From Design To Documentary: More Than A Goal

"I am in the knowledge that death can never extinguish the torch which I have lit in Ghana and Africa. Long after I am dead and gone, the light will continue to burn and be borne aloft, giving light and guidance to all people." – Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

INTRO

We are 54 Kingdoms; an award-winning Pan-African creative think-tank challenging the status quo as the Storytellers In Fashionᵀᴹ and Design. Together with our film production partner, WB Group based in Ghana (West Africa), we have been working on this groundbreaking documentary that pulses with the heartbeat of Africa, inviting you to experience the profound impact of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah: the legacy of a unifier.

Nkrumah possessed a clarity of vision that few leaders have ever matched - African unity was the indomitable path to realizing the continent's boundless potential, while colonial borders strangled that destiny like insidious vines. Cast your eyes across Africa's modern landscape; from simmering conflicts to economic stagnation, the echoes of Nkrumah's foresight still reverberate hauntingly. Ultimately, even his staunchest critics cannot deny the enduring wisdom underlying his conviction that unity, not fragmentation, holds the key to Africa's ascension.

OUR STORY

14 years ago, we designed our very first football fan-gear, which we dubbed the “Homecoming” collection – launched in 2010 to pay homage to South Africa as the first African country to host the Fédération internationale de Football Association popularly known as the FIFA World Cup, while also celebrating the six African countries that represented the continent during tournament: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Football's meteoric rise as Africa's beloved obsession mirrored the continent's awakening - a profound yearning for self-determination that reverberated from Cairo to Cape Town. As nationalist fervor catalyzed anti-colonial movements, the sport emerged as a rallying force, uniting diverse peoples under one unifying passion. In those electrifying matches, Africans glimpsed their collective power, their unity of purpose. The pitch became their battleground, each goal a thunderous declaration: decolonization was no longer a hopeful dream, but an unstoppable reality in motion.

As we delved into Africa's rich football heritage for our "Homecoming" collection, we stumbled upon a revelation that would forever reshape our creative vision: Nkrumah's ingenious use of football as a unifying force for the continent.

From that moment on, Nkrumah's unwavering belief in African unity became the North Star guiding our creative endeavors. For the next decade, his vision shaped our World Cup collections, inspiring us to craft an "African Unity Design Blueprint" – a four-phase journey of Educate, Unite, Build, and Progress. Each collection paid homage to Nkrumah's dream, culminating in our 2022 "Forward Ever, Backward Never" line.

We’re extremely honored and proud to present to the world, More Than A Goal – a dynamic film that dives into the legacy of a trailblazing Pan-African icon, who ignited a flame that has burned steadily for over six decades. A flame that illuminates the path towards a unified, empowered, and respected Africa on the global stage.

HELP UNVEIL AFRICA'S UNIFYING STORY

After over a decade of passion, perseverance, and an investment 1.5x more than our fundraising goal, we stand on the precipice of unveiling our crowning achievement.

To bring this vital story to life, we've assembled an extraordinary team, traveling across the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya to capture exclusive interviews with visionary voices like PLO Lumumba, Seun Kuti, Peter Alegi, Anokye Yaw Frimpong, Osei Kofi, and Kofi Pare. These esteemed storytellers represent merely half of the compelling perspectives that will grace the final documentary.

With your support, we can complete this cinematic tapestry by interviewing the remaining voices, including Nkrumah's own children and active/retired African football players across five countries. Our fundraising goal of $35,000 will cover crew travel expenses, archival footage acquisition, translator fees, and final production costs.

Please join us in delivering this inspirational story of one of Africa's greatest sons to the world. Your contribution will not only preserve Nkrumah's indelible legacy but also ignite the flames of unity and progress that he envisioned for our beloved continent.

In Eternal Gratitude:

~ Kwaku x Nana (54 Kingdoms)

To learn more about the film visit www.54kingdoms.com or follow on IG @54kingdoms

In loving memory of Joe Lartey; legendary commentator and journalist, and a profound voice in this documentary project. Joe Lartey passed away on April 26, 2024 – he was 96 years old!

SPECIAL THANKS & CREDITS:

WB Group (Ghana)

Ronald Akwesi Bruce Gyamfi (Ghana)

CAMOG LLC (USA)

Bunmi Adipe Studios (Nigeria)

Brian Ngali (Kenya)

UnoDeuce Multimedia (USA)

Frii Branding LLC (USA)

Sarah Kazadi (USA)