Repost: Published by Nation News Friday, February 13, 2026, in the Entertainment section of Weekend Nation News (print edition).
The TV series Garvey’s Ghost has been gaining attention across the Caribbean, Canada, the UK, and communities interested in diaspora stories. Created by filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon (born in England to Trinidadian parents), the series blends history, humour, and ancestral storytelling to explore the impact of Marcus Garvey’s ideas across generations.
“If there’s something kind of ridiculous or funny about you that might evoke laughter, you have two options really. Either be laughed at and become the joke, or people laugh with you and you become the joker. So if I pronounce, exaggerate, embrace, and show off what people might want to laugh at, then they can no longer laugh at me. To them, I’m already laughing at it, and they’re laughing with me.”
In this interview, lead actor Owen Blakka Ellis sat down with Jamaicans.com to reflect on his extraordinary journey in the creative arts and his role in the series.
“I am Owen Blakka Ellis, and I am a Jamaican, Afro-Caribbean Jamaican with a multi-hyphenate career in the cultural and creative industries. I’m an actor, writer, dub poet, stand-up comedian, director, and educator.”
How did he discover he was humorous?
“It really began when I went to high school. When I left Trenton, I went to Excelsior High School. I discovered that I was different. I discovered that I was poor. I discovered that I didn’t have the expensive stuff.
Even though others might not experience the same thing, it resonates with them. They can empathise, sympathise, and share the laughter. I never took myself seriously and was prepared to laugh at myself and invite the world to laugh with me.
The Secret To Longevity
“I completely trust my destiny and respond to what comes at me. I know fellow comedians are hungry for more recognition and more activity, but I’m not really that person. I do a good job when a job comes my way, and I’m okay with that. I don’t chase auditions; opportunities come to me.”
“Interestingly (knocks on wood), I’ve never auditioned for a part. Never. I’ve been called by producers. The same thing happened with a big advert for a European company, the Fiat Doblo. They needed three guys for the Jamaican bobsled team. I went to the audition to give someone a lift, and they said, ‘Why don’t you try it?’ I tried it, and I got the part. The same thing happened with Garvey’s Ghost. Frances-Anne Solomon called me, and I said, ‘Yes, Frances, you’re doing a film called Garvey’s Ghost, and you’re calling me to do what?’ She said, ‘I want you.’ I said, ‘What?’ She said, ‘Ask Garvey’s Ghost.’ I thought, ‘No, come on, you want me to play Garvey? You want an actor with presence, a serious, authoritative voice?’ She said, ‘Yes, I want you.’ I immediately understood the angle she wanted to take.”
“I give thanks that I never had to chase the blessings—the blessings chase me. I am forever grateful for that.”
Taking on Garvey’s Ghost
“I was absolutely intimidated, and I’m still very much intimidated. I expected some pushback. People, without even seeing a second of film, might think, ‘No, that can’t be right.’ Because one, it’s promoted as a comedy. Two, they have someone like Owen Blakka Ellis the comedian playing the title role. Some people might see that as sacrilege. But we are Caribbean people, and we find ways to mix joy and pain, laughter and tears. Many cultural traditions around death involve subtle reminders of life, like pelvic movement. The words ‘funeral’ even start with ‘FUN.’ We extract the fun from it. So the idea of Garvey is serious but can also be approached with humour.”
“As an actor, I had to rationalise why the ghost of Marcus Garvey would return to Violet. Only Violet can see him, but not as he looked before. Spirits can choose their form, so the ghost picked a different body and voice to return. The important thing is not how he looked or sounded, but the ideas he proffered. Violet was in a quandary: ‘If Garvey was here and the ghost appeared, did it look like Garvey? His voice doesn’t sound like Garvey, although the dress looks like Garvey. But the ideas helped her reclaim her integrity, authority, and power.’ The key message is that Marcus Garvey’s ideas are still relevant and important for transforming our lives as a people.”
Preparing for the Role
“Because I was guided by a well-written script by Frances-Anne Solomon, with contributions from Mary Wells, I had a clear guide for interpreting the character. The script allowed me to inhabit the character and the ideas authentically, not just act. I also did research on Marcus Garvey, Denham Jolly (a young Jamaican who went to Canada and transformed Caribbean media there), and the late 1950s context in Canada. I listened to tapes of Garvey sound-alikes, read his work, and revisited his philosophies.”
“The idea was to have fun with the character—Garvey’s return as an impish, playful spirit, combining the heroic Marcus Garvey with the mythical Anansi character. It allowed me to retain Garvey’s central ideas while making the performance provocative and engaging.”
Follow NationNews on Socials
