According to TVC News, Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele has officially responded to industry whispers suggesting her aggressive, dance-heavy promotional style is stifling other filmmakers. Akindele, whose latest project Behind The Scenes recently shattered records by crossing the ₦2.4 billion mark at the box office, took to her Instagram stories to clarify that her success is a result of hard work, not a monopoly on the market. She urged colleagues to stop the jealousy and instead focus on creating their own unique promotional paths.
Confirming the development, Legit.ng reported on the filmmaker’s defiant stance, quoting her directly: “If you can’t beat them or join them, create your own path. No allow jealousy burn you.” Additionally, Naija News highlighted the viral nature of her response, noting her advice to other creatives: “Go ahead and create alternative promotion or marketing strategies for promoting your business.”
Echotitbits take:
Funke Akindele has effectively gamified movie marketing in Nigeria, and her defensive stance suggests a growing friction between “old guard” Nollywood and the new era of influencer-style promotion. By crossing the ₦2 billion threshold, she has set a benchmark that is intimidating to many, but her “sky is big enough” philosophy puts the ball back in the court of her peers to innovate rather than complain.
Source: TVC News — https://www.tvcnews.tv/funke-akindele-defends-film-promotion-style/ January 31, 2026
Photo Credit: TVC News
