The 44-year-old actress, who rose to prominence in Nollywood with her role in Jenifa’s Diary, earning her the nickname “Jenifa,” may be calling it quits.
Funke Akindele, a filmmaker and politician, has announced her intention to leave Nollywood to focus on her political career, hinting at ‘Battle on Bukka Street’ as her final film.
Akindele stated in July, when confirming her PDP deputy governorship candidacy, that she was willing to pay the price of entering politics, which would mean temporarily halting her career in the Nigerian film industry.
The filmmaker stated in an interview with Punch’s Deji Lambo that her most recent film, ‘Battle on Buka Street,’ is her final project before delving fully into politics.
The actress, who is running for the position of deputy governor of Lagos State, stated that she will still be present in the background to guide and monitor the newcomers, and that she is only allowing them to continue working.
When asked about her involvement in the new project, Akindele revealed this. She stated:”a great change has happened positively if you noticed. From being an actor, I also write, produce, direct and discover new faces. So, I have passed the baton of production to the young people because I have moved into politics now. So, ‘Battle on Buka Street’ is like a farewell because I am going to be the next deputy governor of Lagos State. So, I am passing the baton to the new ones because we need to give them an opportunity. Yes, I will be in the background to advise and supervise them, but let them be the face, let us celebrate them, are you not tired of seeing old faces?”
She went on to describe the difficulties that came with making the film.
“It was tedious; I filmed ‘Battle on Buka Street’ when I was really down, emotionally I was down, and this was before politics. So, rather than sitting down crying, I had to braze up because a lot of young people are looking up to me in the entertainment industry as we do work together. So, I can’t just sit down; I just pushed past all the pain, and put the emotions into the project and today we see the big thing happening and I am excited about that,” she said to Lambo.
In July, the Nollywood actress announced that she would be entering politics full-time after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, chose her as his running mate for the 2023 general election.
