Funke Akindele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Funke Akindele
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Funke Akindele at the 2020 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
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Born |
Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde
24 August 1977 |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Alma mater |
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Occupation |
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Years active | 1998–present |
Political party | PDP |
Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele-Bello i// (born 24 August 1977) popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian filmmaker, actress, director, producer and politician. Akindele starred in the sitcom I Need to Know from 1998 to 2002, and in 2009, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. for her role in Jenifa, which brought her into fame. Akindele reprised the role in a 2015 television series adaption titled Jenifa's Diary, for which she was named the Best Actress in a Comedy at the 2016 and 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Akindele won the same award in 2020 and 2022, making it her fifth win for the Best Actress in a Comedy category. Akindele is the most nominated actress/filmmaker at the AMVCA and currently owns six wins which makes her the actress with most wins. She is the second director to gross over a billion naira at the Nigeria box office.
In 2022, she was nominated by the People's Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, as the running mate for the 2023 Lagos state governorship election.
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Early life and education
Akindele was born on 24 August 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. She is the second of three children (two girls and one boy). Her mother is a medical doctor while her father is a retired school principal. She attended Grace Children's School, Gbagada, Lagos State. She obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now known as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. She earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.
Career
Akindele came into the limelight after starring in the popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Funke Akindele played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. Funke Akindele's big break came in 2008 when she appeared in the movie Jenifa.
In January 2018, there was a controversy when it was reported that Funke Akindele would get her Hollywood debut in Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War as she was listed as a member of the cast on IMDb. Mainstream Nigerian press reported that Jenifa was set to star in Infinity War as the guard Dora Milaje, citing IMDb. Some weeks later her name was replaced with that of fellow Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji, with Funke Akindele's upload shown to have been a hack. In February 2018, it was reported that Senate President and chair of the National Assembly, Dr. Bukola Saraki , had advised Marvel Studios to feature Akindele in Infinity War.
In an interview in July 2016, Funke Akindele stated she was acting less in the Yoruba film industry at that time because of piracy. Akindele plays the lead character in the ongoing hit TV show Jenifa's Diary, alongside Fisayo Ajisola, Falz, Juliana Olayode, and Aderounmu Adejumoke. The show is an adaption of the movie Jenifa. The 2018 comedy film Moms at War stars Funke Akindele and Omoni Oboli. In July 2019, Akindele started a new web series, Aiyetoro Town, a spinoff from her popular TV series, Jenifa's Diary. She is the former CEO of Scene One Film Production.
She made her cinematic directorial debut in the 2019 political drama film, Your Excellency.
Political career
Akindele was nominated as the Lagos deputy governorship candidate under Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) in the 2023 elections. In justifying her nomination, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, noted that the actress will add more value to his candidacy in the 2023 general elections. Confirming her deputy governorship candidacy on Tuesday, the actress stated that her acting career must be “necessarily put on hold”.
Charity initiative
Akindele runs a non-governmental organization known as the Jenifa Foundation, which aims at providing young people with vocational skills.
Endorsements
Akindele has endorsement deals such as her being signed as an Ambassador to Dettol and Irokotv. In 2018, she was signed as a brand ambassador for Keystone Bank. In November 2019, she signed an endorsement deal with Waw Nigeria, a company that manufactures detergent and bar soap.
Personal life
On 26 May 2012, Funke Akindele married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede. The couple divorced in July 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. Funke Akindele married Nigerian rapper JJC Skillz in London in May 2016. Her pregnancy rumours were among the top searched results on Google search engine in August 2017. JJC Skillz announced the end of the union between him and the popular actress which lasted six years via his official Instagram handle on June 30, 2022. Funke Akindele gave birth to twin boys in December 2018 and has several step-children.
Record holdings
Her movie Battle on Buka Street currently holds the record of becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time in Nigeria, breaking the two-year record of her movie Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
According to a statement, broadcast by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), in February 2023, the movie grossed over N640,000,000 after maintaining its number one spot for many consecutive weeks.Funke has the most win at award shows like AMVCA and NEA Awards.
She is the producer and director of two highest grossing Nollywood movies of all time, Battle on Buka Street and Omo Ghetto: The Saga which is fourth and fifth highest-grossing film in West Africa region.
Filmography
The films of Funke Akindele are listed in alphabetical order:
- Agbefo
- Aje Metta
- Akandun
- Anointed Liars
- Apaadi
- Apoti Orogun
- Atanpako Meta
- Battle on Buka Street
- Baye se Nlo
- Bolode O'ku
- Chief Daddy
- Dwindle
- Edunjobi
- Egun
- Emi Abata
- Far From Home
- Farayola
- Ija Ola
- Industreet
- Isoken
- Jenifa
- Jenifa's Diary
- Kakaki 'leku
- Kòséfowórà
- Ladies Gang
- Love Wahala
- Maami
- Maku
- Married but Living Single
- Moms at War
- Oba Irawo
- Odun Baku
- Okun Ife Yi
- Omo Ghetto
- Omo Ghetto: The Saga
- Omo Pupa
- Oreke Mulero
- Osuwon Eda
- The Return of Jenifa
- She Must Be Obeyed
- My Siblings and I
- A Trip to Jamaica
- Taiwo Taiwo
- Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke
- Your Excellency
- Who's the Boss
- A Tribe Called Judah
Awards and nominations
Year | Event | Prize | Work | Result | Ref |
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2009 | Africa Movie Academy Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Jenifa | Won | |
2009 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Actress | Won | |||
2010 | 2010 Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role (Yoruba) | Ogun Aiku | Nominated | |
2012 | 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Actress | The Return of Jenifa | Won | |
2012 Nollywood Movies Awards | Best Actress (Indigenous) | Emi Abata | Won | ||
2012 Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actress (English) | Married but Living Single | Nominated | ||
Zulu African Film Academy Awards | Best Actress | Maami and The Return of Jenifa | Won | ||
2013 | 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards | Best Actress (Leading Role) | Maami | Nominated | |
Best Actress (Indigenous) | Won | ||||
2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress (Drama) | Maami | Nominated | ||
Best Actress (Comedy) | The Return of Jenifa | Nominated | |||
2014 | 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Actress (Leading Role) | Agnetta O’Mpa | Won | |
2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress (Comedy) | The Return of Sheri Koko | Won | ||
ELOY Awards | Brand Ambassador of the Year | Omo | Won | ||
2016 | 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress In Comedy Role | Jenifa's Diary | Won | |
Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Actress Series | Nominated | |||
Naija FM Awards | Sitcom Of The Year | Won | |||
Best Actress in Comedy | Won | ||||
Africa Entertainment Legend Awards | Best Actress of the Year | Won | |||
2016 Ghana Movies Awards | Best Actress Africa Collaboration | A Trip to Jamaica | Won | ||
2017 | 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best TV Series | Jenifa's Diary | Won | |
Best Actress in a Comedy Movie or TV Series | Won | ||||
A Trip to Jamaica | Nominated | ||||
2017 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Lead Actress | Won | |||
2020 | 2020 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress in a comedy | Moms At War | Won | |
2021 | Net Honours | Most Popular Actress | Won | ||
Most Searched Actress | Nominated | ||||
Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Omo Ghetto: The Saga | Nominated | ||
2022 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress in A Comedy | Won | ' | |
Best Costume Designer | Nominated | ||||
Best Movie West Africa | Nominated | ||||
Best Overall Movie | Nominated | ||||
Best Television Series | Jenifa's Diary | Nominated | |||
Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series | My Siblings & I | Nominated | |||
NET Honours | Most Popular Actress | Won | |||
2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress In A Comedy Movie/TV Series | Battle on Buka Street | Nominated | |
Best Writer | Nominated | ||||
Best Overall Movie | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Funke Akindele para niños
- List of Yoruba people
- List of Nigerian actresses