Funke Akindele has cemented her status as the undisputed queen of the Nigerian box office, combining commercial success with strong cultural impact. From her breakout Jenifa character to her recent cinema hits, she has built a brand that consistently draws huge audiences and record revenues.
Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has grossed over ₦1.7 billion in Nigeria and at least €93,000 in the UK in less than one month of release. The performance makes it the highest grossing Nigerian movie in history and one of West Africa’s biggest box office successes.
This milestone continues a remarkable run of hits. Earlier films such as Everybody Loves Jenifa, Battle on Buka Street and Omo Ghetto: The Saga have all posted huge numbers, with combined grosses now above ₦4.7 billion. Her movies do more than earn money, often dominating social media and turning cinema outings into nationwide events.
Akindele’s dominance is rooted in a deliberate strategy. She treats each project like a full campaign, building anticipation months ahead of release with skits, teasers, interviews and striking cast photoshoots. By the time her films reach cinemas, demand is already high and word of mouth spreads quickly.
She is also very strategic with timing. Most of her major releases arrive during the December festive season, when families, friends and Nigerians in the diaspora are keen to reconnect and share experiences at the cinema. This seasonal positioning has helped her titles become the default choice for group outings and holiday entertainment.
Collaboration is another key ingredient. Instead of ending promotion on release day, Akindele keeps her cast and influencers actively involved, turning premieres and screenings into meet and greet events. She supports her movies with branded merchandise, PR packages and in cinema activations that encourage spontaneous ticket sales.
Her success is no longer confined to Nigerian theatres. Akindele has pushed Nollywood further into international cinemas, with sold out screenings in the UK and other cities, proving that Nigerian stories can travel and compete abroad.
Backed by a strong team of creatives, marketers and strategists, she continues to innovate with every new release. Funke Akindele has expanded cinema culture, raised commercial expectations and shown that women can lead blockbuster filmmaking at the very top of Nollywood.
About the author
Airing marital issues online is my dealbreaker, says Nasboi
Nigerian skit maker and singer Nasiru Lawal, popularly known as Nasboi, has revealed that taking private marital issues to social media is a clear dealbreaker for him. He said he would not tolerate a situation where problems that could be resolved at home are instead aired on the internet. In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Nasboi wrote that if he gets married and his wife brings a private issue they could have settled indoors to the internet, that would be the end of the marriage for him. “If I get married and my wife brings a private issue we could’ve settled at home to the internet, that’s a dealbreaker for me,” he stated. The entertainer’s stance quickly went viral, with blogs quoting him as saying he would divorce any wife who takes their marital problems online. […]
Government role won’t end my music career – Davido
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, says holding a government position will not mark the end of his music career. He made this known while addressing questions about his growing involvement in politics and public service. During a recent livestream and follow up media interviews, Davido explained that if he ever decides to work in government, he would continue to perform, though he might appear less frequently on stage. “If I ever decide to work in government, I’d still be performing, but not all the time,” he said, stressing that public office would not stop him from being an artist. The Grammy nominated singer said he has studied examples of entertainers who successfully combined politics and music, citing in particular former Haitian president and singer Michel Martelly. According to him, these examples show that it is possible to […]
Foundation unveils Africa’s first Music Hall of Fame ceremony
A Lagos based arts foundation has announced plans to stage what it describes as Africa’s first ever Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony to celebrate the continent’s most influential artists and preserve their legacy. The initiative aims to create a formal African platform similar in spirit to global institutions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. According to the organisers, the inaugural induction will take place in Lagos in 2026, with a red carpet ceremony, live performances and tributes to a carefully selected class of music legends. The event is expected to feature icons from different eras and genres, including highlife, juju, Afrobeat, Fuji, hip hop, gospel and Afrobeats. The foundation behind the project says its mission is to “celebrate Nigerian and African music legends while preserving music legacy” through a permanent Hall of Fame platform. Beyond the annual […]
FIFA president defends ‘astronomical’ 2026 World Cup ticket prices
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the record high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup despite mounting criticism from fans’ groups and commentators. Supporters have branded the pricing “extortionate” and “shameful,” with some seats for the final reportedly costing several thousand dollars. The most expensive ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar was around 1,600 dollars at face value, but for the 2026 final in North America the top category is now about 11,000 dollars. Even group stage matches range from around 140 dollars up to 2,735 dollars, with prices rising sharply in the knockout rounds. Infantino argued that FIFA has to “apply market rates” because the tournament is taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where sports and entertainment pricing is already very high. He said demand has been “absolutely crazy,” with more than […]
Full list of teams that have won the Champions League unbeaten
Only a select group of clubs have managed to win the European Cup or UEFA Champions League without losing a single match in the entire campaign. Their unbeaten runs place them in an elite class of continental champions. According to historical records, 11–12 clubs have achieved this feat, some of them more than once. They include Inter Milan, Ajax, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade, Olympique de Marseille, Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Here are some of the standout unbeaten winners from the group stage era highlighted by recent reports: AC Milan (1988/89): 5 wins, 4 draws. AC Milan (1993/94): 4 wins, 4 draws. Red Star Belgrade (1990/91): 5 wins, 4 draws. Olympique de Marseille (1992/93): 6 wins, 4 draws. Manchester United (1998/99): 6 wins, 7 draws. Manchester United (2007/08): 9 wins, 4 draws. Barcelona […]
Osimhen linked with fresh potential summer move to PSG
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has once again been linked with a potential big money move to Paris Saint Germain ahead of the summer transfer window. The French champions are reportedly renewing their interest in the Super Eagles star as they plan another overhaul of their attack. Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray last summer after his spell with Napoli, has impressed in Turkey with his goals and overall play. His form has kept him on the radar of several top European clubs, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but PSG are said to be pushing hardest for his signature. Reports from European media suggest PSG are prepared to table an offer in the region of 120 million euros to test Galatasaray’s resolve. The Paris club see Osimhen as a powerful focal point who can lead the line, attack space in behind defences […]
Related
Airing marital issues online is my dealbreaker, says Nasboi
Nigerian skit maker and singer Nasiru Lawal, popularly known as Nasboi, has revealed that taking private marital issues to social media is a clear dealbreaker for him. He said he would not tolerate a situation where problems that could be resolved at home are instead aired on the internet. In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Nasboi wrote that if he gets married and his wife brings a private issue they could have settled indoors to the internet, that would be the end of the marriage for him. “If I get married and my wife brings a private issue we could’ve settled at home to the internet, that’s a dealbreaker for me,” he stated. The entertainer’s stance quickly went viral, with blogs quoting him as saying he would divorce any wife who takes their marital problems online. […]
Government role won’t end my music career – Davido
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, says holding a government position will not mark the end of his music career. He made this known while addressing questions about his growing involvement in politics and public service. During a recent livestream and follow up media interviews, Davido explained that if he ever decides to work in government, he would continue to perform, though he might appear less frequently on stage. “If I ever decide to work in government, I’d still be performing, but not all the time,” he said, stressing that public office would not stop him from being an artist. The Grammy nominated singer said he has studied examples of entertainers who successfully combined politics and music, citing in particular former Haitian president and singer Michel Martelly. According to him, these examples show that it is possible to […]
Foundation unveils Africa’s first Music Hall of Fame ceremony
A Lagos based arts foundation has announced plans to stage what it describes as Africa’s first ever Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony to celebrate the continent’s most influential artists and preserve their legacy. The initiative aims to create a formal African platform similar in spirit to global institutions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. According to the organisers, the inaugural induction will take place in Lagos in 2026, with a red carpet ceremony, live performances and tributes to a carefully selected class of music legends. The event is expected to feature icons from different eras and genres, including highlife, juju, Afrobeat, Fuji, hip hop, gospel and Afrobeats. The foundation behind the project says its mission is to “celebrate Nigerian and African music legends while preserving music legacy” through a permanent Hall of Fame platform. Beyond the annual […]
Shank sparks debate with story of mum’s reaction to tattoo
Nigerian skit maker and comedian Adesokan Emmanuel, popularly known as Shank, has stirred debate on social media after sharing how his mother reacted when she discovered he has a tattoo. In a recent video, he narrated that the revelation immediately turned into a Bible quoting session at home. According to Shank, he had kept the tattoo hidden from his mother for some time. When she finally found out, she was visibly upset and began citing Bible verses and religious teachings to express her disapproval. His story quickly went viral, with many Nigerians relating it to broader arguments in Christian circles about whether tattoos are acceptable for believers. The conversation has revived earlier debates triggered by comments from Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, who previously said during a live broadcast that there is no specific Bible verse that outright forbids tattoos for Christians. […]
Funke Akindele explains why she stopped attending church services
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed why she no longer attends physical church services on Sundays. She said she stopped going because her presence often turns into a distraction, with people and media teams focusing more on her than on the worship. In a video shared on her Snapchat story, Akindele explained that whenever she attends church, cameras and congregants tend to concentrate on recording or looking at her instead of paying attention to the sermon and the message. She said this made her uncomfortable and convinced her that staying away from the physical building was better for everyone. The actress stressed that her decision does not mean she has abandoned her faith. According to her, she still maintains a personal relationship with God, prays regularly and follows services online rather than in person. Akindele added that she […]
Lizzy Anjorin accepts Iyabo Ojo boxing match, sets conditions
Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has announced that she has accepted a long standing celebrity boxing challenge to fight fellow actress Iyabo Ojo, but with fresh conditions for show promoter Paulo Okoye. The actress confirmed her decision in a social media post on Sunday, years after the bout was first proposed. Anjorin said she is now ready to step into the ring for the N10 million boxing showdown that Paulo put forward as a way to settle the bitter rift between her and Ojo. In her words, “As at today, 3rd May 2026, I accept your challenge,” signalling her agreement in principle to the contest. However, she introduced a major new condition: Paulo must first fight her husband, Chief Lawal, in a 10 round, non stop boxing contest. She said only after that bout is held will she enter the ring […]