Funke Akindele is a Nigerian Film and Television Actress, screenwriter and producer. She first gained recognition in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) family oriented Television series, “I Need to Know”. In 2005, she made her debut as a producer in the Yoruba film, “Ojo Ketala” (13th Day). In 2008, she gained wider recognition in the Yoruba comedy film, “Jenifa”. In 2009, she won Best Actress at the 5th Africa Movie Academy Awards, making her the first Actress to win in The Best Actress category for a Yoruba film. In 2017, she was featured on CNN’s African Voices.
Born Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele on August 24, 1976, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. She is the second child of three children. Her Mother is a medical doctor while her Father is a retired school principal. She attended Grace Student School, Gbagada, Lagos, for her primary education. She went on to Lagos Model College, Igbokuta. She holds a national diploma in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State, Nigeria, and a Law degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Though, Funke Akindele began her career in English sector of Nollywood, featuring in films like “Egg of Life”, “Break-up”, “Final Whistle”, “Atlanta”, and Tunde Kelani’s “Narrow Path”, she gained critical recognition as an Actress in Yoruba speaking films, having over 100 Yoruba films under her belt as an actress, writer and producer. Her film credit includes: “Taiwo Taiwo” 1 and 2, “Agbefo” 1 and 2, “Maku”, ‘Egun”, “Aje Meta”, “Edunjobi” 1 and 2, “Osunwon Eda”, “Atanpako Meta”, “Apoti Orogun”, “Iro Funfun” 1 and 2, “Ija Ola” 1 and 2, “Farayola”, “Agbara Ife” 1 and 2, “Oba Irawo”, “Apaadi”, “Emi Abata”, “Ajenifuja”, “Omo Esu”, “Majele Ife”, “Omo Ghetto”, “Fenumenu”, “Akobi Okunrin”, “Oyun Oloyun”, “Gbarada”, “Ere Ewe”, “Ohun Buruku”, ‘Ekuro”, “Ole Ole”, “ Odunbaku”, “Akeju”, “Okun Idi”, “Risikat”, “Okete”, “Felele”, “Aye Olomokan”, “Omo Iya Kan”, ‘Adun Aye”, “Asepamo mi’, “Iya Agba Meta”, “Awa Obinrin”. In 2008, she produced and starred in her biggest film to date, “Jenifa”. Following the success of Jenifa, Funke made a return to English speaking films. She went on to take leading roles in films like: “White Hunters”, “Ladies Gang”, “Pretty Liars”, “Heart of a Twin”, “Hot Kingdom”, “Love Wahala”, ‘Dirty Diamond”, ‘Oga Madam”. In 2011, she starred in Tunde Kelani’s “Maami”. In 2012, she starred in Tunde Olaoye’s “Married but Living Single”. In 2014, she began starring in Television comedy series, “Jenifa’s Diary’, a spin off of the 2008 film Jenifa. In 2016, she starred in Ayo Makun’s “A Trip to Jamaica”. In 2017, she starred in Jade Osiberu’s “Isoken’. In that same year, she produced and starred in the Television series, “Industreet”.
In 2012, Funke Akindele married Kehinde Oloyede. The couple divorced in 2013. In 2016, Funke Akindele married rapper, Abdul Rasheed Bello popularly known as JJC.
