How I lost a child after directing Jagun Jagun – Tope Adebayo

In an emotional revelation, Tope Adebayo, director of the award-winning movie Jagun Jagun and brother to Nollywood star Femi Adebayo, has disclosed how he lost a child shortly after completing filming and directing the first part of the blockbuster.

Speaking in a recent interview, Adebayo recounted how the intense stress of the production affected him personally, saying it even disrupted his health. “During the initial process, I struggled with my husbandly duties in bed. When I visited the hospital, I was told my stress levels were very high,” he said, attributing the strain to the immense responsibility of directing Jagun Jagun.

The director explained that the team went to great lengths to respect local customs during shoots, ensuring they did not offend the people or their culture. Yet, despite these precautions, tragedy struck. “After our shoot, one of our children, my own, passed away. We were told it was a spiritual arrow that hit the child, coming from where we were,” Adebayo said, adding that the production process had already involved numerous hurdles.

Adebayo also shared a lighter anecdote about a flaw in the film that went unnoticed until the premiere. “After post-production, we watched the movie about 50 times, then again about 20 times, and we didn’t notice there was a megaphone in one scene. It was only at the premiere that someone pointed it out, it turned out it was my own ward who brought it there,” he explained.

The director’s revelations underscore the personal sacrifices and emotional toll often hidden behind the glamour of filmmaking, highlighting the challenges that come with bringing a blockbuster like Jagun Jagun to the screen.