Nollywood filmmaker Funke Akindele has spoken about her rise from humble beginnings, the discipline her mother instilled in her and the criticism she faced for promoting her films with online content. She spoke at CANEX WKND 2026 in a conversation moderated by media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, according to Pulse Nigeria.
A strict mother and an early sense of responsibility
Akindele, widely known for playing Jenifa, recalled that her mother had a strict, almost military approach to discipline and work. Pulse Nigeria reported that this shaped her sense of responsibility and determination from an early age, and that she described those childhood values as an important foundation for handling the demands of the entertainment industry.
Inspiration, not copying
On her creative philosophy, Akindele stressed the value of original ideas while staying open to learning from other people's work. She said: “I don't believe in copying, I believe in inspiration.” According to the report, she was underlining the importance of keeping an individual creative identity rather than reproducing other artists' ideas.
Laughed at for promotional content
The conversation also covered how she promotes her films. Akindele said she took an early decision to use digital content to build interest and reach audiences directly, at a time when many in the industry had not embraced the approach. She recalled: “I started doing content to promote my films, and people laughed at me until everyone started using the same thing.”
Despite the initial reactions, she kept experimenting and later saw the strategy gain wider acceptance, per the report. Pulse Nigeria presented her experience as an example of filmmakers using creativity beyond production, in step with changing audience habits and the growing influence of digital platforms.
Frustration, pressure and The Four
Akindele also acknowledged moments of frustration and the emotional pressure of managing creative responsibilities. The source does not give further detail on what she said about this.
The discussion touched on her upcoming film, The Four, which Pulse Nigeria said shows her continued involvement in developing new productions for Nollywood. No release date or plot details were given in the report.
Lessons for emerging creatives
For aspiring filmmakers, the publication said, her journey points to the importance of discipline, originality and a willingness to challenge established approaches, and shows how persistence through criticism can help build a distinctive identity and stronger connections with audiences. It added that her participation reflected CANEX WKND's aim of encouraging knowledge exchange between established industry figures and emerging talent.
