Funke Akindele credits Tyler Perry for her screenwriting skills
Nollywood icon Funke Akindele has revealed that she learned to write movies by watching the works of American filmmaker Tyler Perry, whom she considers her role model. In a recent interview with Bella Naija, the award-winning actress and producer explained that despite lacking formal education in film production, she has become one of Nigeria's most successful filmmakers by studying Perry's movies and series.
“I didn't go to school to study film. I just watch films. I actually learned to write by watching Tyler Perry's movies and series. That's my role model. I love him so much, and I can't wait to work with him,” Akindele said.
Similarities between Akindele and Perry's filmmaking style
Akindele's revelation adds context to her approach to filmmaking, as she shares striking similarities with Perry. Like the American media mogul known for emotionally charged movies with strong black female leads, Akindele's films such as 'Your Excellency' and 'A Tribe of Judah' also feature powerful female protagonists. Additionally, Perry's comedic character “Madea” mirrors Akindele's famous “Jennifer” character in its comical traits.
Despite being a trained lawyer, Akindele decided to become a filmmaker through self-learning and drawing from her experience as an actress. This decision has made her one of Nollywood's biggest movie moguls.
Box office dominance and record-breaking films
The award-winning star leads the Nigerian box office as the highest-grossing filmmaker of all time. Her 2025 hit 'Behind The Scenes' grossed ₦2.76 billion. In 2023, she became the first filmmaker to surpass the ₦1 billion mark with 'A Tribe Called Judah,' which earned ₦1.40 billion. In 2024, she followed up with 'Everybody Loves Jenifa,' which grossed ₦1.88 billion.
Staying relevant through reinvention
Reflecting on her nearly two-decade career, Akindele shared that she embraces reinvention and evolution to stay relevant. “So much has changed because of the experience so far. Every stage I get into, I tell myself reinvention has to occur. I evolve. I get tired of a space quickly. After this success, what is the next thing for me?” she said.
These traits have paid off for the screen icon, who has become one of the defining stars of the Nigerian movie industry this decade. In her lengthy career, Akindele revealed that she picked up lessons from everything she has taken part in, including the hit TV series 'Need to Know' and the Yoruba movie ecosystem.
Addressing the dancing controversy
In the interview, Akindele also addressed the controversy surrounding her use of dancing as a promotional tool for her movies. According to her, she does significantly more than dance and refuses to let her hard work be belittled. She emphasized that her success is built on more than just dance moves.
Akindele's journey from a self-taught screenwriter to Nigeria's box office champion serves as an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers, proving that formal education is not the only path to success in the film industry.
