Veteran actor Saidi Balogun has shared a deeply emotional moment from the set of a new film Ewo, revealing that he was still reeling from the loss of his daughter, Zeenat Balogun, when production began.
Speaking at the film’s premiere at Genesis Cinema, Maryland, Lagos, the respected thespian said the grief was still raw as he joined the cast on set just two weeks after his daughter’s death. Saidi confessed:
“I lost my daughter two weeks before I went on this set. So on that set, I won’t lie, at times I was just talking, but I wasn’t there.”
His words stunned the audience into silence, many of whom were unaware of the emotional burden he bore while delivering such a powerful performance.
Saidi’s daughter, Zeenat Balogun, also known as Zainab, passed away in October 2024. At the time, the actor had posted a simple yet heartbreaking candle-lit tribute on social media, without revealing the cause of her death. His ex-wife and fellow Nollywood actress Faithia Williams also paid a touching tribute to her.
As if emotional grief wasn’t enough, the actor disclosed that the entire Ewo production was fraught with danger. The cast and crew reportedly survived three separate accidents while filming. He shared:
“After that, we had an accident, actually three accidents. But today, nobody is dead; we are all alive.”
Despite the emotional and physical toll, Saidi Balogun pushed through, delivering a performance that director Ekene Mekwunye describes as deeply moving and integral to the film’s message.
Directed by AMVCA-winning filmmaker Ekene Mekwunye, Ewo is based on true events that occurred in Western Nigeria in 2005. The film explores the strange happenings surrounding the death of Oba Lipede, the Alake of Egbaland, and the shocking actions of his youngest wife, who allegedly fled with his corpse.
“It was said that his youngest wife fled with his corpse,” Ekene explained. “I came across this account about ten years ago, and it simply wouldn’t leave my head. By 2018, I started working on the treatment and wrote the screenplay afterward.”
The word Ewo means “taboo” in Yoruba, and the film dives deep into the cultural and spiritual conflict between Christianity and traditional Yoruba customs, questioning how fast modern beliefs are replacing ancestral values.
“This clash between Christianity and traditional beliefs raised questions about the erosion of cultural values in a modernizing society,” Ekene noted.
The movie boasts an impressive star-studded cast, including Bimbo Ademoye, Moyo Lawal, Taiwo Hassan, Jaiye Kuti, Tina Mba, Akin Lewis, Yinka Quadri, Dele Odule, Kunle Coker, and Osareme Inegbenebor.
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