How I Learnt To Speak Igbo For A Film – Funlola Aofiyebi

Nollywood star, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi has acted as a therapist, sex trafficker, nun, lawyer, doctor, scheming lover and spoilt rich kid among others in 21 years of her professional acting.

But a forthcoming film will see the Yoruba-born actress play the mother of a gay child and will also be speaking Igbo for the very first time in a movie.

While not giving much away about the project, Funlola, in an exclusive interview with QedTV, said that she initially rejected the role because she thought she could not speak Igbo convincingly, but the producers thought otherwise.

“For some funny reason, the directors, the producers imposed it on me, they forced it on me. They kept telling me yes, ‘it’s you, it’s you. Step out of your comfort zone, do something different. Wow people,’” she said.

The University of Lagos sociology graduate eventually accepted the challenge and explained how she mastered her Igbo lines in the video below.

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc4s9nUYyGI&t=69s