Imagine shelling out GHC15,000 a day to rent a filming location for a story you deeply believe in—only to be kicked out halfway through.
That’s the frustrating reality actor and filmmaker Lilwin is facing with his latest passion project: a biopic on Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the young revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso.
For Lilwin, this wasn’t just another movie. It was a tribute to a modern African icon who has captured hearts across the continent with his bold leadership, strong anti-colonial stance, and fierce defense of his country’s sovereignty.
“People see him as the new Sankara,” Lilwin said in a past interview. “His courage and leadership are inspiring, especially for the youth. That’s why I wanted to tell his story.”
Everything was on track—until a group of about ten young men on motorbikes stormed the set and demanded that filming be stopped. When Lilwin’s team tried to reason with them, things quickly escalated.
“They damaged our equipment and caused chaos,” he recalled. “The place was rented—it was someone’s property, and we were paying GHC15,000 every day to use it.”
That’s when things took another hit. The landlord, understandably shaken by the incident, asked Lilwin to vacate the premises.
“He didn’t want any trouble, so we had no choice but to leave,” Lilwin said.
It’s a massive setback—not just financially, but emotionally too. Lilwin had reached the climax of the film and was just steps away from completing what he hoped would be an inspiring piece of cinema celebrating African pride and leadership.
Still, he’s not giving up. With most of the key scenes already shot, Lilwin says he’ll find a way to release the film and honour Captain Traoré’s legacy.
