Award-winning Nollywood filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has said her focus remains on telling authentic Nigerian and African stories rather than competing with colleagues in the industry.
She made the remarks on Friday in Lagos when the National Film and Video Censors Board honoured her with multiple awards at an event held at its South-West Zonal Office in Ikoyi.
“I’m not competing. It’s not a competition. I just want to tell African stories, you know, our own Nigerian stories. I want us to feel accepted, loved.
“I want them to watch our movies, learn, see what we go through, you know, hear our stories directly from a Nigerian, an African. That’s all I want to do. So this year, you will love it. But let’s keep our fingers crossed. I’m not going to spill it,” the 48-year-old filmmaker said.
Responding to questions about potential sequels and new releases, Akindele declined to reveal details but assured fans they would be pleased with what is ahead.
“I don’t want to spill it yet. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, but you will love it. You will love it. I don’t pressure myself, I must say. No, I don’t put pressure on myself. I just keep taking it day at a time, doing my thing.
Innovating Stories
Speaking on her evolution as a storyteller, the award-winning actress said constructive criticism and constant learning have helped her refine her craft and explore new narrative styles.
“Yes, it says a lot about recreating the story pattern, moving away from the normal thing you do. I listen to constructive criticisms; I really listen to it. I’m a good storyteller, I want to be the best at it.
“I learn a lot from my competitors, from mentors out there. I watch a lot of movies, I read books, and I listen to stories to grow my craft. It’s very important, so I must say it took me a lot of hard work on Behind the Scenes.
“I just sat down, like I was supposed to produce A Tribe Called Judah part two, and the spirit of God kept saying you have to move out of it… go and do something different, and here I am with it, so it’s a good one for me,” she said.
Akindele’s commercial success has often led to comparisons with fellow Nollywood star Toyin Abraham, particularly during competitive festive-season releases.
The two have, however, publicly downplayed rivalry narratives, emphasising mutual respect.
She has also been compared with actors such as Mercy Johnson Okojie and Genevieve Nnaji in discussions about influence and longevity.
Some critics also liken her performance intensity to that of American actress Taraji Henson. Occasional debates among fans also include Kehinde Bankole, reflecting the diversity of talent within the industry.
Separately, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and Akindele made headlines in a public exchange earlier over film marketing strategies and profitability.
The disagreement was later clarified by Afolayan as an industry conversation rather than a personal feud.
Commercial Stride
Meanwhile, Akindele has consistently broken her own box office records and currently holds the top four spots for the highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time.
She is also the highest-grossing director in Nigerian box office history, with her films earning over ₦7.6 billion as of February 2026.
Her 2025/2026 film Behind The Scenes grossed over ₦2.57 billion, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever.
It became the first Nigerian movie to surpass ₦2 billion in under four weeks and set a single-day record of ₦129.5 million on Boxing Day 2025.
In 2024, Everybody Loves Jenifa earned ₦1.88 billion, becoming the fastest Nollywood film to reach ₦1 billion in just 19 days.
The year before, A Tribe Called Judah (2023) made ₦1.4 billion, marking the first Nollywood film to cross the ₦1 billion milestone and holding the top spot for nearly a year.
Earlier successes include Battle on Buka Street (2022), which grossed ₦668.4 million and became the highest-grossing film of its time. It was also the first indigenous Nollywood film released in the U.S., earning over $61,000 across 11 locations.
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