An actor, writer, producer, and entrepreneur, Funke Akindele is a name engraved in the Nollywood Hall of Fame, not just on paper but also in Nigerians’ hearts.
Funke’s evolution from being the ‘queen of auditions and waka pass roles’ as she once described herself to being one of the most influential names in Nollywood today is a testament to her hard work and resilience.
The actress started as a child actor in the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) sponsored TV series, I Need To Know that aired on the National Television Authority (NTA) between 1998-2002. She studied Mass Communication in the Ogun State Polytechnic, bagging an OND, after which she secured a law degree from the University of Lagos. After her time at I Need To Know, Funkle found it challenging to land roles despite her attempts.
When I Need To Know ended in 2002, she played some minor roles in Yoruba movies, gradually working her way up. She appeared in Ojo Ketala, Akorede, Aja, Asiri Nla, etc. Jenifa the movie was created in 2008 featuring Funke Akindele as a lead actor. The film scored four nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2008 and won Funke Akindele the Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance as Jenifa.
Jenifa was followed by an equally popular sequel and then a spin-off series, Jenifa’s Diary, which sparked an upwards trajectory for her. The series was produced by Scene One, a production company she had set up, and grew increasingly popular because of the hilarious antics of the main character, Jenifa, and for how aptly it portrays the lives and challenges of young Nigerians.
Following her success with the Jenifa movies, Funke successfully transitioned from acting in Yoruba movies to mainstream Nollywood movies. Since then, she has featured in major blockbuster films like Maami, A Trip To Jamaica, Moms At War, Isoken, Chief Daddy, and several others. She also made her directorial debut in 2019 with Your Excellency.
Funke Akindele has enjoyed tremendous success in the past year with her movie Omo Ghetto The Saga, which topped Nigeria’s box office for seven weeks. It became the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time in its fifth week, grossing ₦480.5 million cumulatively. With over 13 million followers on social media cumulatively, the multi-award-winning actress also ranks as one of Nigeria’s highest-paid influencers, according to Plaqad. She is also a brand ambassador to many brands, including Dettol and Molfix.
In June 2020, Funke Akindele earned a NET Honours win for Most Popular Actress, and this year, she cinched the award again for the second year in a row. She is one of Nigeria’s most awarded actresses. She has written scripts, acted, directed and produced, and it seems like she’s just getting started. From her story, you can genuinely believe that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself and work hard enough.
Written by Dara Oluwatoye
