Kunle Afolayan is scheduled to film scenes for the second season of the Anikulapo series in Ghana. The filmmaker announced this news in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
“ANIKULAPO SERIES- New season. Location recce in Ghana in collaboration with @nationalfilmauthority @julietyaaasantewaasante,” Kunle captioned the post.
The renowned film director journeyed to Ghana with a team that included Seun Soyinka, director of KAP Film and Television Academy, and photographer Peter Okosun. Accompanying them were his children Eyiyemi, Dieko, Darasimi, and Darimisire.
One of the historical sites visited was Elmina Castle, a Portuguese-built slave trading post dating back to 1482. Glamsquad Magazine reported that Anikulapo Season 2 will incorporate themes of war and slavery.
The decision to film in Ghana was made after a meeting between Kunle Afolayan and Ghana’s National Film Authority officials, including CEO Juliet Asante, at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Insiders revealed that Kunle had initially considered slave posts in Nigeria or Togo before settling on Ghana.
Writing in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Juliet Asante thanked Kunle and his team “for taking the time to explore some beautiful places in Ghana.”
She added, “It was a great learning experience all round and we had a lot of fun.”
Asante’s National Film Authority is optimistic that Anikulapo will enhance the “Shoot in Ghana” initiative and fortify the creative ties with Nigeria.
“Ghana is inviting the world to #ShootInGhana and capture the stunning sceneries and excellent facilities the country offers. This initiative will create employment opportunities for Ghanaians in these film projects and showcase Ghana and its people to a global audience.
“This endeavor will enhance tourism, generate income, and strengthen Ghana’s soft power,” the agency said in an Instagram post.
Production for Anikulapo Season 2 is slated to begin in the first week of August at the KAP Film Village and Resort in Igbojaye, within the Itesiwaju Local Government area of Oyo State.
The scenes set in Ghana will be filmed subsequently. Anikulapo, a Netflix original, released its first installment for streaming on September 30, 2022.
It subsequently became a series and the first season titled Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre began streaming on March 1, 2024.
“Anikulapo,” written by Shola Dada, is a production directed by Kunle Afolayan. The film showcases a cast including Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Sola Sobowale, Taiwo Hassan, Moji Afolayan, Eyiyemi Afolayan, and Aisha Lawal.