Faithia Williams cinematic debut amid personal loss
Nollywood actress Faithia Williams is preparing for a major milestone in her career even as she grieves the recent loss of her mother. The veteran actor has resumed promotion of her first major cinema project, the historical drama Efunroye: The Unicorn, which is scheduled to premiere in Nigerian cinemas on May 1, 2026. Williams shared that the film is a deeply meaningful project for her, one she has carried as a long‑held dream and now sees as a tribute to her late mother.
Her mother passed away on February 7, 2026, just two days after Williams celebrated her 55th birthday, a development the actress described as heavy with grief and difficult to come to terms with. Rather than step away entirely from public life, she chose to channel her pain into her work, using the momentum of her film’s release to honour both her personal legacy and the memory of her mother. In heartfelt social media posts, she explained that life and purpose must continue even amid sorrow, underscoring her determination to stand strong and fulfil the promise of bringing this story to the big screen.
Efunroye: The Unicorn recounts the life of Efunroye Tinubu, a powerful 19th‑century Yoruba merchant and political figure, and marks a significant step for Williams as she leads and promotes a major cinematic release. The narrative of resilience that Williams has embraced in her public communications reflects both her artistic vision and her personal resolve during a time of mourning, and the film’s upcoming debut is being seen as both a professional achievement and a homage to her mother.
About the Author
