Renowned actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo has shed light on the inspiration behind his latest project, Seven Doors.
The film, deeply rooted in culture and tradition, draws its concept from the life experiences of a king Adebayo once had the privilege of knowing.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, the filmmaker emphasized the importance of cultural preservation through storytelling.
He said, “It is extremely important to preserve our culture. Creating content—films—(woven) around the beauty of our culture is one of the ways of preserving it, so that the generations yet unborn can also enjoy it and be educated.”
Adebayo revealed that the narrative of Seven Doors reflects the often-overlooked humanity of monarchs.
“I was fortunate to be close to a particular king, and it was what he went through that provoked the idea and concept of Seven Doors,” he explained.
“Many people see our kings as mini-gods, which they are, but they forget that they are humans with blood running in their veins too. So, they (kings) face a lot before and after they get on the throne. And, that is what we displayed in the movie.”
While the film delves into cultural themes, Adebayo also highlighted its emotional core—a compelling love story. “I also want to preach that love is above all,” he said. “So, where we have a conflict between love and tradition, automatically it is love that wins.”
Addressing the much-talked-about kissing scene with co-star Chioma Chukwuka, Adebayo clarified that it was a professional decision. “I was just interpreting the role; getting the character analysis and interpreting it,” he stated.
Reflecting on his favorite moment in the movie, Adebayo shared, “For me though, the best scene was where they had to lay the chiefs on the floor and beat them. I was not even in that scene.”
With Seven Doors, Adebayo continues to solidify his reputation for creating films that not only entertain but also preserve and celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
