Guess what? Two of the brightest Nollywood Child Stars, Fiyinfoluwa Asenuga and Sapphire Ekeng, played key roles in MAKEMATION, the Tech-Themed Family Movie of the Decade!
If you’ve seen the movie during its cinema run, this should make you smile. Their portrayals of the younger Sodangi siblings Mariam (Sapphire) and Daran (Fiyin) were so beautiful! They painted a picture of younger siblings that you would go to war for. Even when they ‘misbehaved’ and made you want to rip your hair out—like Fiyin’s Daran did so many times—they were so adorable! They were also very professional that their ages did not even matter—their performances stood out just as well as any other actors’ did!
They came in as Nollywood Child Stars and left as Nollywood Superstars! But how did they get here, to the biggest story of the decade in Nigerian cinema?
Box Office Breakthroughs as Nollywood Child Stars? Too Easy for Fiyin and Sapphire!
Fiyinfoluwa Asenuga filmed his scenes as Daran for MAKEMATION as a seven-year-old. Now 10, this bright star has already racked up FOURTEEN credits to his name! From his role in Mikolo (2023), to his role in Muri & Ko (2024), Fiyin has made a name for himself as one of the brightest Nollywood Child Stars. Beyond the camera, Fiyinfoluwa channels his creative energy into writing children’s books and running workshops.
Sapphire, who plays his big sister Mariam, also began her career as a seven-year-old. And like Fiyin, she has made waves both on screen and off it. Sapphire is an Anti-Child Abuse Ambassador—a role she accepted in 2018 when she was just nine; as well as being the CEO of a skincare line!
Read Also: 11 Young Actors Who Made Their Cinema Debut In MAKEMATION Movie
In 2020 and 2022 respectively, the KidPreneur and Star Kid awards honoured her with their ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ awards for her business acumen. Like Fiyin, she does all of this while attending school and actively participating in Nollywood, where she is already a legend in the short films space.
It was a no-brainer to cast them in these very important roles in MAKEMATION.
Fiyin & Sapphire’s Sibling Chemistry in MAKEMATION
If you had a chance to sit with Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, the film’s Creator & Executive Producer, you’d think they were her children. If you had talked with Michael “AMA Psalmist” Akinrogunde, you’d think they were his little siblings.
Everybody absolutely loved working with them!
Their on-screen chemistry as Mariam and Daran, Zara’s youngest siblings was as professional as it gets for actors. But it was much more than their professionalism that stood out. The way they portrayed what it is like to have younger siblings who look up to older siblings was beautiful to watch. The way they showed their heart, their admiration for Zara’s boldness, and their own personalities which are influenced by those around them was TRUE.
But that was not even the best part.
It was how they interacted with the audiences at the various cinemas where MAKEMATION screened. The love they gave and received was immense, and convinced a whole lot more people to watch MAKEMATION. No wonder the film was the second-best performer in the 2025 Easter break and is now in the top 60 highest grossing film’s in Nollywood history!
What’s next for these rising Nollywood child stars?
Fiyin and Sapphire will be entertaining Nollywood audiences for a very long time. They will also be providing immense value with their entrepreneurial efforts.
They are booked and busy and ready to show that they’re more than just Nollywood Child Stars. We are very proud to be associated with them! Also, one thing is certain: the future of Nollywood has never looked more promising—or more fun!
