Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has disclosed that actress and producer Funke Akindele personally contacted him following public reactions to his recent comments on cinema marketing practices within Nollywood.
Afolayan made the disclosure during an interview on ARISE News on Sunday, February 1, where he addressed the controversy generated by remarks he made at a film business forum in Lagos.
According to the filmmaker, Akindele called him after media reports interpreted his comments as criticism of colleagues who rely on aggressive, dance-driven promotional campaigns to market their films.
“She called and said, ‘I know you don’t like me, but don’t mention my name in your interviews,’” Afolayan said. “She was yelling, and she dropped the phone.”
The controversy stems from comments Afolayan made during a recent film summit, where he spoke on sustainability, profitability, and evolving marketing strategies in Nigeria’s cinema industry.
At the event, Afolayan said while he respects new promotional methods adopted by some filmmakers, he does not see himself embracing physically demanding marketing campaigns or celebrating large box office figures that do not translate into personal financial returns.
“There is no competition between us,” he said at the forum. “I don’t want N1 billion or N2 billion in the cinema if I won’t personally receive N10 million from it. I want to make a film if you can guarantee I don’t have to dance to sell.”
He added that he admired the discipline required for such campaigns but found them personally exhausting, referencing filmmakers who frequently create skits and promotional content to drive ticket sales.
Following his remarks, Akindele responded via her Instagram story, without naming Afolayan directly, suggesting the comments stemmed from jealousy and encouraging creatives to focus on their individual paths.
In his ARISE News interview, Afolayan described the accusation as unexpected, citing their long-standing personal and professional relationship.
“It was strange,” he said. “She’s like a sister to me. We’ve known each other since our University of Lagos days. I’m not sure where this is coming from.”
Afolayan maintained that his comments were taken out of context and insisted he never criticised Akindele or any filmmaker who adopts intensive promotional strategies.
“I never said anything was wrong with it,” he stated. “For me, it’s draining. I have absolutely nothing against it. I was only saying what I personally would not do.”
He explained that the discussion took place at a closed business forum attended by cinema operators, where conversations centred on revenue sharing and financial sustainability for filmmakers.
“The cinema operators were asking me when I was returning to cinemas,” he said. “I told them I couldn’t come back unless there was a structure that guaranteed meaningful returns.”
Addressing the backlash, Afolayan apologised if his comments offended Akindele but criticised what he described as online attacks that followed the controversy.
“If she felt offended, I’m sorry,” he said. “But mobilising social media attacks is something I would never do.”
Despite the disagreement, Afolayan acknowledged Akindele’s success in Nollywood, describing her career growth as intentional and strategic.
“I always tell young filmmakers that if there’s a model to study today, they should look at Funke Akindele’s model,” he said. “She started with Jenifa on a modest budget, reinvested wisely, and built a strong brand.”