Nollywood actor and rapper, Efa Iwara, has opened up about the deeply personal struggle that nearly stopped him from ever entering the entertainment industry — his battle with a speech disorder.
In a candid interview with Chude Jideonwo on the #WithChude podcast, the King of Boys: The Return of the King star revealed that he was born with a stammer, and it severely affected his confidence and ability to communicate growing up.
“I was born a stammerer,” Efa said, recounting how his elder brother often coached him through simple conversations.
“He’d tell me, ‘Take your time, breathe, think about what you want to say before you say it.’”
Though most fans today know Efa for his powerful screen presence and crisp dialogue delivery, it’s a journey that began with quiet struggles, not camera flashes.
Efa, who first broke into the creative scene as a rapper in Ibadan, also recalled a discouraging incident early in his music career. During a performance, his CD malfunctioned and cut his set short.
But just when he needed it most, he received words of encouragement from none other than Afrobeats legend 2Baba, who helped reignite his drive to push forward.
“It showed me a range of what I could do,” Efa said, reflecting on how those difficult moments helped shape his versatility.
Efa also spoke glowingly about filmmaker Kemi Adetiba, who directed him in King of Boys: The Return of the King, the 2021 Netflix limited series that served as a sequel to her acclaimed 2018 box office hit.
“Her energy, her drive is enviable. And her creativity is out of this world,” Efa said. “It was magical.”
Filmed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, King of Boys: The Return of the King starred Sola Sobowale, Illbliss, Reminisce, Toni Tones, and Efa himself as journalist Dapo Banjo. This role further cemented his place in Nollywood’s elite.
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