Nollywood Stars Land in Accra to Shoot Lil Win's A Journey to Africa

Nollywood actors Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye, Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko arrived in Accra on Wednesday, 30th September, to shoot A Journey to Africa (also called Nzulezu), the new film from Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah, known as Lil Win, GBC Ghana reports. Yen.com.gh places the arrival at Kotoka International Airport, and Adom Online adds Charles Awurum to the list of visiting actors.

What the Film Is

A Journey to Africa is produced under Lil Win's Wezzy Empire banner and centres on Nzulezu, the stilt village in Ghana's Western Region built over Lake Tadane, GBC Ghana reports. It is Lil Win's second international production, after A Country Called Ghana, which premiered in April 2024 and also featured Nigerian talent. He first announced the new project in May 2024, according to Yen.com.gh.

The cast is expected to include actors from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and the United States. Preliminary shooting took place in Kumasi in August with Ghanaian actors including Majid Michel, Yen.com.gh reports. No budget or release date has been announced.

What Lil Win Has Said

Lil Win has described the project as a statement for the region, with Adom Online reporting that he said it would "make a strong statement for West African cinema." Adom also reports that he would have preferred to use more Ghanaian performers but that reluctance from some local colleagues to support home-grown productions led him to recruit from Nigeria.

He is also making a bold claim for the casting. "Nobody can break this record unless Despite or Ibrahim Mahama decides to enter the industry," he said, according to Pulse Ghana, which reports that he sees bringing prominent Nigerian actors to a Ghana-based production as an achievement no other Ghanaian filmmaker has matched.

Lil Win. Source: His Instagram

How the Film Will Reach Audiences

Pulse Ghana reports a phased release: a premiere at the National Theatre in Accra, then a cinema rollout, screenings in Kumasi at KNUST and other venues, regional promoters handling cities outside the main centres, and UK distribution planned.

Why the Cross-Border Casting Matters

Kumawood and Nollywood have worked together before, and GBC Ghana describes the project as another major collaboration between the two industries. It is part of a wider pattern of African film crossing borders. Nile Entertainment's October slate includes East West Love, a Kenyan-Nigerian collaboration opening on 9th October, What Kept Me Up lists, and PINCHED has covered Mo Abudu's EbonyLife Place London, a cinema built for African and Black films. For Nigerian actors, a Ghanaian production is also a way to reach audiences beyond Nigeria's cinemas.

What to Watch Next

The first signals will be how much of the Nigerian cast's time the production gets in Nzulezu, a trailer, and a release date, none of which have been announced. The other test is whether the premiere plan, from Accra to Kumasi to the UK, reaches the audience Lil Win says he is building.

This article is a production report, and PINCHED has not seen the film.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is A Journey to Africa?

It is a Ghanaian film by actor and filmmaker Lil Win, also referred to as Nzulezu, centred on the stilt village of Nzulezu in Ghana's Western Region.

Which Nollywood Actors Are in A Journey to Africa?

Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye, Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko arrived in Accra for the shoot. Adom Online also lists Charles Awurum.

When Does A Journey to Africa Come Out?

No release date has been announced.

What Was Lil Win's Previous International Film?

A Country Called Ghana, which premiered in April 2024.

What Is Kumawood?

Kumawood is the name for Ghana's Kumasi-based film industry, which Lil Win works in.