By Oratokhai Jesusemen O.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has candidly discussed the early struggles in her acting career and her self-taught journey into movie production. In an interview with Arise News, Akindele, renowned for her roles in both English and Yoruba films, shared the turning point in her career, which came through a collaboration with actress Ayo Adesanya.
“When I didn’t get roles in English, I got frustrated,” Akindele revealed. “I was on a project with Ayo Adesanya, and I told her that I didn’t have roles. She said, ‘I’ll talk to a producer and have you on board for Yoruba movies.’ She spoke to the producer, and I was invited to come and act in Oshogbo.”
This opportunity introduced Akindele to key industry figures such as Fathia Balogun and Iyabo Ojo. “From there, I met Fathia Balogun and Iyabo Ojo. I told them I needed roles, and Iyabo said, ‘Okay, come.’ She took me to Odun Fakoko, where you have Yinka Quadri and Taiwo Hassan. She said, ‘This is my friend. Give her a job,’” Akindele recounted.
Despite not being handed significant roles initially, Akindele utilized her experiences in the Yoruba film genre to gain valuable insights into filmmaking. “They didn’t give me the big role. I actually launched myself with my own production. I wrote it, I produced it. But I learned a lot from the Yoruba movie genre: how to produce. I was always focused on the cameras, how things were moving, checking the props, asking questions,” she said.
Akindele’s perseverance and dedication to learning the intricacies of filmmaking have been instrumental in her success, transforming her frustration into a thriving career in Nollywood.
