All There Is To Know About Funke Akindele, The Brain Behind ‘Jenifa’s Diary’

Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde (popularly known as Funke Akindele/Jenifa, born August 24, 1976 in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian actress. In 2009 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Early Life

Funke Akindele is the 2nd from a family of four (4) Children, three girls and a guy. She started her education at Grace Children Schools Gbagada, after which she completed her secondary education at Lagos State Model College, Igbokuta.

A graduate, with a Diploma in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and a Degree in Law from the University of Lagos, Funke’s foray in to Movies started at an early age.

Career

Funke had an Audition for Charly Boy Show for a cameo character, one of the ladies that attended the audition was surprised she wasn’t chosen even though she was very good. The lady told Funke about another audition at Swift Studios Ikeja owned by Lord Weaver. The lady encouraged her to audition and it later turned out she was Lord Weaver’s wife. She was chosen and played the role of a teenager which although she was past, it was still challenging having to talk and act as a teenager. Funke featured in some English movies and then crossed over to the Yoruba movies genre.

Funke Akindele worked in television before switching to cinema, becoming known for her starring role in the family-oriented Nigerian television show ‘I Need to Know’.

FORAY INTO MOVIES

Naked Wire produced by Opa Williams – A waitress, 1997
MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH – I NEED TO KNOW, UNFPA, 4 years, 1998 – 2001

YORUBA MOVIES

IRU OKA (COBRA TAIL), minor role, I later started producing my own movies including OJO KETALA (13TH DAY) which was my big break as a Producer; I wrote the script, acted the lead role and produced. There were three (3) more movies which I produced before the very popular Jenifa.

JENIFA

The Inspiration to write Jenifa came from my beloved sister who told a true life story which was dramatised in the movie. I decided to make a movie out of it when I realised that the story was indeed real and was growing trend amongst ladies in their quest for insatiable wealth. It was my own contribution to curb the dreaded HIV AIDS in supporting the campaign for awareness and also reach out to parents and guardians to keep tabs on their wards to ward off peer pressure.

The idea was to impact peoples’ lives which I believe has been successful and I hope to continue to do that.