WATCH: Lil Win’s manager hits back at pundit over Destiny Etiko’s role in A Journey to Africa
The manager of Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win, has responded strongly to entertainment pundit Baaba Cann over her criticism of Nigerian actress Destiny Etiko’s role in the upcoming movie A Journey to Africa.
Lil Win’s manager, Ray Moni, known in private life as Richard Amankwah, criticised the pundit after she questioned the suitability of Destiny Etiko’s role based on behind-the-scenes footage from the movie’s production.
Baaba Cann reportedly raised concerns about the actress’s role during a discussion on Neat FM’s Entertainment Show hosted by Ola Michael. She questioned whether what she had seen from the production aligned with the central themes and setting of the film.
The comments have since triggered a response from Lil Win’s management, with Ray Moni arguing that it was premature to assess the movie based on footage from behind the scenes.
According to him, such footage only captures parts of the filmmaking process and does not necessarily represent how the completed production will look.
He therefore urged critics to wait until the movie is released before making conclusions about the performances, storyline or suitability of individual actors.
Ray Moni also defended the casting of Destiny Etiko, describing her as an accomplished actress and arguing that her participation adds to the calibre of the production.
He further pointed to the wider cast assembled for A Journey to Africa, which includes several prominent Ghanaian and Nigerian actors.
The movie features Nigerian stars including Destiny Etiko, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor and Mike Ezuruonye. The production is being positioned as another major collaboration between Ghana’s Kumawood and Nigeria’s Nollywood.
The film, also referred to as A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu), is centred around Nzulezu, the historic stilt settlement in Ghana’s Western Region. The project follows Lil Win’s earlier international production, A Country Called Ghana, which featured several Nigerian actors.
The arrival of the Nigerian cast in Ghana on September 30 generated considerable attention, with Destiny Etiko, Patience Ozokwor, Kanayo O. Kanayo and Mike Ezuruonye among those reported to have joined the production.
The controversy comes as the film continues to generate discussion even before its release. Lil Win’s management has previously indicated that material circulating online from the production should not necessarily be treated as a representation of the finished movie.
Ray Moni has consequently maintained that critics should reserve their final assessment until audiences have an opportunity to watch the completed production.
Meanwhile, Destiny Etiko has also spoken about the broader Ghana-Nigeria collaboration, calling for greater unity between the two countries’ film industries and arguing that actors from both countries should be able to work across borders.
With filming and promotional activities continuing, A Journey to Africa is expected to attract considerable attention when it eventually reaches audiences.
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Source: Thepressradio.com
