How Funke Akindele Is Taking Nollywood By Storm

There are a few leading women in Nollywood and Funke Akindele is definitely one of those topping that list as she is adored by millions of fans across the globe and has taken Nollywood even to shores unheard of,

Funke became famous after featuring in popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) sponsored sitcom, ‘I Need To Know’. She played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. The sitcom ran for 4 years, 1998 to 2001. 

‘I Need To Know’ was a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country assisted program aim at keeping the youth and especially the girl child informed on choices and decision related to the relationship,career and every day life challenges been faced by youths.

The program was seeking to raise awareness on need for effective communications between parents,guardians and their children/wards.

After featuring in I Need to Know TV series between 1998 – 2002, Funke Akindele began acting full time, majoring in the yoruba aspect of Nigerian movie industry before gradually mixing it up with English Nollywood films.

Her movie “JENIFA” is been regarded as her best work of all time as an actress and movie producer.

Jenifa is a 2008 Nigerian Yoruba comedy-drama film starring Funke Akindele. The film received 4 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2008.

Funke Akindele who was the main protagonist of the film, won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in Leading Role for her role as Jenifa.

In addition to the blockbuster film, came the second part ‘THE RETURN OF JENIFA’  which was also a block buster, as it featured music artists Eldee, Banky W, and the ever energetic Derenle.

Due to popular demand, Akindele in 2015 decided to turn ‘JENIFA’ into a tv series known as ‘JENIFA’S DIARY’.

She also runs a non-governmental Organisation known as ‘THE JENIFA FOUNDATION’, this involves nurturing talent and acquiring vocational skills. Other movies to her credit includes MAAMI and MARRIED BUT LIVING SINGLE. The movie also stars other A-list Nollywood actors and actresses like Yul Edochie, Kenneth Okonkwo, Queen Nwokoye, Moyo Lawal, Zubby Michaels and a host of others.

Funke has without no doubt made lot of waves in the entertainment industry and got a good number of accolades.

She was voted the 2016 Most Influential Young Nigerian in the entertainment industry as well as the Most Influential Young Nigerian Lady on the ranking. She always gets recognition for her works as she always steals the show at award ceremonies by going home with several awards.

In 2009, she won the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Other awards include: AfroHollywood Awards for Best Supporting Actress; Future Awards – Best Actress; Dynamix Awards – Best Actress; City People – Best Actress; City People – Best Movie of the Year for Jenifa.