16 Facts About Kunle Afolayan

Kunle Afolayan was born on 30 September 1975 and is a Nigerian actor, producer, and director.

Kunle Afolayan is credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliche Nollywood storylines.

Kunle Afolayan is of Igbomina-Yoruba descent and is from Kwara State.

Kunle Afolayan's father, Ade Love, was a theatre and film director and his mother, Adeola, worked in the theater.

Kunle Afolayan received a bachelor's degree in Economics at the University of Lagos.

Kunle Afolayan started his film career as an actor in Tunde Kelani's political drama Saworoide, released in 1999.

Kelani encouraged Kunle Afolayan, who was more interested in being a director, to first become an actor before moving behind the camera.

Between 1998 and 2004, Kunle Afolayan appeared in several Nollywood films while working at a bank in corporate affairs.

In 2006 Kunle Afolayan made his directorial debut with Irapada, a supernatural thriller which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language.

Kunle Afolayan's second film, The Figurine, was a critical and commercial success, turning Afolayan into one of Nollywood's best known filmmakers.

Kunle Afolayan intentionally sought to direct a comedy to diversify his production company.

In 2014, Kunle Afolayan had another commercial and critical success with October 1, a thriller taking place in 1960 colonial Nigeria.

Kunle Afolayan next helmed The Bridge, a romantic drama starring Nigerian singer Chidinma in her first acting role.

Kunle Afolayan added that filmmakers should balance their commercial imperatives with ensuring their works remain relevant and available for future generations.

Kunle Afolayan married Tolu Kunle Afolayan in 2007, and divorced in 2019.

On 6 April, 2015, Kunle Afolayan posted a tweet which implied that Igbos were the majority group behind copyright infringement in Nigeria.