Joke Silva To Play Funmi Ransome-Kuti In Biopic Of Fela’s Mother

Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva has landed the lead role in the forthcoming biopic on the life and times of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. Silva will star in the lead role as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti alongside Kehinde Bankole, Omowunmi Dada, Ibrahim Suleiman, Patrick Diabuah and Shawn Faqua.

Confirming the project’s cast, filmmaker Bolanle Austen- Peters who is set to direct the biopic with working title ‘Funmilayo: The Lioness of Lisabi’, shared a video featuring members of the Kuti family and Silva on what appears to be a film set.

Besides noting that Joke Silva will play Funmi Ransome-Kuti, she said:

“So we started and made history today. We wanted to create a legacy project so we went for authentic stuff,” Peters wrote on Instagram.

“How can it get more authentic than having the true blood of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti in the room. Funmilayo had four children. Dolupo, Olikoye, Olufela ala “Fela” and Bekolari.

They were all represented by their children and niece for Dolupo. The head of the Ransome Kuti family was there; Mr Dotun Ransome Kuti (the son of Olikoye playing his Dad, Olikoye; the first child of Fela was there too, Yeni playing her Aunt Dolupo and Fela’s son too, Kunle was there playing Fela, his Father.

“They came to pay homage but they did more. Loading FRK the movie. Thanks to the estate of Funmilayo who entrusted me with the story and access to family archives. This story will inspire many of us.”

Recall the filmmaker announced the commencement of the biopic’s production in November. It is set to premiere in 2022. Many will be looking forward to seeing Joke Silva, one of Nigeria’s greatest actresses playing the role of Funmi Ransome-Kuti, arguably the greatest Nigerian woman that lived in pre-Independent Nigeria.

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