Kumawood Star Lil Win Addresses Critics Of Ibrahim Traore Movie: "It Isn't Glorification Of Coups"
- Kwadwo Nkansah 'Lil Win' has responded to critics of his upcoming movie, Ibrahim Traore: The Last African Hero
- The Kumawood actor and movie producer, in a statement, debunked suggestions that he was encouraging coup d'etats
- According to Lil Win, there was merit in the criticisms, except that critics think he cannot tell such a story because he is a comedian
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Kumawood actor and movie producer Lil Win, known in private life as Kwadwo Nkansah, has addressed lingering criticisms of his latest production.
Lil Win's Wezzy Empire Films Production is currently working on Ibrahim Traore: The Last African Hero, a movie seeking to portray the leadership class of Burkina Faso's military junta leader, Ibrahim Traore.
Source: Facebook
Excerpts of the new movie set to be released soon emerged online a few weeks ago, prompting harsh commentary from some critics. Kessben FM's Nana Frimpong Ziega, who is among the movie's fiercest critics, blasted Lil Win for glorifying gun culture and military rule, something he believes sends the wrong message.
See excerpts of the Ibrahim Traore movie below:
Lil Win's statement to Ibrahim Traore critics
However, Lil Win and his team have responded to the growing criticism, defending the comic actor's right to tell serious stories.
In an official press statement issued by Lil Win's publicist, Emmanuel Arhin, popularly known as Bossu Kule, the actor's team dismissed the concerns surrounding the actor’s latest film.
The statement made available to YEN.com.gh clarified that the project was not intended to promote violence or military takeovers, contrary to some public speculation.
The statement also addressed Nana Ziega's claim that Lil Win should focus only on Ghanaian stories and described his comments as narrow-minded.
"My senior brother, Nana Ziega, is saying Lil Win should not focus on Ibrahim Traore, calling him a terrorist and insisting he should only tell stories from Ghana.
"Criticising Lil Win for making a war/coup-themed movie ignores global film history. First of all, storytelling through film doesn't always mean glorification. History, whether controversial or heroic, is still history," the statement explained.
Wezzy Empire also observed that some people believe Lil Win is not the right person to tell such a story simply because he is known for comedy, and urged a shift away from that mindset.
"The fact that he is a comedian does not disqualify him from telling serious stories. If comedy is the vessel through which this story can be told and understood by the masses, then so be it," the statement emphasised.
See Lil Win's statement below:
Following the press statement, Lil Win's publicist indicated to YEN.com.gh that it was high time they nipped the negative commentary in the bud.
According to him, Weezy Empire had invested a lot of resources into the project and would not let anybody bring it down.
"I don't know why anybody would say Lil Win can't be the lead actor in such a movie. First of all, it is the symbolism that counts and not about language or anything else," he added.
Source: Getty Images
Lil Win sprays cash on schoolchildren
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Lil Win had displayed generosity after he was spotted spraying cash for schoolchildren to collect.
Lil Win and several associates sprayed several bundles of cash on each other, then left the bills on the ground for the children.
Ghanaians praised the actor for his act of generosity and expressed hope he would extend his kind action to their areas.
Source: YEN.com.gh
