Kunle Afolayan Explained

Kunle Afolayan
Birth Date:1975 9, df=yes[1]
Birth Place:Ebute Metta, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Nationality:Nigerian
Children:4
Parents:Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan (Ade Love - father)
Relatives:Moji Afolayan (sister)
Gabriel Afolayan (brother)
Aremu Afolayan (brother)
Anu Afolayan (brother)
Known For:Saworoide, Agogo Ewo, Phone Swap, 1 October
Alma Mater:New York Film Academy
Yearsactive:1999-Present

Kunle Afolayan (born 30 September, 1975) is a Nigerian actor, producer and director.[2] He is credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywood storylines.[3] After starting his film career as an actor in the 1999 political drama Saworoide, Afolayan made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a Nigerian supernatural thriller, which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language.[4] His subsequent directing credits include The Figurine,[5] Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation.[6]

October 1 was the winner of 16 major African movie awards in 2015 and the second highest grossing Nigerian film at the time of its release, a feat Afolayan was to repeat two years later with The CEO. In 2021, the director signed a three-picture deal with Netflix.[7] Swallow, the screen adaption of Sefi Atta's book of the same name was the first to be released in October 2021, followed by Aníkúlápó, an epic Nigerian fantasy released in September 2022. Afolayan has described the work as a "Game of Thrones recreated in Nigeria but with a better representation of our culture”.[8]   Eleven days after its release, it was the #1 most-watched non-English Netflix original film.[9]

Early life and career

Afolayan is of Igbomina-Yoruba descent, from Kwara State.[10] [11] [12] He is the son of theatre and film director Ade Love. He majored in economics and started out working in a bank while doing some casual acting, before deciding to move into full-time filmmaking and taking a course at the New York Film Academy. Since 2005 he has been active in the Nigerian film industry. He has made several films including: The Figurine: Araromire which was in the Yoruba and English languages and Phone Swap which featured Wale Ojo, Joke Silva, Nse Ikpe Etim and Chika Okpala. The Figurine won five major awards in the African Film Academy.[11]

Afolayan appeared at the Subversive Film Festival in 2011 where he represented the Nigerian film industry[13] with his colleague Zeb Ejiro. In May 2013, Phone Swap premiered in France at the first edition of NollywoodWeek Paris and won the Public Choice Award.[14]

Personal life

Afolayan married Tolu in 2007, and they have four children.[15] Their marriage ended in 2019.[16] He identifies as a Freethinker.[17]

Golden Effects Pictures

Afolayan is the CEO of Golden Effects Pictures, a Nigerian film and production company incorporated in 2005.[18] [19] [20] The company's feature films include Irapada, The Figurine, Phone Swap,[21] 1 October, Roti, Omugwo, The Tribunal, The CEO and Mokalik.

Netflix deal

Kunle Afolayan struck a deal with Netflix in 2021 to make three feature films. The first included a screen adaptation of Sefi Atta's book Swallow. He and the writer penned the script, which reportedly has a major twist from the original story. The movie revolves around a woman who begins to consider going into drug trafficking in Lagos in the mid-'80s.[22] The second was the 2022 film Anikulapo, the most nominated film at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, with 16 nods.[23] The third, Ijogbon, is a coming-of-age adventure film that tells the story of four teenagers from a remote village in the south-west area of Nigeria.

Controversy

On 6 April, 2015, Afolayan posted a tweet which might of implied that Igbos were the majority group behind copyright infringement in Nigeria.[24] The backlash from fans led to an apology from Afolayan and an explanation that he was concerned about the piracy of his films, and most especially threats on the potential release of unlicensed copies of October 1, his latest film at the time.[25] [26] Shortly after the controversy, pirated copies of October 1 hit the market on 13 April 2015.[27]

In an interview with Cable magazine,[28] Afolayan was quoted as saying he does not watch a lot of Nigerian movies; ″Truth be told, I hardly watch them because I am keen on watching movies that will challenge me and change my orientation about certain things.″ and this led to him receiving several heated responses from fans and some colleagues in the Nigerian movie industry.[29] A few days after, Afolayan explained that this quote had been taken out its context.[30]

Filmography

Year! rowspan="2"
FilmRoleNotesRef
ActorDirectorProducerWriter
1999Saworoide
2002Agogo Eewo
2005Ti Ala Ba Ku
2006Irapada[31]
Èjiwòrò
2007Onitemi
2009The Figurine[32]
Farayola
2012Phone Swap
2014Dazzling Mirage[33]
1 October
2016The CEO
2017The Bridge[34]
Omugwo[35]
2018Crazy People
2019Mokalik[36]
Diamonds in the Sky
2020Citation[37] [38]
2021Ayinla[39]
Swallow[40]
A Naija Christmas[41]
2022Anikulapo
2023Ijogbon yes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef
2019Best of Nollywood AwardsDirector of the YearDiamond in the Sky[42]
2021Net HonoursMost Searched Actor[43]
2023Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Indigenous Language – YorubaAnikulapo[44]
Best Movie West Africa
Best Overall Movie
Best Director

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Its Kunle Afolayan's birthday . The Nation. 24 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141007141051/http://thenationonlineng.net/new/its-kunle-afolayans-birthday/ . 7 October 2014 . live .
  2. Web site: 21 May 2017 . Kunle Afolayan set to release 'ROTI' . 8 March 2022 . Vanguard News . en-US.
  3. Web site: 30 October 2012 . Out of Africa: Kunle Afolayan bids to bring Nollywood cinema to the world . 19 November 2022 . the Guardian . en.
  4. Web site: He is Kunle Afolayan . 2024-05-23 . blog.mipad.org.
  5. Web site: nyfa . NYFA Graduate's Film Sweeps African Academy Awards . 2024-05-23 . NYFA . en-US.
  6. Web site: Europe . Canon . Kunle Afolayan on filming Citation . 2024-05-23 . Canon Europe . en-EU.
  7. Web site: Grater . Tom . 10 March 2021 . Netflix Partners With Nigerian Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan On 3 Features . 19 November 2022 . Deadline . en-US.
  8. Web site: BellaNaija.com . 2 August 2022 . Kunle Afolayan's Film "Anikulapo" is Coming to Netflix on September 30! . 19 November 2022 . BellaNaija . en-US.
  9. Web site: YNaija . YNaija . 12 October 2022 . Aníkúlápó ranks No.1 globally on Netflix . 19 November 2022 . YNaija . en-GB.
  10. Kunle Afolayan on the trail of Yoruba deities . The Nation . 22 December 2012 . 18 December 2015 . Akande, Victor . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222084310/http://thenationonlineng.net/kunle-afolayan-on-the-trail-of-yoruba-deities/ . 22 December 2015 . live .
  11. Web site: 'Mi smo nova filmska revolucija'. www.tportal.hr. 4 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140108065814/http://www.tportal.hr/showtime/film/125163/Mi-smo-nova-filmska-revolucija.html. 8 January 2014. live.
  12. Web site: 234Next.com. 18 December 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100217105104/http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/Film/5481791-147/story.csp. 17 February 2010. dead.
  13. Web site: Nollywood rivals Bollywood in film/video production. 5 May 2009. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 31 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170331115408/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/nollywood_rivals_bollywood_in_filmvideo_production/. 31 March 2017. live.
  14. Web site: NollywoodWeek Paris. nollywoodweek.com. 6 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181006230520/http://www.nollywoodweek.com/. 6 October 2018. live.
  15. Web site: Kunle Afolayan: "Does our Government consider Us worthy Citizens of Nigeria?" . 8 March 2014 . bellanaija.com . 22 September 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006155830/http://www.bellanaija.com/2014/03/08/kunle-afolayan-does-our-government-consider-us-worthy-citizens-of-nigeria/ . 6 October 2014 . live .
  16. Web site: I work too hard but i'm still a tenant" – Kunle Afolayan to relocate from Nigeria . 7 March 2014 . dailypost.ng . 22 September 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121310/http://dailypost.ng/2014/03/07/work-hard-im-still-tenant-kunle-afolayan-relocate-nigeria/ . 6 October 2014 . live .
  17. Web site: Dad didn't encourage his children to act -Kunle Afolayan . Ilorin Info . 21 October 2013 . 18 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222085300/http://www.ilorin.info/fullnews.php?id=8319 . 22 December 2015 . live .
  18. Web site: The CEO: Kunle Afolayan unveils cast of multi-lingual movie. 29 August 2015. The Nation. en-US. 21 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181118164908/http://thenationonlineng.net/the-ceo-kunle-afolayan-unveils-cast-of-multi-lingual-movie/. 18 November 2018. live.
  19. Web site: NET Special: 2014 Most influential people in entertainment. 17 November 2014. Nigerian Entertainment Today. en-GB. 21 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094540/http://thenet.ng/net-special-2014-most-influential-people-in-entertainment/. 22 January 2019. live.
  20. Web site: Nollywood powerful tool for "soft" diplomacy – Audu Kadiri. Nigeria. News Agency of. 19 November 2017. TODAY.NG. en-US. 29 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190130110059/https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/nollywood-powerful-tool-soft-diplomacy-audu-kadiri-34487. 30 January 2019. live.
  21. Web site: His New Movie "Phone Swap" Beat Hollywood Blockbusters in Nigerian Cinemas: Find Out How Award Winning Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan Did It!. 19 April 2012. BellaNaija. en-US. 21 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044217/https://www.bellanaija.com/2012/04/his-new-movie-phone-swap-beat-hollywood-blockbusters-in-nigerian-cinemas-find-out-how-award-winning-filmmaker-kunle-afolayan-did-it/. 22 January 2019. live.
  22. Web site: Kunle Afolayan Reveals Upcoming Movie Projects Wit.
  23. Web site: 22 April 2023 . AMVCA 2023: And The Big Nominees Are… . 23 April 2023 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  24. Web site: Guardian . The . 2015-04-18 . Kunle Afolayan Retracts Hate Tweet, Tenders Unreserved Apology . 2024-05-23 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  25. Web site: Kunle Afolayan on controversial tweets: "I was not aware of the Oba's comment, I was just bitter" [Video]]. Chidumga Izuzu. 9 April 2015. pulse.ng. 9 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150410222501/http://pulse.ng/movies/kunle-afolayan-on-controversial-tweets-i-was-not-aware-of-the-obas-comment-i-was-just-bitter-video-id3640993.html. 10 April 2015. dead.
  26. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: "I Was Just Bitter", Kunle Afolayan On His 'Igbo' Tweets - Channels Television. Channels Television. 9 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150411222136/http://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/08/exclusive-i-was-just-bitter-kunle-afolayan-on-his-igbo-tweets/. 11 April 2015. live.
  27. Web site: "Pirated copies of October 1 film now released, please don't buy" . 13 April 2015 . Pulse Nigeria . 3 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170404045153/http://pulse.ng/movies/kunle-afolayan-pirated-copies-of-october-1-film-now-released-please-dont-buy-id3650145.html . 4 April 2017 . live .
  28. Web site: INTERVIEW: Why I enrolled my son in a mechanic workshop, by Kunle Afolayan. 15 September 2018. thecable.ng. 6 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181204204639/https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/kunle-afolayan-mokali-mechanic-son/. 4 December 2018. live.
  29. Web site: Egor Efiok slams Kunle Afolayan over comment of not watching Nollywood movies. 16 September 2018. Nigeria News - Laila's Blog. 6 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225735/https://lailasnews.com/you-keep-trying-to-cause-disunity-in-nollywood-egor-efiok-slams-kunle-afolayan/. 28 October 2018. live.
  30. Web site: Kunle Afolayan Debunks Nollywood Film Rumour. Stefanie. says. 17 September 2018. P.M. News. 6 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225610/https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2018/09/17/kunle-afolayan-debunks-rumour-of-not-watching-nollywood-film/. 28 October 2018. live.
  31. Web site: Leila Djansi's Sinking Sands Listed On CNN Among 10 Must-See African Films. news1ghana.com. 22 October 2014.
  32. Web site: Obenson, Tambay A.. 28 October 2013. Halloween 2013 Countdown - Nigerian Director Kunle Afolayan's Horror/Thriller 'The Figurine'. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140426202032/http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/halloween-2013-countdown-revisit-kunle-afolayans-horror-thriller-the-figurine. 26 April 2014. 25 April 2014. IndieWire. Shadow and Act.
  33. Web site: Nwanne Chuks. 28 June 2014. Lala Dazzles In Kelani's Dazzling Mirage. dead. https://archive.today/20140812004501/http://ngrguardiannews.com/saturday-magazine/weekend-beats/168265-lala-dazzles-in-kelani-s-dazzling-mirage. 12 August 2014. The Guardian (Nigeria). 7 August 2014.
  34. Web site: nollywoodreinvented. 13 September 2019. The Bridge. 3 November 2019. Nollywood REinvented. en-US.
  35. Web site: 5 April 2017. Kunle Afolayan, Omowunmi Dada, Ayo Adesanya attend media screening. 3 November 2019. www.pulse.ng. en-US.
  36. Web site: 24 November 2019. Movie Review: Kunle Afolayan's 'Mokalik' thrives on memory, not viewer satisfaction. 6 May 2020. en-GB.
  37. Web site: Augoye. Jayne. 3 November 2020. Kunle Afolayan screens 'Citation' in Lagos. 7 November 2020. Premium Times.
  38. Web site: Report . Agency . 8 July 2022 . Kunle Afolayan's Citation wins 'Best International Film' in UK award . 29 July 2022 . Premium Times Nigeria . en-GB.
  39. Web site: Nwogu. Precious. 14 December 2020. Tunde Kelani announces production of Ayinla Omowura biopic titled 'Ayinla'. 12 May 2021. Pulse Nigeria.
  40. Web site: Swallow (2021) review – this is hard to swallow.. 2 October 2021. Ready Steady Cut. October 2021 .
  41. News: 'A Naija Christmas' Review: Honoring a Mother's Wish - The New York Times. The New York Times. 16 December 2021 . 16 December 2021. Kennedy . Lisa .
  42. Web site: Bada. Gbenga. 15 December 2019. BON Awards 2019: 'Gold Statue', Gabriel Afolayan win big at 11th edition. 10 October 2021. Pulse Nigeria. en.
  43. Web site: Net Honours - The Class of 2021. 7 September 2021. Nigerian Entertainment Today. en-US.
  44. Web site: Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees . 23 April 2023 . AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees . en .

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