Renowned Ghanaian actor and brand influencer, Mikki Osei Berko
Renowned Ghanaian actor and brand influencer, Mikki Osei Berko, famously known as Master Richard, has shared his perspectives on the growing trend of cross-dressing in skits and movies, a topic that has sparked debates within Ghana’s entertainment industry.
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb’s Elsie Lamar on Talkertainment, Berko, when asked about his views on cross-dressing in the creative space, cited American filmmaker and actor, Tyler Perry.
According to him, cross-dressing is part of the creative process intended to tell a story for audiences.
“Look at someone like Tyler Perry. He’s been an inspiration to me because of his level of creativity and what he does. That is what I think of doing.
“As for what others are doing, I’m sure they have their reasons, and I can’t comment on that. But if it adds to creativity, excitement in the industry, and allows people to show their versatility, it’s all good,” he said.
Addressing concerns about cross-dressing conflicting with Ghanaian culture, Berko explained that filmmaking has its own unique culture and standards, adding that such acts are simply to play a role and nothing else.
“Life has gone beyond just thinking culture-based development. Your culture becomes a foundation, but there are other things too. People look at that character and enjoy it.
“I am not performing that and coming back to real life as a woman or behaving like one. It’s just for the arts, to play a role,” he explained.
Mikki Berko further illustrated his point by referencing Eddie Murphy’s iconic performance in “Coming to America,” where the actor played multiple roles, including that of an old man and a woman.
“That is a culture of filmmaking, a level of creativity that some of us are trying to adapt to. We’re not just doing it for ourselves; we’re using our culture as a foundation to attract others and help them understand our culture. Sometimes, we need to incorporate elements of their culture to make it easier for them to consume our content,” he added.
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