Funke Akindele is a Nigerian filmmaker, actress, director, producer, and politician born on August 24, 1977.
Akindele gained fame with her role in the 2009 movie “Jenifa,” winning the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress.
She reprised her role in “The Return of Jenifa” (2011) and “Jenifa’s Diary” (2015), earning multiple Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards.
Akindele is the most nominated actress/filmmaker at the AMVCA and holds the record for most wins for an actress with six.
She is the second director to gross over a billion naira at the box office and the Highest-Grossing Director in Nigerian Box Office.
In 2022, Akindele was nominated as the running mate for the 2023 Lagos state governorship election.
Akindele was born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria, to a medical doctor mother and retired school principal father.
She attended Grace Children’s School and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, earning an OND in Mass Communication.
Akindele also earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.
Her acting career began with the UNFPA-sponsored sitcom “I Need to Know” (1998-2002).
Akindele’s big break came with “Jenifa” (2008), followed by successful projects like “Moms at War” (2018) and “Aiyetoro Town” (2019).
She made her cinematic directorial debut with “Your Excellency” (2019) and founded the Jenifa Foundation.
Akindele has endorsement deals with Dettol, Irokotv, Keystone Bank, and WAW Nigeria.
She married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede in 2012 (divorced in 2013) and JJC Skillz in 2016 (separated in 2022).
Akindele has twin boys born in 2018 and several stepchildren.
Akindele’s production company, Scene One Film Production, has produced several successful films.
In 2018, she was mistakenly listed on IMDb as a cast member for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War.
Akindele has spoken out against piracy in the Nigerian film industry.
She has won numerous awards, including multiple Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards and Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
In 2020, Akindele was arrested and sentenced to community service for violating lockdown orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She later partnered with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to raise awareness about COVID-19.
Akindele’s 2024 movie “A Tribe Called Judah” became the highest-grossing Nigerian movie of all time.
She is also the producer and director of the three highest-grossing Nollywood movies of all time.
Akindele’s work has been recognized for its impact on Nigerian culture and entertainment.
She continues to be a prominent figure in Nollywood, inspiring upcoming actors and filmmakers.
Akindele’s personal life and relationships have been subject to media attention.
Despite challenges, she remains a respected and accomplished figure in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Her transition into politics, as the running mate for the 2023 Lagos state governorship election, marks a new chapter in her career.
Akindele’s dedication to philanthropy and empowerment through the Jenifa Foundation demonstrates her commitment to giving back.
Throughout her career, Funke Akindele has demonstrated versatility, resilience, and dedication to her craft.
