FERNANDO LUCUMÍ: THE MULTILINGUAL ACTOR BRIDGING CULTURES AND AMPLIFYING NIGERIA’S CREATIVE POTENTIAL

Yesterday on the show, I had the pleasure of sitting with a truly fascinating guest — Fernando Lucumí, a multilingual Swedish actor, cultural educator, and former professional football player currently on a creative residency in Nigeria. Beyond his impressive résumé, Fernando is one of those artists whose presence instantly fills a room: warm, curious, expressive, and deeply committed to the craft of storytelling. For him, Nigeria is not just a stop on a global tour of artistic exploration. It is an exciting opportunity — a place he describes as “bursting with talent, energy, and limitless creative potential.” A VISITOR WHO FEELS RIGHT AT HOME Although he is currently based in Stockholm, Fernando spoke passionately about how much he loves being in Nigeria. From the warm reception to the vibrancy of everyday life, he confessed that he has already fallen in love with our food — a declaration that made the conversation even more animated. According to him, Nigerian cuisine carries boldness and character, much like the country’s artists. BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH ART Fernando’s primary mission in Nigeria is to strengthen artistic exchange between Sweden and Nigeria. He is in the country to host two major programmes: A theatre workshop in partnership with Alliance Française A performance and acting masterclass with Theatre Arts students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) His goal is simple yet powerful: to mentor young Nigerian performers in character creation, movement, storytelling, and emotional truth, while learning from the unique perspectives and cultural textures that Nigerian artists bring to the table. A MULTILINGUAL FORCE IN GLOBAL FILM & THEATRE Fernando’s acting career spans theatre, film, and television across Sweden. His body of work includes performances at *Stockholms City Theatre, the Swedish National Theatre (Dramaten), and roles in notable films such as The Dog, Dear Molly, and King’s Shadow. On television, he has appeared in productions like Från Trakten, Måste Gitt, SVT Nattens Hjältar, and popular Swedish comedy programs Parlamentet and Svenska Nyheter. His linguistic range — fluent in Swedish, English, and Spanish, with additional knowledge of Pidgin English and Swahili — enhances his versatility. He even switches effortlessly between Swedish dialects, a rare skill that adds dimension and dynamism to his performances. FROM FOOTBALL FIELD TO THEATRE STAGE Before fully embracing acting, Fernando lived an entirely different reality — one defined by professional football. The discipline, agility, and focus from his athletic career now shape his artistic process. With a background that includes Afro-fusion dance, salsa, boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, jembe drumming, and horse riding, he brings a uniquely physical and expressive approach to acting. EXCITED ABOUT NIGERIA’S CREATIVE ECONOMY During our conversation, Fernando expressed deep admiration for Nigeria’s creative economy. He believes Nigeria is not just influential in Africa but on the global stage, and he hopes the world begins to take even greater notice of the brilliance emerging from here. He also revealed that he’s interested in doing comedy shows in Nigeria — a possibility that thrilled his fans listening to the show. A TRUE CULTURAL AMBASSADOR Fernando Lucumí represents the kind of cross-cultural artistry the world needs more of — artists who move with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn while sharing their own expertise. His time in Nigeria will undoubtedly leave a mark, not just on the budding performers he’ll mentor, but on the larger conversation about global creative collaboration. As he continues his engagements in Nigeria — from media appearances to workshops — Fernando remains excited, inspired, and fully immersed in the vibrant creative spirit that makes this country unforgettable. Nigeria, without doubt, has gained another global friend and cultural advocate.