REMINISCENCE of late Wasiu Ayinde Barrister’s inference of the so-called madman whose meal of pounded yam is enriched with the yummy arm of a goat, and his meal of yam flour ‘proteined’ with the chunky lap of the ram; Funke Akindele adds to the list of comics whose ludicrous but amusing drama characters have earned them a fortune.
Last Monday, the Jenifa branded actress threw a lavish house-warming party at her newly acquired home in AMEN Estate in the Lekki axis of Lagos. I tried to inquire how much the mansion tagged ‘Afin’ goes for, but the AMEN Estate agent told me I must register on their website with One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000), a standard procedure before being availed with any information on the property). However, with the features of the property, I guess it is easy to know how much it is worth.
The ‘Afin’ is a 7-bedroom detached mansion inspired by ancient design. It is a classic example of the Amen Estate collection that successfully blends the graceful architecture of past with present day technology. It features airy terraces and casement windows to ensure maximum comfort within the home. It is finished with the finest porcelain and granite floor tiles, elegant POP ceilings, fully fitted kitchen with granite worktops, fitted wardrobes, Jacuzzi steam bath with shower in the elegant master bedroom bath, and various other luxuries. In addition to the 7 en-suite bedrooms is a Study, 5 receptions/lounges, 7.5 bathrooms, 4 balconies/terraces and 2 Room Self-contained BQ.
Although the actress started off playing a serious character in the UNFPA-sponsored Nigerian family-oriented television series on adolescent reproductive health titled ‘I Need to Know’, following which she featured in several Nollywood films, some of which she produced herself. However, Akindele’s commercial break only happened when she produced the 2008 comic drama, Jenifa – the success of which gave birth to the sequel, The Return of Jenifa (2012) and now the ongoing Jenifa’s Diary, a star-studded television series which has branched into DVD form of distribution across the globe.
When Akindele, who also runs a drama school called Scene One, decided to reproduce the TV series in DVD at a time when the format is an easy prey for pirates, not many knew that her resolve was to satisfy her fans who are spread beyond Lagos and indeed the shores of Nigeria. This underscores some of the business initiatives which stand the thespian out.
Abuja-based filmmaker and media personality, Charles Novia, captured the verve of Jenifa’s Diary when he said, “The series is such a huge hit. In the North, the bourgeois kids and adults are crazy about it, apart from Southern Nigeria. And in the UK and America, it has a huge followership especially with the British-born kids and teens.”
Corroborating Novia’s position, another filmmaker, Uzodinma Okpechi posited: “Charles, I have been a student of Jenifa and I feel the same way you do. But I have been asking questions and all the answers have been the way she talks and murders English in a way that makes people laugh. Funke now has a lingo.”
Many have agreed that Jenifa falls under that category of entertainment powered by franchise, thus Novia thinks that Jenifa came at a time pop culture in Nigeria was ready to embrace the social media phenomenon in the acceptance of viral characters. “Funke was smart to recognise this and carried on with the franchise,” he submitted.
Few months back, my piece in this space explored why Funke Akinde is huge in London and I recall saying that the Nigerian actress and comedian, though now married to London-based singer, Abdulrasheed Bello, aka JJC, had long ‘possessed’ London as her second home outside of Lagos.
“It is not clear how the Glo ambassador and crossover thespian got to this point in her life, but recent events show that just as Genevieve Nnaji was practically living in Ghana in her heydays, Jenifa, as Funke Akindele is otherwise called, enjoys a fan base that endears her to London than any other city in the world.”
That article was prompted by three back-to-back premieres of a two-hour cut of Jenifa’s Diary in London, a feat never attained by any of the Nigerian films which have so far enjoyed premieres in the UK.
Promoters say Funke Akindele’s shows despite being staged in series; happen to be the most sold-out of Nigerian film shows in the United Kingdom.
Popular show promoter in the UK, DJ Abbas, when asked to comment on the actress’ popularity in London, said: “It is huge… Very huge o… We have sold out Friday which is a 600 capacity venue and there are indications that we will do the same for Sunday in London. Manchester is a 500 capacity venue and it is almost sold out as well.”
How the actress is able to carve a niche for herself in this market has to do with a business and social aura that is aided by today’s media. And it is doubtful that any other Nollywood figure can pull this kind of stuff right now in the U.K.
I tried to figure out if this is just about Jenifa’s Diary or the actress’ personality. I asked questions too, and it is amazing that there is something about her personality that suffices, despite odds.
Reports have it that in July when she launched her new season, she had a deal with iRoko TV where she had a Meet & Greet session in a 380 capacity venue and it was sold out in no time. Indeed, the attraction is Funke, whose rise may have been induced by the Jenifa brand. This much I witnessed of her in Toronto in 2008 where she took her art, when a huge number of the Nigerian community gave her a rousing welcome at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Needless to dig deep, looking for where her fortune came from: It is simply in playing the buffoonery. And I like to say that the actress has done so well for herself to earn this feat, because despite the ‘parallel’ line that exists between the Yoruba and English language sectors in Nollywood, Funke has been able to crisscross from television to mainstream Yoruba sector and the hub of today’s Nollywood quantum productions which is in Asaba, Delta State.
