Yoruba Films Deserve Their Spotlight, We’ve Earned It — Gabriel Afolayan

Popular Nollywood actor and singer, Gabriel Afolayan, has attributed the growing recognition and success of Yoruba-language films to years of dedication, consistency, and hard work by practitioners within the industry.

Speaking on the increasing visibility and acceptance of Yoruba films, Afolayan said the current success being enjoyed by the genre is a deserved reward for sustained efforts by filmmakers and actors.

According to him, there is nothing surprising about the rise of Yoruba cinema, as industry stakeholders have invested significant time and energy into producing quality content.

“There is nothing strange about it because we have put in the work. If one works hard, one should get the dividends for it. If we are seeing the feedback, it’s worth it. So there is nothing strange about it because we have put in the work,” he said.

The actor also shed light on the meaning behind his popular nickname, “Gabbylucciii,” describing it as a reflection of both his personal identity and aspirations.

“Lucci means leader, Luciano, boss… someone at the top. And Gabby is coined from my name, Gabriel,” he explained.

Reflecting on his acting career, Afolayan noted that every role presents its own unique challenges and requires a different level of preparation, research, and emotional investment.

Rather than singling out any particular character as his most difficult, he said each role pushes him creatively in different ways.

“All the roles stretch me. Maybe I don’t take things to heart too much. I see it for what it is and do it for what it should be. I am a student of the art and I am still learning as well, so for me everything is quite challenging,” he said.

He added that every character demands a distinct mindset and approach, making each acting experience a learning process.

“Different roles have different landscapes of approach. The thoughts, the mindset, the research; they are always on different levels. So you can’t really say this is above the other. I put myself through everything I have to go through to achieve every role,” Afolayan stated.

Offering advice to aspiring actors and creatives, the entertainer urged them to focus on mastering their craft rather than seeking validation or trying to impress audiences.

He stressed that authenticity and commitment to a role are more important than external recognition.

“Just love what you do, you can’t be scheming. Understand what you are supposed to do and do it. Let the audience give you the feedback. Yours is to get into the character, give it what it needs and let the audience feed you back on that,” he added.

Afolayan’s comments come amid growing acclaim for Yoruba-language productions, which continue to gain wider audiences both within Nigeria and internationally.