The Power of Stories (Official trailer)

Documentary meets storytelling: Anansi follows the trail of slavery as story maker Wijnand Stomp and documentary maker Jean Hellwig continue their search for The Power of Stories. Their search combines personal stories of people on the remnants of the slave trade with the creation of new Anansi stories.

The triangle Netherlands - West Africa - Caribbean is the route along which the historical slave trade took place. On each point of the triangle the trade left its marks on the people who still live their today. Sometimes these marks are deep, painful traces that are related to the awareness of being a descendant of enslaved ancestors. But often the connection to the past is less emotionally charged, such as a house where one lives, an object in the family, a name that one bears. That same slave trade is responsible for the dispersion over three continents of the 'trickster' tales of Anansi the Spider that traveled in the minds of the enslaved. The storytelling tradition of Anansi, also known by other names as Kompa Nanzi or Kweku Ananse, is alive and kicking at every point of the triangle. The stories keep giving courage, hope, love, comfort and strength to the people.

The search for personal stories of people in The Netherlands, Ghana and the Caribbean is filmed by documentary maker Jean Hellwig. Every encounter is an inspiration for Mister Anansi, the alter ego of Wijnand Stomp, to create a new Anansi story. Thus the old stories get new, personal and contemporary versions.

© Wijnand Stomp / Jean Hellwig / Kalebas Produkties. All rights reserved.
This project was made possible by DOEN Foundation / Mondriaan Fund / VSB Fonds