The Burial Of Kojo 2019

Esi reflects on her formative years spent in a vibrant village in rural Ghana, where she resides in a stilted community reminiscent of the actual village, Nzulezo. Here, she lives with her father, Kojo, and her mother, Ama, who diligently supports their modest income through her sewing craft. Kojo, once a city dweller, escaped to the village due to a haunting tragedy, believing that “only water could cleanse the past.” His bond with Esi runs deep, often taking her on boat rides across the serene waters, sharing captivating stories that seem to hold deeper meanings understood only through their conclusions.

Their tranquil life takes an intriguing turn when an unexpected guest appears — an elderly blind man hailing from “the realm in-between,” a mysterious place described as where “everything is upside down.” He confides in Esi about a sacred white bird she must protect, which is being pursued by a sinister crow that presides over the land in-between.

Their lives shift yet again when Esi’s estranged uncle, Kwabena, arrives to reconnect with Kojo. The brothers had severed ties years ago, but Kwabena convinces Kojo to leave their village and relocate to the city, where they move in with Esi’s grandmother. There, Esi and her grandmother enjoy a Spanish-language Mexican telenovela that parallels their lives, featuring a rivalry between two brothers vying for the affection of the same woman. This tale strikes a chord, revealing that Kojo and Kwabena had similarly competed for love, with a tragic history revealing that the woman they loved died on her wedding day to Kwabena because of Kojo’s drinking and reckless driving.

Though initially hesitant, Kojo eventually agrees to join Kwabena in an illegal gold mining operation designed to restore their fortunes. However, betrayal lurks as Kwabena throws Kojo into an abandoned mineshaft and disappears. In a frantic search for her father, Esi and Ama turn to the police, leading to a desperate investigation into Kojo’s disappearance.

As Esi grapples with her father’s absence, she is haunted by visions of the crow ruling the enigmatic land in-between. It dawns on her that the crow symbolizes her uncle Kwabena, whose life ended in the same drunk driving incident that claimed the life of his beloved. The sacred white bird, she realizes, represents her father. With this newfound understanding, Esi recognizes that she alone has the strength to rescue him from the clutches of the past.