Nollywood Tension: Funke Akindele Called, Warned Me to Stop Mentioning Her Name — Kunle Afolayan
Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has disclosed that actress and producer Funke Akindele called him to warn him to stop mentioning her name in his interviews, a development that has stirred conversations within Nollywood.
Afolayan said the call caught him by surprise and left him wondering what might have triggered her reaction.
Afolayan explained that he has never spoken against Akindele and does not have any personal issues with her.
He said he was puzzled by her response, noting that at no point did he criticise her or her methods. According to him, he has always maintained a neutral and respectful stance toward colleagues and their creative choices.
The filmmaker said the controversy may have stemmed from comments he made at a film business forum attended by cinema operators.
During the discussion, he was asked when he would return to releasing films in cinemas, to which he replied that he would only do so if it guaranteed reasonable financial returns.
He stressed that his remarks were purely about the business realities of filmmaking.
Afolayan also revealed that just a week earlier, he had spoken positively about Akindele at a film festival in Kaduna, where he encouraged young filmmakers to study her career as a model of success and consistency.
He said he plans to share a video from the event to support his claim that he has publicly praised her work.
The incident has sparked broader debate within the film industry about cinema profitability, promotional strategies, and creative freedom.
While opinions remain divided, Afolayan insists his comments were not targeted at Akindele, emphasizing that he supports all initiatives aimed at growing Nollywood.
Nollywood Tension: Funke Akindele Called, Warned Me to Stop Mentioning Her Name — Kunle Afolayan
Byadmin
Feb 1, 2026