“Do Not Give Up” – Award-Winning Producer Sidra Smith Tells Ghanaian Creatives to Invest in Talent

Award-winning producer Sidra Smith says Ghana’s creative industry is booming and has urged young filmmakers to “nurture your talent, stick to it, and don’t be afraid” as the foundation for building jobs and a global industry.

Smith made the remarks on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, during the American Spaces: More Than the Project Building Platforms, People and Purpose_ session at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana. She joined actress Joselyn Dumas to discuss collaboration, investment in people, and the future of African storytelling.

“I’m So Happy to Be Back Home”
Smith, founder of 6 AND LINE and former Head of ESSENCE Studios, said she was proud to be in Ghana and was impressed by how much the country has grown since her first visit in 2005.

“I’m so happy to be back home in Ghana. It’s been beautiful,” she said.
“My first time in Ghana was in 2005, and the infrastructure here has developed so much. I’m so happy to see so many more people from the diaspora. I remember when I first came here, it was a very small group, but now… seeing so many filmmakers, so many creatives, so many more people wanting to act and be in media makes me so happy, so happy, so happy.”

She added that seeing “creatives everywhere” made her proud, noting that “media is my passion.”

The Message to Young Creatives: Talent Builds Industries

When asked what message she has for incoming Ghanaian filmmakers, Smith said persistence is key.

“The message that I have for young Ghanaian creatives is not to give up,” she said.

“With talent, you build industries. Nurture your talent, stick to it, and don’t be afraid. Talent creates stories, and stories create audiences, and audiences attract investments, and investments create jobs. And what do jobs do? It builds industries. So I just think that we have to invest in our talent because then so many more things are going to come.”

She and Dumas also emphasized the importance of collaboration and nurturing relationships in the creative space.

About Sidra Smith

Sidra Smith is an award-winning producer committed to amplifying Diaspora narratives. She produced the documentary _”Free Angela and All Political Prisoners”, executive produced by Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Jay-Z, which won a NAACP Image Award.

As the founding executive and former Head of ESSENCE Studios, she led the brand’s shift into film and TV and launched an OTT platform in 2020. She also spearheaded the inaugural Essence Film Festival, now in its fourth year, celebrating diverse creators from the African diaspora.

Her event production work includes partnerships with Jazz at Lincoln Center, The New York Stock Exchange, and various documentaries and TV productions in Ghana.

The American Spaces program aims to connect creators, build platforms, and strengthen purpose-driven storytelling across Ghana.