Remembering Mawuli Semevo (1962-2025): A life extinguished in flames, a legacy cast in steel

The Ghanaian entertainment world stands shrouded in grief following the tragic passing of Mawuli Yaw Semevo, the veteran actor whose commanding stage presence and cinematic brilliance defined generations of storytelling. 

Semevo succumbed to catastrophic burns sustained in a harrowing house fire on February 20, 2025, at Accra’s Ridge Hospital, closing the curtain on a 45-year career that bridged Ghana’s theatrical golden age and the complexities of modern African cinema.

His passing at the age of 63 marks the end of a remarkable career during which he became a symbol of resilience, cultural pride, and artistic excellence.

A tragic end to a storied life

I. The Final Act: Semevo’s tragic demise

Semevo’s residence in Accra became the stage for his final tragedy when flames erupted as he slept, likely sparked by yet-undetermined electrical faults common in ageing Ghanaian neighbourhoods.

Trapped without escape routes, the fire ravaged 44% of his body, searing respiratory pathways and leaving his scalp, face, and limbs charred beyond recognition.

Colleagues visiting his hospital bedside described a once-vibrant performer rendered dependent on ventilators, his celebrated baritone voice silenced by tracheal burns.

Judith Addison of Beyond Burns International described the severity of his condition in a widely shared video appeal, noting that Semevo had lost all his hair and suffered burns from head to toe. 

Despite efforts by medical staff at Ridge Hospital and financial support from colleagues and fans, Semevo succumbed to his injuries twelve days later.

Early Life: From Chorkor to the stage

Born and raised in Chorkor, Accra, Mawuli Semevo’s journey into acting began under humble circumstances. He attended Cambridge Preparatory School before moving to Presbyterian Training College, where he discovered his passion for drama. 

In a candid interview, Semevo admitted to a mischievous youth but credited his first drama rehearsal as a transformative moment.

“I was carried shoulder-high after playing the role of a bad boy,” he once recalled, marking the beginning of his lifelong love affair with acting.

In 1980, while still in training college, Semevo performed in his first stage play. This led him to join the Ghana Theatre Club at the Arts Centre in 1981 and later enrol at the School of Performing Arts in 1984. These formative years laid the foundation for a career that would see him become one of Ghana’s most respected actors.

A Career Defined by Depth and Dedication

II. Curtain Rise: Forging a Theatrical Legacy (1980-1999)

Semevo’s journey began at the ideological hotbed of 1980s Ghana Theatre Club, mentored by firebrand playwrights like Mohammed Ben Abdallah. 

His breakout role in Firestorm – a searing indictment of neocolonial corruption – established his trademark intensity, with critics comparing his physicality to a “volcano restrained by eloquence”.

As Ghana’s economy collapsed under Rawlings’ austerity, Semevo’s film career blossomed through paradox. His 1997 role as a conflicted chief in Kwaw Ansah’s The Lost Stool captured national angst, blending Akan oral traditions with Shakespearean moral complexity. 

His other standout performances include:

• The Good Old Days: The Love of AA (2010), directed by Kwaw Ansah.
• Like Cotton Twines (2016), where he played Yema, an elder confronting cultural traditions.

Semevo’s filmography also includes A Stab in the Dark, Escape to Love, and Cargo. His work often explored themes of morality, tradition, and identity, resonating deeply with audiences across Ghana and beyond.

III. The Wilderness Years: Navigating Nollywood’s Onslaught (2000-2015)

Semevo became Ghana’s Cassandra during Nollywood’s 2000s invasion, criticizing producers who “traded our birthright for Nigerian spices” by prioritizing marketability over substance. 

His principled refusal to dumb down roles led to a screen exile, though he continued anchoring National Theatre productions like Tiger of Liberation – a biographical drama about Kwame Nkrumah.

Semevo’s influence extended beyond the stage and screen. He was deeply committed to mentoring young actors, emphasizing authenticity and cultural pride in their craft. 

IV. Late-Career Renaissance: Bridging Generations (2016-2025)

Leila Djansi’s Like Cotton Twines (2016) marked Semevo’s triumphant return as Yema, a village elder confronting trokosi slavery. 

Subsequent roles in 1st Kings (2020) and Black Earth Rising (2018) revealed his mastery of quiet, introspective characters.

A Legacy That Transcends Generations

Semevo’s oeuvre redefined indigenous storytelling, synthesizing Ewe oral techniques with Brechtian alienation. 

His 1994 role in Rejected pioneered the “broken protagonist” archetype now ubiquitous in West African cinema, flawed heroes embodying national contradictions

Mawuli Semevo’s life was one of dedication—to his craft, his culture, and his community. His performances captured the essence of Ghanaian storytelling: rich with tradition yet unafraid to confront contemporary challenges.

As tributes pour in from across Ghana’s arts community, it is clear that Semevo’s impact will endure. Fans remember him not only for his talent, but also for his humility and unwavering commitment to truth—both onstage and off.

Though his voice has been silenced too soon, his legacy lives on through the stories he told and the lives he touched.

As Ghana bids farewell to one of its finest artists, it must also take up the mantle he left behind, ensuring that future generations have both the platforms and protections they need to thrive.

Mawuli Semevo may be gone, but his spirit remains an eternal flame illuminating Ghanaian art and culture.

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