backgrounds of each of the ladies on the show? How did the ensemble come together?
MaameYaa: Currently I'm the only one in NYC, Nana Mensah is in Texas but I met her in New York and have done some theatre work with her and she comes back here often. Esosa E has relocated to Los Angeles but we've been in some New York projects together. We met on the set of Andrew Dosunmu's Mother of George. Nana and Esosa actually were in the same acting program together in New York. Marie Humbert and Maame Adjei are the real returnees (to Ghana) of our group- lucky them! Nana, Esosa and I flew together and met Marie and Maame for the first time on the day of our fitting. We all immediately fell in love with each other.
OKA: Would you consider moving back to Ghana permanently? If so, what would you pursue?
MaameYaa: I would definitely like to be home and be based there. I'm convinced that will happen one of these days so I'm not rushing anything. I would continue to live as an artist preferably in Accra as well as be active in my hometown of Kumasi. Sky's the limit.
OKA: Is it important to you and the creative team that all of the ladies in the show be of African descent?
MaameYaa: Absolutely. This story is about African Women- it's not often that you see a show where all the main characters are African. I'm very grateful to Nicole for doing that. Some of us are actual returnees and some are not but we can all identify with being African whether or not we’re considered "African enough" according to the opinions of others.
OKA: Tell us about shooting on location? How long were you all in Ghana? How did the people of Accra feel about you all being there shooting? Was there a general excitement in the city?
MaameYaa: We shot for a month and some of our locations were private so not many people knew. There were rumors of AAC being shot but we got to enjoy our privacy while we were shooting season 1.
OKA: Who are you hoping to reach with this webseries? What impact do you think it will make?
MaameYaa: I'm hoping to reach people who still see Africans in a one dimensional way. I hope to educate them. People who STILL have no clue that there are different kinds of Africans- Afropolitans, Returnees, Africans with foreign accents- nonetheless Africans. I'm hoping to reach young women who can learn from the choices our characters have made, step out in faith, come home, fall in love, mentally prepare for power cuts and other welcome home surprises. It's rewarding to hear fans say thank you to Nicole for creating ACC.
OKA: Tell us more about the issues that you hope to bring awareness to with the show?
MaameYaa: What Nicole did for season 1 was introduce the world to current events back home ranging from HIV/AIDS, expats, the skyrocketing apartment rental rates, views on traditional weddings vs. white weddings and more in thought-provoking ways through comedy as well as drama. What has happened in return are viewers starting debates and raising new questions. My hope is that these questions will continue and we can team up with non-profit groups concerning these issues to bring more change rather than just awareness. The response has been great! I love it when young women tell me that they are inspired by seeing professional African women with careers and that they too want to return to their respective countries to make a contribution and pursue their careers.
OKA: What has been some of the greatest experiences you have had while working on this show?
MaameYaa: For me, the greatest experience was being on set everyday. When I was a student in the States, I was known as the Ghanaian who studied acting. (instead of following the stereotypical route of Ghanaians who study economics, law or medicine) So to be back in my home country as a working actress using my degree, it was so rewarding. I felt like all those grueling hours in grad school and student visas were not in vain.
What are your hopes for the future of the show? When can we expect season 2?
MaameYaa: That we continue to blaze this trail as we go deeper into issues concerning what goes on in Ghana, how we break stereotypes, how we grow as women who have an unbreakable sisterhood. That being said, all I'm going to say regarding season 2 is stay tuned
OKA: What’s next for you? Where can we find you online?
MaameYaa: Next, I'll be shooting some film projects this spring and summer with some directors I'm super excited to work with including Akosua Adoma Owusu. Season 2 of An African City is also likely to be announced soon so stay tuned! You can find me on instagram and Twitter as MaameYaaBoafo.
Check out the entire first season of An African City and head here to learn more about the cast and creative team behind the show.