Akindele’s rise to superstardom began with the 2008 comedy Jenifa, directed by Muyideen S. Ayinde. The film became a blockbuster and became her major crossover into mainstream Nollywood beyond the Yoruba-language sector, where she’s already made a name. Following the success, she expanded it into a brand, creating a hit TV series, Jenifa’s Diary, Web series, Aiyetoro Town, Jenifa on Lockdown and a sequel, Jenifa 2, in 2011.
Since then, Akindele has cemented her status as a Nollywood powerhouse, delivering record-breaking hits such as Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020), Battle on Buka Street (2022), and A Tribe Called Judah (2023), which grossed ₦1.4 billion in Nigeria and £88,000 in the UK, making it Nollywood’s highest-grossing film.
With Everybody Loves Jenifa, Akindele is set to break her records and possibly become the UK Nollywood highest box office still held by The Wedding Party 2, which grossed £96 in 2017. Already, there are signs of bridging the £11,000 gap as two large screens have sold out, with a third added due to high demand at the Odeon Greenwich Cinema in the UK
Fueling the excitement is a movie soundtrack, Everybody Loves Christmas featuring the star-studded cast that includes Stan Nze, Nancy Isime, Lateef Adedimeji, Bisola Aiyeola, Tobi Makinde, Omowunmi Dada, Chy Nwamkanma, legendary actors Patience Ozokwor and Prince Jide Kosoko, and music stars Falz and D’banj.
- Jimi Baldheaded Guy