Actor and filmmaker, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele d’Icon, has said the strong emotional connection viewers formed with his hit YouTube series, ‘Koleoso’, came as a surprise to him.
The Yoruba supernatural series, released on YouTube, ranked as Nigeria’s highest-searched local series on Google in 2025. The production, which stars Kemity, Ogboluke, Yetunde Barnabas, and Fatai Odua, among others, has amassed millions of views on the platform.
Speaking with Saturday Beats, the role interpreter said the depth of audience engagement exceeded his expectations.
“What surprised me the most was the emotional connection. People didn’t just watch ‘Koleoso’; they owned it. The debates, theories, loyalty, and speed with which viewers showed up every time made me realise we had created more than a series; we built a community,” he said.
Reflecting on how the success of the series has influenced his confidence as a storyteller and producer, Itele said the project reaffirmed his creative instincts.
“It greatly strengthened my confidence. It reaffirmed that when a story is authentic, rooted in culture, and told with conviction, it will always find its audience. As a producer, it pushed me to trust my instincts more and take bold creative risks without waiting for validation from traditional structures,” he explained.
On the most difficult creative decision he faced during production, the actor cum producer revealed that separating his acting ambitions from his producer’s responsibilities was a major challenge.
“The hardest decision was knowing when to step back as an actor and think strictly like a producer. Sometimes, I had to sacrifice personal screen moments to serve the overall story and production quality. Balancing ego and vision was a constant but necessary discipline,” he said.
Read the full article here
