Consistently over the five years, Funke Akindele has led Nollywood’s financial gains through her cinema hits – from A Tribe Called Judah, to Battle on Buka Street, to Omo Ghetto: The Saga, and the latest blockbuster — Everybody Loves Jenifa.
One would try to attribute the financial successes of these films to their quality, but inasmuch as they have consistent production quality and are relatively not subpar, there sure have been other films with perhaps more intriguing storylines and actor delivery in the scene. Battle on Buka Street, for instance, held the title for the highest grossing Nollywood movie ever only months after its release in December 2022 at the end of its theatrical run in April 2023; amassing about N200,087,222 at the box office. Its plot is really good, but not jaw-dropping.
Throw forward to her latest release, Everybody Loves Jenifa, the movie is well on its way to displacing her previous grossing record as it has recorded highest grossing one-day performance of all time at 87.8 million, and strongest opening weekend admission in 2024 count of 38,353. Incredible numbers, undeniably.
What then is the magic? What’s the substance of Funke’s wand?
Position.
It has to be Funke Akindele. Since 1998, the TV star has worked her way up to the top of the ranks in Nigeria’s film industry, covering all the “woods” and being the public’s favourite through time, cutting across generations.
Her role as Jenifa in Jenifa set her up for a lifetime of fandom. It’s one of those legendary cinema moments that will be regarded as a classic in years to come, and Funke is milking all that it has brought her, as she should.
All that it has brought her? Confirmed talent. Nobody can genuinely deny Funke’s acting abilities. Jenifa placed her on the same pedestal as Taraji P. Henson (who I think she shares insane semblance with), but in a local context.
All that it has brought her? Branding as a leader of her era, especially with soaps and TV series. Yet, she wasn’t boxed and has gone on to make full-length movies and other film forms.
All that it has brought her? Influence, even beyond film. This is why she comfortably ran for and lost the office of the deputy governor of Lagos state. You might consider it not-so-important, but in a country like Nigeria where it’s very easy to lose your street cred simply by showing an interest in the nepotistic system that her politics is, coming out of it with an untouched rep is a huge deal.
Overall, one wouldn’t be too wrong to say that Nigerians are not buying the films, but Funke, and this in no way takes away from the films in themselves. The filmmaker has evidently worked her way to this position on the chain, and deserves all the wins coming her way.
Everyone should learn to be Funke Akindele.
Itty can be caught studying African pop culture, writing about it or hosting a relationship podcast. When he's not doing any of these, then he's definitely at a bar, getting mocktail.
