‘No allow jealousy burn you’- Funke Akindele Reacts as Kunle Afolayan Criticises Dancing to Promote Movies

• Funke Akindele has shared pointed Instagram posts following Kunle Afolayan’s criticism of filmmakers dancing to promote movies and the obsession with box office figures.
• While Afolayan described such promotion as draining and questioned the value of huge cinema numbers, Funke encouraged creatives to focus on their own paths and marketing strategies, sparking fresh industry debate.

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has sparked reactions online after sharing pointed posts widely interpreted as a response to veteran filmmaker Kunle Afolayan’s recent remarks on movie promotion and box office success.

Afolayan, during a recent interview, criticised what he described as the increasingly exhausting culture of filmmakers dancing and engaging in viral trends to promote cinema releases. While acknowledging Funke Akindele’s remarkable achievements at the box office, he expressed discomfort with the pressure placed on filmmakers to constantly perform online to sell their films.

“It is draining. I want to make a film if you guarantee me that I don’t have to dance to sell that film,” Afolayan said.

He also questioned the industry’s growing obsession with box office numbers, arguing that high cinema earnings mean little if filmmakers do not ultimately benefit financially.

“There’s no competition. I don’t want two billion in cinema, or even one billion, if I won’t make ten million from it,” he added.

Shortly after the interview gained traction, Funke Akindele took to her Instagram stories to share cryptic but fiery messages that many believe were directed at the comments. Without mentioning names, the actress encouraged creatives to focus on their own paths and explore alternative marketing strategies rather than criticising others.

“Go ahead and create alternative promotion or marketing strategy for promoting your business, or hire a company to handle it. You can do it! The opportunities are endless, and everyone has their own path. I’m focused on mine, and I have faith in God’s plan for me,” she wrote.

In another post, she added, “If you can’t beat them or join them, create your own path. No allow jealousy burn you. The sky is so big for everybody to fly. Eyin werey jojo!!!”