Funke Akindele, A multi-award-winning Nollywood actress, has made several headlines. Who is Funke Akindele? What is Funke Akindele Educational Background? When did Funke Akindele start acting? So far what is Funke Akindele’s net worth? Is Funke Akindele married? Keep reading to find out more about this legendary Actress.
This article contains all that you might want to know about Funke Akindele. To start with:
Table of Contents
Who is Funke Akindele?
Akindele-Bello Olufunke Ayotunde // (listen) born (24 August 1977) popularly known, as Funke Akindele or Jenifa is a Nigerian film actress and producer. Akindele starred in the sitcom I Need to Know from 1998 to 2002, and in 2009, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
She rose to fame for her role in the movie titled Jenifa which earned her the nickname Jenifa. The Omo Ghetto trilogy contributed to her fame. Funke Akindele played the lead role in the show Jenifa’s Diary, for which she was named the Best Actress in a Comedy at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. In 2022, she was nominated by the People’s Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Abdul-Azeez I no be n. V Adediran, as the running mate for the 2023 Lagos state governorship election.
What is Funke Akindele Educational Background?
Her mother is a medical doctor while her father is a retired school principal. She attended Grace Children School Gbagada, Lagos State. She obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now known as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. She earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.
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Funke Akindele’s Career
Despite her legal training, Jenifa opted to pursue a career in acting. We can all agree that acting comes easy to her. Naked Wire, in which she played a waitress, was one of her first films.
Her career began when she portrayed an inquisitive yet smart secondary school girl in the famous TV series I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. I Need to Know is a United Nations Population Fund-sponsored sitcom program that aims to educate the public on the challenges that teens encounter as they grow up.
Funke has appeared in, written, and produced many Nollywood films, particularly Yoruba films, and has a long list of blockbuster films to her credit. Her successful films include Maami, Iru Oka (Cobra’s Tail), Omo Ghetto, Ojo Ketala (13thDay), and A Trip to Jamaica.
Funke Akindele had her debut as the lead role in the comedy-drama film Jenifa, in which she played a ‘local girl’ from the countryside who moved to Lagos in search of a ‘better’ life. The film was not only enjoyable and humorous, but it was also a huge hit, and she did an excellent job of capitalizing on its potential.
Jenifa was the inspiration for her current TV show Jenifa’s Diary. Jenifa’s Diary has become a household name in most Nigerian households, with brilliant musicians such as Lota Chukwu, Folarin Falana (Falz Da Bad Guy), and Lolo, an OAP and TV personality, among others.
When did Funke start acting?
Akindele came into the limelight after starring in the popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Funke Akindele played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. Funke Akindele’s big break came in 2008 when she appeared in the movie Jenifa.
Awards Won by Funke Akindele
Below are the awards won by Funke Akindele:
- Best Actress Leading Role at Africa Movie Academy Awards – 2009
- Best Actress at Nigerian Entertainment Awards – 2009
- Best Actress at Nollywood Movies Awards – 2012
- Best Actress at Zulu African Film Academy Awards – 2012
- Best Actress (Indigenous) at Nollywood Movies Awards – 2013
- Best Actress (Comedy) at Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards – 2014
- Brand Ambassador of the Year at ELOY Awards – 2014
- Best Actress (Leading Role) at Nigerian Entertainment Awards – 2014
- Best Actress in Comedy at Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards – 2016
- Sitcom of the Year at Naija FM Awards – 2016
- Best Actress Africa Collaboration @ Ghana Movies Awards – 2016
- Best Actress of the Year at Africa Entertainment Legend Awards – 2016
- Best Actress in Comedy Movies at Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards -2017
- Best Lead Actress at Nigerian Entertainment Awards – 2017
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