
Audio By Carbonatix
Movie director and producer, Leila Djansi is urging African actors to learn how to switch their accents professionally before seeking jobs internationally.According to her, speaking with an African accent during auditions in the West can go against an actor."You walk into places, they hear your accent and they're already doubting what you're capable of. They're already doubting you because you're African. Look if my accent was British, I'd probably have won a mainstream Oscar already," she told Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Tuesday.Leila Djansi explained the accent of many African film directors, in the west, like Chinonye Chukwu, have changed to suit the demand market and secure jobs.She stated that a lot of Africans presented by talent agencies have barely made it on to the big screens. “I kid you not about this accent issue. That's what they're going to hear and ask where you're from. The number of jobs I have lost because of an African accent is crazy,” she added.The ‘Sinking Sands’ director said that it is important when learning to switch an accent, it gets done professionally and not learned shabbily from TV.She told Andy Dosty that people have criticised her on numerous occasions about her accent. Others, she claimed, said she was losing her identity but she feels otherwise."I'm not changing my identity, I just have to pay my bills. Look at what you deal with when you come here (Ghana), there's no support and there's no infrastructure. So, when you get out there you gotta make that place work," she added.Supporting Leila Djansi’s argument, entertainment pundit Mr Logic said he has also on some occasions, faced discrimination because of his accent.According to him, while in Canada, he had called a distribution service to book a deal but they refused to go through when they noticed his accent was from Africa.He explained that he had to wait and call back with a Jamaican accent which earned him the deal.British Nigerian Adewale also in an interview with Lexis Bill on Personality Profile on Joy FM said that Hollywood does not always welcome Black people of Africa descent with open arms, hence 99% of the time, they should expect rejection after auditions.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
France becomes the first EU country to ban social media for children
37 seconds -
Police armoured vehicle thief gets one month behind bars
11 minutes -
Hoops for All Youth Camp ends on high note, inspires next generation of basketball talents
18 minutes -
Trader in court over alleged offensive TikTok video
21 minutes -
Synchora Health pilots digital immunisation reminder system in Ashanti region
30 minutes -
Lotto agent in court over publication of false news
32 minutes -
ICI child protection efforts expand across West Africa’s cocoa communities
34 minutes -
Electrician remanded for defrauding nurses
41 minutes -
NDPC, AFIDEP deepen partnership to advance women’s economic empowerment
44 minutes -
Yamin and Abanga probe over alleged galamsey links still ongoing – Dr Srem-Sai
1 hour -
Government turning to borrowing too soon after IMF programme – Gideon Boako
1 hour -
Revenue shortfalls forcing government to borrow – Gideon Boako
2 hours -
Government cut spending after missing revenue targets – Gideon Boako
2 hours -
I didn’t abandon my client; I travelled for my daughter’s graduation – Atta Akyea
2 hours -
Wontumi chose trial over plea bargain – Deputy AG rejects NPP’s ‘political prisoner’ claim
2 hours