By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nollywood filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has revealed that actress and producer Funke Akindele personally called him to accuse him of disliking her, following public reactions to his comments on movie promotion in the Nigerian film industry.
Afolayan disclosed this during a recent interview with Arise TV, saying he was surprised by the call and confused by the accusation, given their long-standing personal and professional relationship. According to him, Akindele “called and was yelling,” insisting that his remarks were directed at her, an allegation he strongly denied.
The controversy began after Afolayan spoke at the Lagos Business of Film Summit, where he questioned the sustainability of aggressive, dance-driven marketing strategies now common in Nollywood.
He said the pressure on filmmakers to constantly create promotional skits and social media content was exhausting and not a model he wished to follow, stressing that his comments were about personal limits, not criticism of colleagues.
Afolayan explained that his remarks were taken out of context, noting that the discussion was focused on profitability and sustainability for filmmakers, particularly in cinema releases. He maintained that he has nothing against Akindele or any filmmaker who adopts intensive promotional methods, adding that he was merely stating what he personally could not do.
Following the backlash, Akindele reacted via a series of Instagram posts, urging filmmakers to create their own paths and warning against jealousy. While she did not mention Afolayan by name, her comments were widely interpreted as a response to his statements, further fueling debate within the industry.
The exchange has since sparked broader conversations about marketing pressure, creative burnout, and financial returns in Nollywood, with industry observers noting it highlights deeper structural challenges facing filmmakers in Nigeria’s fast-growing cinema space.
