Gabriel Afolayan says the sudden love for Yoruba movies isn’t magic — it’s long work finally paying off. He told Pulse.Ng that filmmakers and actors stuck with their craft for years, and audiences are only now catching up.
“There is nothing strange about it because we have put in the work. If one works hard, one should reap the dividends. If we are seeing the feedback, it’s worth it,” he said.
He also explained his quirky nickname, “Gabbylucciii,” as a mix of ego and identity. “Lucci means leader, Luciano, boss…someone at the top. And Gabby is coined from my name, Gabriel,” he revealed.
Afolayan says every role is a chance to learn. He treats each character as a fresh challenge — research, new mindset, real emotion. “All the roles stretch me… I am a student of the art, and I am still learning,” he said. He throws himself into parts because commitment, he insists, is what brings stories to life.
On advice for up-and-comers, he kept it simple and blunt: focus on passion, not praise. “Just love what you do, you can’t be scheming… let the audience give you the feedback,” he advised.
