Crown or Class
Brussels, Belgium | Film Short
Documentary
Colonialism and globalization imposed foreign beauty ideals, impacting African women’s identity and self-expression through hair. Through personal stories, the film reveals pressures to conform to Western beauty standards, highlighting the struggle between cultural authenticity and modern ideals.
Crown or Class
Brussels, Belgium | Film Short
Documentary

1 Campaigns | Flanders, Belgium
22 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$651
Goal: $7,000 for pre-production
Colonialism and globalization imposed foreign beauty ideals, impacting African women’s identity and self-expression through hair. Through personal stories, the film reveals pressures to conform to Western beauty standards, highlighting the struggle between cultural authenticity and modern ideals.
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Two young women, two worlds, one question: who decides what beauty truly means?
Ella, a soft-spoken yet inquisitive high school graduate in Ghana, has always adhered to strict school rules that kept her hair short, leaving her little room to explore its potential. Now on the cusp of adulthood, she confronts a deeply personal question: how should she wear her hair? The decision feels far greater than aesthetics—it’s a journey toward self-acceptance and navigating societal expectations placed on African women.
Across the globe in Belgium, Akua, a vibrant and socially conscious teenager, navigates a different yet equally compelling reality. Surrounded by a mix of European and African beauty standards, she watches her peers and family embrace everything from wigs and weaves to natural textures. Akua’s curiosity sparks a quest to define her own identity, balancing cultural pride with external influences.
Together, Ella and Akua offer an intimate lens into the broader dialogue about self-expression, cultural heritage, and the pressures of conformity, creating a powerful narrative of empowerment and belonging.
This film through one-on-one interviews, features diverse voices, including historians, sociologists, hair professionals, and African women who wear natural hair, wigs, or weaves, would revolve around key questions.
Questions like :
- What is the identity of black women's hair?
- Why is being "classy" often associated with African women wearing straight hair wigs?
- How do historical, social, and media-driven narratives influence the perception of natural African hair?
- What does embracing natural hair symbolize in the journey of self-acceptance and cultural pride?
We care about stories that matter—stories that challenge societal norms and celebrate identity. If you’re passionate about self-expression, cultural pride, and empowering narratives, Crown or Class is your story too. It’s a chance to amplify the voices of young African women navigating beauty standards and reclaiming their autonomy.
Hair is more than style; it’s history, culture, and self-definition. Crown or Class dives deep into the powerful connection between hair and identity, uncovering universal themes of freedom, belonging, and resistance. By shedding light on these journeys, the film sparks conversations about authenticity and the courage to embrace who we are.
The world is awakening to the importance of representation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the natural hair movement is at its peak. Crown or Class meets this moment with a fresh, raw perspective, empowering individuals to challenge stereotypes and celebrate diversity. Now is the time to tell this story and inspire a global audience to join the conversation.
"Crown or Class" would showcase the internal struggle between adhering to modern media-driven ideals and maintaining one’s authentic cultural identity. This narrative would reflect the silent battle that has shaped perceptions of beauty, acceptance, and worth.
This film taps into a global conversation around beauty standards, natural hair movements, and the representation of African identity, making it timely and resonant.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Flight from Belgium to Ghana (Africa)
Costs $3,500
Part of our crew flies to join the Ghana crew to film 45 percent of the film. This covers flight tickets.
Crew Fuel & Transport
Costs $1,000
This should cover the fuel and commute costs of the crew and cast over the 20 days period of filming
Post Production Juice
Costs $2,500
This is to facilitate the daunting process and expenses of post-production consisting of video editing, color grading, sound mix and score
About This Team
Kwaku Sikahene-Adarkwa - Director , Writer , Producer
Co-Founder & Creative Lead of Wuku Studios in Belgium, Kwaku has worked with many media and broadcast companies across Africa but mostly in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.He assumed many roles for each production due to his versatility. He has also as a freelancer worked
on several corporate videos and commercials for renowned brands like Barclays Ghana (now ABSA), Ecobank, Guinness Ghana, Burger King Ghana, Kempinski Kenya, Royal Senchi Hotel & Resort and just to name a few. He edited the renowned Dining With TV Cooking series by Yvonne Okoro, TV3's Ghana's Most Beautiful Pageant, Ghana Must Go Movie amongst many and his most recent Documentary Project, Africa's Forts & Castles is in production stage.
Noah Sedode- Co producer , Director
Noah attended same film school with the Director of this film and he majored in Film Editing. He worked on numerous projects within Africa but mostly in Sierra Leone & Ghana. He has worked on commercial videos for Ghana's top brands like Coconut Grove Hotel, Frankies Restaurant,
Nestle, Suncity and was on the Freedom Concert production team. His most significant work, where he worked as the Drone Pilot & Producer was the Sky Marshals Television Travel Series.
Ahenfo AlexCamera Operator , Director of Photography
Also a film school mate and trusted cinematographer and friend of the Director, Alex majored in motion picture photography is a top tier cinemtographer and director of photography and he has assumed either roles on countless local and international film and television projects namely;
- CHASING FLAVOUR reality show
- FINDING FOOTBALL'S NEXT GEN documentary
- THE DREAM GROWS· THE OUSSENI BOUDA STORY documentary
- DREAMING IN THE PRESENT• THE SHAKUR MOHAMMED STORY
- MASTER & 3 MAIDS tv series
- GHANA COCOBODPROJECT
- THE STORY OF AFLAO KENTE
- WEAVERS documentary
- PARTY OFFICE tv series
Owusu Constance - Producer
Founding member of Wuku Studios and aced fashion stylist who worked with the likes of R Kelly, Omarion and more. A key contibutor to this film and ready to invest in the film monetarily and actively in the overall production. As a natural hair activist, she is actively reaching out to key interviews and pulling strings to make most of the interviews and production activities in Belgium, a success.
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Two young women, two worlds, one question: who decides what beauty truly means?
Ella, a soft-spoken yet inquisitive high school graduate in Ghana, has always adhered to strict school rules that kept her hair short, leaving her little room to explore its potential. Now on the cusp of adulthood, she confronts a deeply personal question: how should she wear her hair? The decision feels far greater than aesthetics—it’s a journey toward self-acceptance and navigating societal expectations placed on African women.
Across the globe in Belgium, Akua, a vibrant and socially conscious teenager, navigates a different yet equally compelling reality. Surrounded by a mix of European and African beauty standards, she watches her peers and family embrace everything from wigs and weaves to natural textures. Akua’s curiosity sparks a quest to define her own identity, balancing cultural pride with external influences.
Together, Ella and Akua offer an intimate lens into the broader dialogue about self-expression, cultural heritage, and the pressures of conformity, creating a powerful narrative of empowerment and belonging.
This film through one-on-one interviews, features diverse voices, including historians, sociologists, hair professionals, and African women who wear natural hair, wigs, or weaves, would revolve around key questions.
Questions like :
- What is the identity of black women's hair?
- Why is being "classy" often associated with African women wearing straight hair wigs?
- How do historical, social, and media-driven narratives influence the perception of natural African hair?
- What does embracing natural hair symbolize in the journey of self-acceptance and cultural pride?
We care about stories that matter—stories that challenge societal norms and celebrate identity. If you’re passionate about self-expression, cultural pride, and empowering narratives, Crown or Class is your story too. It’s a chance to amplify the voices of young African women navigating beauty standards and reclaiming their autonomy.
Hair is more than style; it’s history, culture, and self-definition. Crown or Class dives deep into the powerful connection between hair and identity, uncovering universal themes of freedom, belonging, and resistance. By shedding light on these journeys, the film sparks conversations about authenticity and the courage to embrace who we are.
The world is awakening to the importance of representation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the natural hair movement is at its peak. Crown or Class meets this moment with a fresh, raw perspective, empowering individuals to challenge stereotypes and celebrate diversity. Now is the time to tell this story and inspire a global audience to join the conversation.
"Crown or Class" would showcase the internal struggle between adhering to modern media-driven ideals and maintaining one’s authentic cultural identity. This narrative would reflect the silent battle that has shaped perceptions of beauty, acceptance, and worth.
This film taps into a global conversation around beauty standards, natural hair movements, and the representation of African identity, making it timely and resonant.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Flight from Belgium to Ghana (Africa)
Costs $3,500
Part of our crew flies to join the Ghana crew to film 45 percent of the film. This covers flight tickets.
Crew Fuel & Transport
Costs $1,000
This should cover the fuel and commute costs of the crew and cast over the 20 days period of filming
Post Production Juice
Costs $2,500
This is to facilitate the daunting process and expenses of post-production consisting of video editing, color grading, sound mix and score
About This Team
Kwaku Sikahene-Adarkwa - Director , Writer , Producer
Co-Founder & Creative Lead of Wuku Studios in Belgium, Kwaku has worked with many media and broadcast companies across Africa but mostly in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.He assumed many roles for each production due to his versatility. He has also as a freelancer worked
on several corporate videos and commercials for renowned brands like Barclays Ghana (now ABSA), Ecobank, Guinness Ghana, Burger King Ghana, Kempinski Kenya, Royal Senchi Hotel & Resort and just to name a few. He edited the renowned Dining With TV Cooking series by Yvonne Okoro, TV3's Ghana's Most Beautiful Pageant, Ghana Must Go Movie amongst many and his most recent Documentary Project, Africa's Forts & Castles is in production stage.
Noah Sedode- Co producer , Director
Noah attended same film school with the Director of this film and he majored in Film Editing. He worked on numerous projects within Africa but mostly in Sierra Leone & Ghana. He has worked on commercial videos for Ghana's top brands like Coconut Grove Hotel, Frankies Restaurant,
Nestle, Suncity and was on the Freedom Concert production team. His most significant work, where he worked as the Drone Pilot & Producer was the Sky Marshals Television Travel Series.
Ahenfo AlexCamera Operator , Director of Photography
Also a film school mate and trusted cinematographer and friend of the Director, Alex majored in motion picture photography is a top tier cinemtographer and director of photography and he has assumed either roles on countless local and international film and television projects namely;
- CHASING FLAVOUR reality show
- FINDING FOOTBALL'S NEXT GEN documentary
- THE DREAM GROWS· THE OUSSENI BOUDA STORY documentary
- DREAMING IN THE PRESENT• THE SHAKUR MOHAMMED STORY
- MASTER & 3 MAIDS tv series
- GHANA COCOBODPROJECT
- THE STORY OF AFLAO KENTE
- WEAVERS documentary
- PARTY OFFICE tv series
Owusu Constance - Producer
Founding member of Wuku Studios and aced fashion stylist who worked with the likes of R Kelly, Omarion and more. A key contibutor to this film and ready to invest in the film monetarily and actively in the overall production. As a natural hair activist, she is actively reaching out to key interviews and pulling strings to make most of the interviews and production activities in Belgium, a success.