Yaba Badoe is a Ghanaian-British filmmaker, writer and documentary producer. She has won numerous awards for her work including a BAFTA, a Grierson, a Peabody and an International Emmy.
Born in Accra, Ghana, Yaba was raised by her mother, a doctor, and her father, a lawyer. She moved to England with her family at the age of seven and attended university in the United Kingdom, graduating with a degree in Social Anthropology. After working for BBC World Service and BBC television, she moved to the United States to pursue a career in film.
In 2006, Yaba released her first feature film, “The Witches of Gambaga”, which was a critical success. The film told the story of three young women in Northern Ghana who are accused of witchcraft and must fight for their freedom. The film was nominated for several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and Best Film at the African Movie Academy Awards.
Yaba’s second feature film, “AJUMA”, was released in 2009. This film explored the African diaspora, following a Ghanaian-American woman who travels to Ghana in search of her roots. The film was praised for its exploration of identity and its emotional depth.
Yaba’s documentary work has also received critical acclaim. She was the producer and director of the award-winning documentary “The Farias Family”, which follows the story of a family of immigrants in the United States. In 2010, she released “The Heart of the Matter”, a documentary about the intersection of race, gender and mental health.
In addition to her film work, Yaba has written two novels. Her first novel, “The Fortune of Ruby White”, was published in 2008 and tells the story of a young Ghanaian woman who immigrates to the United Kingdom. Her second novel, “The House of Amma”, was published in 2012 and explores the theme of motherhood.
Yaba Badoe is a pioneering filmmaker and author who has won numerous awards for her work. Her films and novels explore themes of identity, immigration and the African diaspora, and have earned her international recognition.
