Jackson Collection: 32: Gold Coast life

This film is held by the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum (ID: 2005/092/032).

Synopsis

Gold Coast. Group of small African boy with containers on their heads take water from a pond in the country and carry this away in a long column. Large group of men and teenage boys work on the construction of an earth embankment in flat open country. There is a large work force involved and they do not have any mechanical machinery but only use pick and shovel. A team of young boys carry the excavated earth up onto the embankment in small baskets on their heads and then dump it. A party of four British colonial officers group together and stand for the camera beside the workings. A number of the workers sit on the ground to take a meal break. High hill country with British colonial officer standing in flat area on a wooded Hillside with group of village elders looking over to the other side of the valley and nearby mountains. Small group of young African boys tend a herd of grazing cattle in open country with trees. Some of the boys are on the backs of the cows riding them like horses. Village of straw huts with no sign of live in the main street but utensils and goods spread over the ground. Group of standing African musicians enthusiastically playing drums of different shapes and sizes in the open. Character studies of individual African women seated in the shade in village huts. One of these women is breast feeing her baby. School sports day on sports field in front of School watched by school's pupils. Wheel barrow race, 3 legged race, sack race. Foot race, high jump, other party game sports. Local dignitaries, local chiefs in traditional costume, local people in European dress, one of whom sports a bow tie, and a British lady, watch the games. Assembly of horsemen in open country who demonstrate their riding skills and their horses to one another. The principal figures is dressed in a hood and costume, which almost looks European from the Early Middle Ages. The horse is dressed in matching style and the rides shows off his equestrian skills. A group of local people in local Muslim costume stand in the shade beneath some trees and allow them to be filmed by the camera. Village Primary School in the County. Children play outdoor game under the watchful eye of an African male teacher. Group of Primary School children jig in a "Hornpipe" dance in the grounds of the school. Small boys then sing. Country earth road. Party of British Colonial men on river bank await arrival of a heavily laden lorry-come-"Charabanc" type vehicle. With the help of a group of African workers the vehicle is manoeuvred onto a Pontoon Ferry, which then sets off across the River. The British Expedition party stand on the Ferry beside their vehicles and wave their hats in farewell to those remaining on the riverbank. African women taking water from pond and then carrying it away in cans which they carry on their heads. Dam Embankment of small half filled reservoir. (This may be the new water supply for the people shown in the previous shot). Grounds of British Residency. Domestic scenes in the garden with the Fitton family and their guests and friends. Lesson in how to use camera. Changing of the Guard at the Residency. Bugle sounded and sentries present arms. Tour of the extensive grounds with the mature trees and flowers.

Production / Donor Details: Donor's grandfather, Sir Francis Walter F Jackson was Chief Commissioner, Gold Coast (Ghana) 1934-36.

 

Titles

  • Jackson Collection: 32: Gold Coast life (Archive)
Series Title:
Jackson Collection
 

Technical Data

Year:
1936
Film Gauge (Format):
16mm Digibeta
Sound:
Mute
Footage:
400ft
 

Production Credits

Production Details
See synopsis
 

Countries

 
 

Groups

This film belongs to the following groups.

Jackson Collection

 

 

Jackson Collection: 31: Locusts. Durbar scenes. (1936)

Gold Coast. Northern Territories. Study of Lizards and small insects on earth baked ground in open flat scrubland. Swarm of ...

 

Jackson Collection: 32: Gold Coast life (1936)

Gold Coast. Group of small African boy with containers on their heads take water from a pond in the country ...

 
 

Archive Work Groups

Groups

This film belongs to the following groups.

Jackson Collection

 

 

Jackson Collection: 31: Locusts. Durbar scenes. (1936)

Gold Coast. Northern Territories. Study of Lizards and small insects on earth baked ground in open flat scrubland. Swarm of ...

 

Jackson Collection: 32: Gold Coast life (1936)

Gold Coast. Group of small African boy with containers on their heads take water from a pond in the country ...