Nollywood actress Jumoke Odetola has said that the highlight of her year 2020 was working with ace cinematographer Tunde Kelani on his movie on late apala music maestro Ayinla Omowura.
The 37-year-old revealed this in an interview published by Punch on Saturday.
She said it was a great experience for her and she had always looked forward to working with Kelani.
“The highlight of 2020 for me was working with the legendary filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, on the set of the forthcoming movie, ‘Ayinla Omowura’. It was a great experience. I have always looked forward to working with Kelani.
“I did not even know he was preparing for a production and had not met him one-on-one before. When I was called to feature in the movie, I was very happy. It was an exciting and learning experience for me because it was a very professional setting.
“It was indeed a good way to wrap up the year because that was the last film I did,” she said.
Jumoke also said she would love Yoruba movies to get global recognition.
She said, “I would want to see a wider acceptance of Yoruba movies. I think people who make Yoruba movies should even be celebrated more because they are projecting our language and culture.
“I would also want to see a situation where our works get global recognition. Our movies are a way for people to know more about Yoruba tradition and culture.”
Jumoke who will be playing the character ‘Kemi’ on Ayinla announced her excitement on working with Kelani in an Instagram post on December 17, 2020.
She said, “Honoured to be a part of this insightful & historic film by the legendary @tkelani AYINLA OMO WURA- Egun Mogaji I had always heard the name & eulogy, but didn’t know much about him till now.
“His interesting and engaging life history truly deserves to be told right, and only a legend can do this. Thank you sir @tkelani for doing this for the culture and posterity.”
The movie by Kelani is coming 40 years after Ayinla was fatally stabbed with a glass cup during a pub brawl on May 6, 1980, in Ago Ika, Abeokuta.
