Ghanaian actress Fella Makafui has revealed the intense linguistic journey behind her debut in the hit Nigerian series ‘Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre’, detailing a crash course in Yoruba that nearly led her to quit.
Her casting came from a surprise recommendation by Ghanaian filmmaker Juliet Asante to the series’ creator, Kunle Afolayan.
In a social media post, Makafui recounted the moment Afolayan informed her that the role required speaking Yoruba, a language she had never spoken. “My heart skipped… I have never even said ‘the’ in Yoruba before,” she wrote. Accepting the challenge, the production provided a language coach, launching a rigorous training regimen.
The actress described waking at dawn, constantly requesting voice notes, and immersing herself in lessons during all daily activities. “I almost gave up because wow… the language was HARD,” she admitted, calling it “the most challenging role I’ve ever taken on.”
Her perseverance paid off, with the cast and crew making her feel welcome on set.
Makafui’s successful integration highlights the growing cross-border collaboration within West Africa’s film industry and the dedication required for authentic regional storytelling.
Her role in the globally streamed series, now on Netflix, marks a significant career milestone and a personal triumph.
