Showmax spotlights Funke Akindele: A gift that keeps giving

From the days of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored drama series I Need to Know, Funke Akindele has captured the hearts of many Nigerians. Although glory fades in a fast-paced industry like Nollywood, Funke’s relevance is ‘pro-max’.

A gift that keeps giving, Funke has managed to make the heart of the Nigerian film audience grow fonder over the years. She produces iconic movies such as Jenifa and the Omo Ghetto trilogy. She also stars in legendary Nollywood movies of various themes, including Akorede, Iro fun fun, Married but living single, and Atlanta.

Funke is an actress, director, chief executive producer of SceneOne, and a testament to the need to #BreakTheBias– a focal point to the 2022 Women History Month campaign. She is also one of the producers of the highest-grossing films in Nigeria – Omo Ghetto the Saga. 

Through her titles such as Jenifa’s Diary, Omo Ghetto, and My Siblings and I, Funke has aided women’s inclusion in the entertainment industry and contributed in no small way to the career launch of the likes of Juliana Oluwatobiloba Olayode (Toyo Baby in Jenifa’s Diary), Lota Chukwu (Kiki in Jenifa’s Diary) and Eniola Badmus (Gbogbo Bigz Girlz in Jenifa).

With over decades of participation in Nigeria’s film industry, Funke has helped shape the industry’s image often associated with inferior movie production to one worthy of respect with global affiliation and recognition. Through films like Omo Ghetto, Funke imbibes humour, believable action, excellent picture quality to tell a beautiful gangster comedy story. According to the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), in January 2021, the third part grossed N468,036,300 after maintaining the number one spot for three consecutive weeks.

It is also the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Funke Akindele’s Omo Ghetto is the first-ever Nigerian film to gross five hundred million Naira in the Nollywood box office.

Net Honours 2021’s ‘Most Popular Actress’ Funke won the Best Actress Award in a Comedy at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, 2009 and the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for best actress, and 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for Best TV Series – Jenifa’s Diary. 

Funke Akindele’s work and accolades are a true testament to the importance of Women’s History Month; the importance of women in society, their unique contribution in their industry, the necessity of gender inclusion, and breaking gender bias being critical to a sustainable society.