Kunle Afolayan vs Funke Akindele: Nollywood stars exchange words over cinema movies

By Oluwarantimi Oludase 

The Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, is experiencing tension following the exchange between filmmakers Kunle Afolayan and Funke Akindele.

The online dispute began when Afolayan, during the Lagos Business of Film Summit on January 30, was asked about his infrequent collaborations and future cinema projects. He took the opportunity to discuss his career and asserted that he was among the pioneers of cinema trends, claiming he was the first to use dance as a promotional tactic, mentioning his dancing experience in London.

“I’m one of the people who started this cinema trend. I danced before anyone else. You can ask around, I danced in London, not just locally,” he stated.

Reflecting on the evolving promotional strategies within the industry, Afolayan mentioned that while he has used such tactics in the past, they had left him feeling drained. He recalled, “In 2006, we went all out for promotions, and it was exhausting.”

He expressed that for him to engage in any cinema project, he’d need assurance that “dancing” wouldn’t be part of the promotional efforts, advocating for other less fatiguing strategies instead.

“I want to make a film, but I need a guarantee that I won’t have to dance to promote it. We need to find other ways to market our work without wearing ourselves out.”

Afolayan went on to question how prominent figures like Funke Akindele manage to produce numerous promotional videos that require changing outfits, admitting he could not keep up with such demands.

“I don’t know how Funke and others do it, but creating all those skits every day and changing costumes, I’m not able to do that,” he stated.

In the meantime, Afolayan, currently partnered with Netflix, noted that he chose to distribute his films on the platform rather than in theaters, as he believes box office earnings don’t translate into significant profit for him.

“I don’t want to pull in two billion at the box office and end up with nothing substantial for myself,” he explained.

Unexpectedly, Funke Akindele responded to Afolayan’s comments, rejecting any implication that she was hindering his success. “I’m not the one holding you back. Focus on your own journey,” she remarked.

She highlighted the importance of finding one’s own path in the industry without being envious, emphasizing that there are ample opportunities for everyone.

She encouraged him, saying, “If you can’t compete with or join others, carve your own path. Don’t let jealousy consume you. The sky has enough space for all. Create an alternative promotion or marketing strategy, or hire someone who can handle it. You have the potential! Everyone has their unique journey, and I trus t in God’s plan for mine.”