Fella Makafui Joins Cast of Nigerian Netflix Series ‘Anikulapo’ for Season 2
Ghanaian actress Fella Makafui has secured a key role in the second season of the popular Nigerian Netflix series Anikulapo. This exciting development comes as part of a broader collaboration spearheaded by Ghana’s National Film Authority (NFA), aimed at creating opportunities for Ghanaian talent on international platforms.
In a statement shared on social media, the NFA expressed their excitement about this achievement, noting, “We are pleased to announce that the talented and hardworking Fella Makafui will join Anikulapo as a main character in Season 2. This groundbreaking series, backed by Netflix and set to reach over 191 countries, aligns with our #ShootInGhana initiative, as we continue to position Ghana as a premier filming destination. We’re also working to enhance the cinema market and explore new platforms.”
The NFA also extended their gratitude to the series’ director and producer, Kunle Afolayan, for his cooperation in advancing this agenda. They praised Makafui for her dedication to the role, revealing that she even learned the Yoruba language from scratch to authentically portray her character in the pre-colonial story.
Earlier in June 2024, Kunle Afolayan announced that parts of Anikulapo’s second season would be filmed in Ghana. He made this revelation during the Nigeria International Film and TV Summit (NIFS) in Cannes, France, a major event attended by key industry figures.
This partnership falls under the NFA’s ‘Shoot in Ghana’ initiative, which aims to attract international productions to the country. Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, the Executive Secretary of the NFA, played a pivotal role in securing this collaboration. She emphasized the importance of this move, stating, “The filming of Anikulapo in Ghana offers a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the film relationship between Ghana and Nigeria. Both industries stand to benefit significantly from deepening collaboration and leveraging each other’s strengths.”
Afolayan, who is committed to nurturing young talent through his KAP Academy, has trained over 10,000 students across Africa. He highlighted that the filming process in Ghana would create job opportunities for both those in and outside the film industry, as well as facilitate the transfer of skills.
The Shoot in Ghana campaign, launched two years ago, has already recorded several successes, including the production of a Super Bowl advertisement shot in Ghana. The initiative continues to gain momentum, attracting global attention from filmmakers.
Currently, the second edition of the Africa Cinema Summit is underway at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra. Running from October 7 to October 10, 2024, the summit focuses on enhancing the quality of local content production and promoting cinema investment across Africa. The inaugural event attracted filmmakers from 20 African countries, and this year’s edition promises to be even more impactful, with influential discussions on advancing the African cinema industry through collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth.
This year’s summit has drawn renowned personalities, including Idris Elba, the acclaimed English actor of Ghanaian descent, who headlined the opening ceremony. The event will also feature a Legacy Award ceremony on October 9, celebrating contributions to African cinema.
Organized by the National Film Authority, the Africa Cinema Summit is supported by prominent partners such as Filmhouse Group (Nigeria), Silverbird Cinema (Ghana), Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, Century CineMax (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), and Canal Olympia.
