Actress Faithia Williams has spoken about her grief following the death of her mother, saying her decision to continue promoting her new film is a promise she made to her.
In a post shared on Instagram page, the 57-year-old wrote:
“My mother is gone… and I haven’t even laid her to rest yet.
“Every day since her passing has felt heavy. The calls. The condolences. The quiet moments when it finally sinks in. Grief does not wait for you to be ready, it just sits on your chest.
“I could have stayed away.
I could have mourned in silence.
But I chose to rise, for my mother, for my legacy, for this story.
“Grief has a way of silencing you. It makes the lights feel too bright. The noise too loud. The world too demanding. But in the middle of my pain, I heard something stronger than sorrow, purpose.
“I am Faithia Williams Balogun and this project is a purpose wrapped in frames and films.
“EFUNROYE: THE UNICORN is my first cinematic debut.
A dream I carried for years.
A story I fought to tell.
A legacy I am determined to honour.
“Before Lagos became an empire…
Before power was negotiated in palaces…
Power had a name.
“EFUNROYE.
The Unicorn.
Merchant.
Legend.
Kingmaker.
“I am grieving.
I am hurting.
But I am also standing.
“Because life does not pause. Purpose does not disappear. And strength sometimes shows up when you least expect it.On May 1st, 2026, EFUNROYE storms cinemas nationwide.
“When you see me promoting this film, understand, it is not noise. It is resilience. It is a daughter pushing through heartbreak to fulfill a promise to herself… and to her mother.”
Her film Efunroye: The Unicorn is based on the life of 19th century Yoruba merchant and political figure Efunroye Tinubu, who played a prominent role in the history of Lagos and Abeokuta.
Faithia, a longstanding figure in Nollywood, has featured in numerous Yoruba and English language productions. The project marks her first major cinema release as lead and producer. The film is scheduled to open in cinemas nationwide on May 1, 2026.
