Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis plays Garvey’s ‘ghost’ in a TV series

RENOWNED JAMAICAN actor Owen ‘Blaka’ Ellis plays the ‘ghost’ of National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey in a six-episode CaribbeanTales-TV original series titled Garvey’s Ghost, created and executive produced by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, who told The Gleaner, “The inspiration for Garvey’s Ghost came directly from Denham Jolly’s Toronto BookAward-winning memoir, In The Black: My Life”.

Already screened at the Pan African Film Festival earlier this year, “it follows a young Denham Jolly arriving in Toronto in 1955, boarding at the house of Violet Williams, lady president of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), and encountering a spiritual guide, Garvey’s ‘ghost’, who teaches through story, memory, and imagination,”Solomon says in an electronic document.

“The series taps into ancestral presence, duppy traditions, and the ways our elders and leaders continue to guide us. It’s a Caribbean-Canadian comedy, blending drama, folklore, and ancestral reverence into a modern folk parable, exploring how Garvey’s Pan-African philosophy resonates with a new generation navigating identity, pride, and struggle, today.”

Other key players are Melanie Nicholls-King as Violet Williams, Peter Williams as Harry Gairey, and Richard Walters as young Denham Jolly. The cast also consists of Lucky Ejim, Sarah McVie, Tymika Tafari, Trisha Benjamin, Danny Bruzzi, Brian MacDougall, Devante Senior, and Omar Tucci.

Ellis, a senior lecturer at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVP), “brings both theatrical and academic expertise to the role, emphasising the spiritual and cultural dimensions of Garvey”, Solomon says. “Ellis, one of Jamaica’s comedy legends, shines as Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He brings unmatched charisma and wit to the role of Garvey’s ‘ghost’, delivering history and life lessons with humour and heart.”

“Scared! I feel scared, excited, and blessed,” was Ellis’ terse response when The Gleaner asked, “How does it feel to be playing the role of Garvey’s ‘ghost’? Was it a challenge to any extent?”

The seasoned actor replied, “It wasn’t a challenge. The process from casting to shooting was smooth and seamless. Playing the role of Garvey’s ‘ghost’ offered an opportunity to create a lighthearted blend of memory and imagination. It’s important for me to note that the role is ‘Garvey’s ghost’, not Garvey. So, if after watching, you say, ‘Hold on, but Garvey didn’t look or speak like that!’ My response will be, ‘Have you ever seen his ghost?’”

And how did he execute? “I did the basics, some immersive research into the period, analysis of the text, paying particular attention to Violet Williams, UNIA vice president, Violet Williams, who is struggling to keep the organisation. The director also facilitated some improvisation sessions as part of the rehearsal process that helped to guide the execution.”

“When I set out to create Garvey’s Ghost, my goal was simple: to tell fresh, authentic black stories rooted in real Caribbean and black Canadian life and history. I wanted to shine a light on the 1950s’ black immigrant experience, a time and place that shaped so much of our modern identity, but is often overlooked,” Solomon told The Gleaner.

“It was important to me to highlight the contributions, struggles, and community-building spirit of figures like Denham Jolly and Miss Violet Williams. And, of course, I wanted to introduce audiences to the legacy of Marcus Garvey, but, in a way that felt accessible and fun. That’s why, in our series, Garvey is reimagined as a supernatural, comedic presence.”

Produced by CaribbeanTales Media Group, which also distributes via CaribbeanTales-TV, it will be screened at the Skylark Film Festival in Negril on October 5 at the Skylark Negril Beach Resort, and at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew, where Ellis is a senior lecturer, on October 16 at 6 p.m. Admission is free at both events.

A discussion, organised and led by Ellis and supported by CaribbeanTales Media Group, will ensue after the EMCVP screening. The series will also be available to Caribbean and diasporic audiences, including communities in Trinidad & Tobago (November 7), and Canada (December 1), England (October 30). Season 2 will be launched February, next year.

“Looking at the finished product, I feel nothing but excitement and pride. Bringing this high-quality, never-before-seen world to the screen has been a labour of love. I’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible cast and creating a comedy that goes beyond entertainment to tell meaningful cultural and historical stories,” Solomon also said.

“I’m proud of the series’ ambition and the support it’s received from prominent Canadian funders .It’s been an honour to bring Garvey’s Ghost to life, and I can’t wait to see how it resonates with audiences … My hope is that the series resonates with audiences across the black diaspora, offering not just laughter but also a deep sense of understanding and cultural pride.”