I’m Not The One Hindering Your Progress – Funke Akindele Speaks As Kunle Afolayan Faults ‘Dancing’ Marketing Style

Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has stated that she is not hindering anyone’s progress in the movie industry.

Her statement comes amidst a remark from her colleague, Kunle Afolayan, who questioned the use of dance as a movie marketing strategy.

Naija News reports that Afolayan had described marketing in the industry as exhausting, recalling his experience.

“In 2006, I did all the runs, and it was exhausting. I want to make a film if you can guarantee I don’t have to dance to sell that film.

“We need to come up with other strategies. How do we sell without exhausting ourselves?

“I don’t know how the likes of Funke Akindele and others are doing it, creating skits every day, changing costumes all the time. I can’t do it,” he said.

Reacting in a series of Instagram posts, the actress dismissed suggestions that her approach to movie promotion was hindering the progress of others in the industry,

“I’m not the one hindering your progress. Ka rin ka po, yiye nin ye ni,” she wrote.

She further stated that the entertainment industry was large enough for everyone to thrive, urging colleagues to explore alternative approaches rather than criticising existing ones.

“If you can’t beat them or join them, create your own path. No allow jealousy burn you. The sky is so big for everybody to fly,” Akindele added.

The actress also encouraged filmmakers who find the current trend exhausting to adopt other promotional strategies or engage professional marketing firms.

“Go ahead and create alternative promotion or marketing strategies for promoting your business, or hire a company to handle it. You can do it. The opportunities are endless, and everyone has their own path. I’m focused on mine, and I have faith in God’s plan for me,” she said.

Akindele is currently Nollywood’s highest-grossing filmmaker with her movie ‘Behind The Scenes, released in 2025, grossing ₦2,407,000,000. She is well known for her energetic promotional style, often involving dance videos and comedy skits used to market her films across social media platforms.