Stop Belittling My Work – Funke Akindele Reacts To Criticism Over Dancing To Promote Movies

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed that her popular dance videos used for promoting movies started as a way to market her projects when she had limited funds for publicity.

Akindele in an interview with Bella Naija explained that she turned to creating dance content from her home because she could not afford a large promotional campaign for her movie, Battle on Buka Street.

Naija News reports that she said the idea came from a need to find a simple way to reach audiences and create awareness for the project.

The filmmaker said many people misunderstood the dance videos, believing they were just for entertainment, but the move was actually part of a serious marketing plan.

According to her, after completing the movie, she did not have enough money to pay for publicity.

She then decided to create promotional materials herself using a backdrop in her sitting room and a camera, with help from her cinematographer and brother.

She said: “I did Battle on Buka Street and I didn’t have the budget for PR and marketing. So I just did a backdrop in my sitting room in my house and I put the camera there. Stop belittling my work. It’s not dancing. It’s hard work.

“If you don’t feel like you want to jump on it to promote your movie, you’re welcome. But you don’t have to dance. Create your own ideas. Come up with something different.

“I want to build the next generation of female filmmakers. I want them to be audacious. I want them to be hardworking. I want people to look back as, oh, I remember Funke Akindele. She gave us the opportunity to be seen and heard.

“She taught us how to be audacious, to be firm. I was watching the next episode of Ayetoro Town, and I saw a lot of young actors. I’m actually emotional right now. I saw a lot of young talent. And, you know, I saw some of them tired as they’re acting. You know, I saw some discoloration on their skin. And I said, ah, Funke, there was a time you were like this.

“I’m not really making money from it. But I just vowed. I said, God, keep giving me the grace to pull people up. They need to be seen. They need to be heard.”