Across Ghana, hand-painted film posters that often look more dramatic than the movies they advertise are gaining attention as collectible artworks. Artists such as Jeaurs Affutu, known as “Heavy J,” work in neighborhoods near Accra, painting on unconventional materials like flour sacks using oil paints. While their posters may be only loosely connected to the films they market, artists say they deliberately add elements to attract viewers. Heavy J, for example, paints imagery that departs from the actual story—creating a skull or bloody “knife” scene for a poster tied to *The Little Mermaid*, with characters reinterpreted rather than reproduced faithfully.
The Guardian reports that such reinterpretations can have caused anger from audiences who feel misled, including threats, insults, and even physical attacks in some cases. The same sources frame the current interest in these works as part of efforts to preserve a tradition, with the posters increasingly valued for their distinct style and craftsmanship rather than their accuracy to any specific film. The coverage describes the practice as both a cultural expression and a commercial art form shaped by viewer expectations and local poster-making conventions.
