An audience of discerning followers of New York City’s artistic scene were offered some useful insights into African art when Ghanaian filmmaker, Nii Kwate Owoo’s ‘You Hide Me’ was included in a package of documentary films screened on Thursday, August 15 at the Guggenheim Museum.

Themed ‘An Evening of Film Surrounding Object Constellations, Black Domesticity and the Art of Collecting’, the event was the world premiere of the ‘Monuments Are Here’ film project created, written and produced by singer-songwriter and actress, Solange Knowles. 

According to Kweku Nii Owoo, who represented his father Nii Kwate Owoo at the screening, Solange Knowles requested from the director of ‘Monuments Are Here’, New York-based Ghanaian filmmaker Nuotama Bodomo, if there were any additional worthwhile films she would like to be included in the programme. Bodomo chose ‘You Hide Me’ and six other short films. 

“All the films presented were exceptional. ‘You Hide Me’ definitely hit a strong chord with the predominantly Black audience who grasped the message that certain important aspects of Black people’s history can’t be hidden any longer,” Kweku Nii Owoo pointed out. 

‘You Hide Me’ is a documentary made by Nii Kwate Owoo in 1970 about stolen priceless African art works stashed away in secret, underground  vaults in the British Museum. The film asked that the art pieces be handed back to the people they were forcibly taken away from.

The Guggenheim Museum in New York is regarded by many as one of the most highly regarded cultural outfits worldwide. It prides itself on being a modern, dynamic institution that collects, preserves and interprets ideas across cultures through dynamic curatorial and educational initiatives and collaborations.

Nii Kwate Owoo indicated that he was proud his film got screened at the Guggenheim Museum in New York because it is a culturally distinct institution that keenly engages both local and global audiences. 

Kweku Nii Owoo said he spoke to Nuotama Bodomo and Solange Knowles and thanked them for the honour of having ‘You Hide Me’ as part of that important and historic event. 

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“I also thanked Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter who was host and key speaker at the event. She spoke glowingly about the impact and importance of ‘You Hide Me’ and also praised the other films featured in the programme for helping people question and challenge knowledge structures that don’t foster progress for them,” Kweku Nii Owoo added.