Deborah Ewedafe opens up on Nollywood challenges

By Tosin Brown

Canada-based Nigerian actress and film producer Deborah Ewedafe has shared her struggles in the Nigerian film industry, revealing how she was scammed of millions while producing her first cinema project.

In an interview with Kunle Afod, Ewedafe recalled starting film production in Nigeria in 2021, producing five movies upon her return. She met actor Abiodun Adebanjo during one of her shoots, who introduced her to a new project, Olola Aginju, which she decided to produce.

She revealed that the film, intended as her first major cinema project, cost her millions but left her at the mercy of fraudsters. A supposed cinema distributor promised to screen the movie but later disappeared with about N4 million.

“They didn’t tell me how difficult cinema releases were,” she said. “I was assured my film would be shown, but after collecting my money, they vanished.”

Despite the setback, Ewedafe remained determined. She recalled suffering a severe accident on set, falling off a horse during Olola Aginju’s production, but insisted on continuing despite injuries.

After completing the film, she realized the cinema arrangement was a scam. “I paid for screening and adverts, yet my movie never made it to cinemas,” she lamented.

A crew member eventually uncovered the fraud, helping her restart the process, but she had to fund everything again.

“To this day, I have not received a dime from the project,” she said, expressing frustration over the ordeal but vowing to keep pushing forward in Nollywood.