Zjili: Ghanaian Dagbani-language film premieres at Toronto International Film Festival

The Ghanaian feature film "Zjili: A Story of Sisterhood & the Burdens of Excess" has premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), making history as the first Ghanaian feature-length film in the Dagbani language to do so at a major international festival. Directed by Christine Boateng and Hajara Musah Chambas, the film explores themes of sisterhood, migration, forced marriage, and the struggles faced by female head porters in Accra.

Set between northern Ghana and Accra, the story follows Zoya, portrayed by Rahana Abdallah, a determined teenager who escapes an arranged marriage and travels to Accra, only to be drawn into the challenging world of the kayayei trade. Alongside Zoya are Teiya, a young mother played by Esinam Semordzi, and Chalpang, a troubled landlady played by Zaharawu Fuseini.

Their shared experiences forge an unlikely sisterhood that ultimately sparks change. The film's creators, Boateng and Musah Chambas, state that "Zjili is ultimately a story about the extraordinary strength found in ordinary women." The film was selected for TIFF’s Discovery section and Next Wave programme, highlighting debut features chosen by a young programmer jury.

Produced by The Or Foundation, a Ghana-based non-profit organization focused on education, environmental justice, and fashion development, the film draws from the realities of kayayei, women who carry heavy loads for a living. A 2021 study conducted by The Or Foundation revealed that women carrying bales of clothing weighing up to 55 kilograms experienced irreversible spinal damage after eight weeks of work.

The production team, comprised of filmmakers from Ghana and beyond, collaborated to create a film grounded in the experiences of women in and around Kantamanto Market, while speaking to a global audience. The film's world premiere at TIFF marks a significant step for Ghanaian cinema in bringing locally rooted stories and indigenous languages to major global cinema platforms, with two additional screenings scheduled during the festival.