Joselyn Dumas
Actress and producer Joselyn Dumas says she would have no problem playing a romantic role opposite Kumawood actor Sumsum, insisting that once a script demands it, her co-star’s looks have nothing to do with her decision. Her comments come as she tours the media to promote her new film, Agency for the Dead.
Quick Facts
- Joselyn Dumas says she is open to romantic scenes with Kumawood actor Yaw Adu, popularly known as Sumsum.
- “If the script calls for it and I’m an actress, yes, he’s my co-actor,” she said.
- She dismissed claims that English-speaking actresses reject Kumawood actors as love interests because of their appearance.
- She made the remarks during a media tour reported on Monday, November 9, 2026.
- Dumas co-produced Agency for the Dead, a haunted comedy written and directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso.
Joselyn Dumas on Romancing Sumsum: “Why Am I Going to Say No?”
For years, a debate has run through Ghana’s movie industry about whether actresses in English-language productions look down on their Kumawood colleagues. Some critics claim certain actresses consider themselves too beautiful to share romantic scenes with male actors who do not fit conventional beauty standards.
Joselyn Dumas says she has never come across that attitude among her colleagues. Asked whether she would play the love interest of Sumsum, she was direct.
“If the script calls for it and I’m an actress, yes, he’s my co-actor. Why am I going to say I’m not going to do it with him?” she said, according to 3News.
She explained that acting means working with all kinds of people, whatever they look like, and that performers should be willing to take on different roles and work professionally with whoever the production requires, GhanaWeb reported.
Praise for Kumawood Colleagues
Dumas also spoke warmly about some Kumawood actors, naming Lil Win as one colleague she finds supportive. According to 3News, Lil Win promoted the Kumasi premiere of Agency for the Dead on his Facebook page, and Dumas said his support went beyond what she expected. She also praised his professionalism.
The gesture comes during a busy week for Lil Win, whose own film, A Journey to Africa, has just released its official soundtrack featuring Fameye and Medikal.
“There Is Still More to Me Than Looks”
During the same conversation, the actress addressed critics who suggest her career has been built mainly on her looks. She pushed back, questioning whether those critics had actually watched her work.
“You haven’t seen any of my movies. You don’t think I’m talented?” she asked, as quoted by Adom Online.
Dumas acknowledged that her image is widely displayed across the country. “I am aware my image is everywhere, in salons, hanged in people’s homes,” she said. “I thank God for it, then it means people think I’m doing something right.”
She added, however, that she wants to be valued for more than her appearance. “But, there is still more to me than looks. I wish people could appreciate my personality more than my body, no lady likes to be objectified,” she said.
About Agency for the Dead
Agency for the Dead is a haunted comedy written and directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso and co-produced by Joselyn Dumas and Ken Attoh. The story follows two sisters whose staged ghost encounters end up drawing real spirits into their lives.
The film opened in Accra on Friday, October 30, before moving to Kumasi for a premiere at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Its cast includes Yvonne Okoro, George Quaye, Rhoda Ampene, David Dontoh, Mawuli Gavor, Omari Dwamena and Anita Erskine, according to 3News.
The project follows recent comments by Frimpong-Manso, who has been questioning what Ghanaians want from local films after disappointing YouTube numbers.
The Kumawood Versus English Movie Debate
Dumas’s remarks feed into a long-running conversation about the relationship between Ghana’s English-language film sector and Kumawood, the Kumasi-based, Twi-language industry. Collaboration between the two sides has often been discussed as one way to grow audiences and revive interest in Ghanaian cinema.
Sumsum, whose real name is Yaw Adu, is one of Kumawood’s best-known comic actors. He has not publicly responded to Dumas’s comments.
The actress has been in the headlines a lot lately, having recently opened up about her bond with Sarkodie.
For now, Dumas’s message to the industry is simple: the script, not a co-star’s appearance, should decide who plays opposite whom. Whether a producer will take her up on a Dumas–Sumsum pairing remains to be seen.
Also Read on Halmblog
- ‘Tell Him to Pick My Calls’ – Joselyn Dumas Opens Up on Her ‘Deep’ Bond With Sarkodie
- ‘We Could Have Done Much Better’ – Shirley Frimpong-Manso Unimpressed With YouTube Views, Asks What Ghanaians Want From Local Films
- ‘Insult Him Until He Deletes It’ – LilWin Slams Papa Jay Over A Journey to Africa Soundtrack Leak
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