Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has addressed criticism over her energetic dance videos used to promote her movies, insisting that dancing is only one part of the extensive work she puts into marketing her projects.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with BellaNaija, the box-office record holder said no one forced her to adopt the strategy. It urged people to stop reducing her success to dancing alone.
Funke dismissed the notion that her achievements are solely driven by dance videos, explaining that she goes the extra mile to ensure her films reach audiences.
She said:
“Nobody asked me to dance.”
The actress added that dancing is just one of the many promotional activities she undertakes.
“I do more than dance. People should stop belittling my work to just dancing. I also do nails for people.”
According to her, every effort she makes is part of the hard work required to market a movie successfully.
During the interview, Funke also reflected on her journey in Nollywood and discussed various aspects of filmmaking, including production, acting, marketing and distribution.
She emphasised that achieving box-office success requires dedication that audiences often don’t see on social media.
Funke’s comments come months after filmmaker Kunle Afolayan sparked controversy by criticising the trend of dancing to promote movies.
While discussing the Nigerian film industry, Afolayan said he was not interested in making ₦1 billion or ₦2 billion at the box office if he could not earn at least ₦10 million from his productions. He also took a swipe at colleagues who rely on dance videos in their marketing campaigns.
Funke responded at the time, saying she was not responsible for anyone else’s career challenges and urged Afolayan not to let jealousy consume him.
“The sky is so big for everybody to fly.”
The conversation has continued to divide opinions within Nollywood.
Veteran actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde also weighed in while promoting one of her films, saying she would not dance to market her movies because she considers the approach unprofessional.
Actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo, however, defended the strategy, arguing that there is no single formula for success in the entertainment industry.
She encouraged filmmakers to embrace whatever promotional method works for them, adding that “2026 isn’t for talkers, but for doers.”
Veteran actress Chinyere Wilfred also joined the conversation, sharing a playful dance video and humorously telling others not to dance to promote their movies.
Despite the differing opinions, Funke Akindele’s unconventional marketing style has consistently accompanied some of the highest-grossing films in Nigerian cinema, making her one of Nollywood’s most successful filmmakers.
