A public debate on film marketing has escalated into a personal clash between two of Nollywood’s biggest names.
Celebrated filmmaker Kunle Afolayan revealed that colleague Funke Akindele called him yelling, “I know you don’t like me, but don’t mention my name in your interviews,” before hanging up.
The tension stems from Afolayan’s recent critique of the “exhausting” promotional tactics now expected of filmmakers, which he implied were unsustainable.
He argues for a focus on better cinema economics, stating, “I don’t want ₦1 billion in the cinema that I won’t be able to collect ₦10 million from.”
Akindele, whose film Behind The Scenes recently grossed a record ₦2.4 billion, defended her energetic, direct-to-audience marketing style on Instagram, advising peers to “create your own path” and warning against jealousy.
Afolayan maintains his comments were a critique of industry systems, not a personal attack, noting he has previously praised Akindele’s business acumen as a blueprint for success.
The exchange highlights a pivotal debate on sustainability and profit-sharing in Nigeria’s booming film industry.
