Jide Kosoko Shares Why Funke Akindele's Calls Make Him Nervous

Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has shared that he feels nervous whenever filmmaker Funke Akindele calls him for a role. This is because of her strict approach to filmmaking and her focus on details.

The 72-year-old actor talked about this during an interview on the African A-List podcast. He praised Akindele's work ethic and called her very hardworking and energetic.

"Funke is very hardworking; even if you are a man, you can’t match her energy. Whenever Funke calls me for a job, I am always scared. You can shoot a scene 15 times," Kosoko said.

He explained that Akindele often wants to get every detail right. This means actors may have to reshoot scenes they have already finished.

According to him, Akindele might come on set the next day ready to film a new scene. But she can decide to redo an earlier scene because of a detail she thinks is not right.

"She may come the following day thinking of shooting another scene, but then she will say, 'We have to shoot those scenes again because of the plates they brought,'" he recounted.

Kosoko’s comments show the challenges of working with Funke, who is known for her impressive success as an actress, director, and producer.

He also talked about her way of promoting her films. Funke's dance-driven promotion has become a big part of her film marketing. She and her cast make choreographed social media videos to get people excited about their movie releases.

This idea reportedly came about after she ran out of money for traditional marketing while working on Battle on Buka Street. What started as a low-budget idea has turned into a well-known promotional style.

But this method has caused some debate in Nollywood. Some filmmakers are asking if dancing and making social media skits should be the norm for promoting films. Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan called the demands "draining" and "unsustainable" at the Lagos Business of Film summit. He later explained that he meant to share his personal views, not to attack Akindele.

Veteran actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has also spoken out against the idea that actors must dance on social media to promote movies.

But Kosoko, who has acted in Funke's Jenifa productions, said her way of promoting her films, especially her use of dance videos, works well for her. He noted that other filmmakers have started to follow Funke's promotional style.

Funke reacted to the interview clip on X, sharing it with laughing and face-covering emojis. At 49, she is one of Nollywood’s most successful filmmakers, with many productions achieving major box-office success.

Her films include Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020), Battle on Buka Street (2022), A Tribe Called Judah (2023), and Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024).

Her movies have attracted large cinema crowds, and her lively promotional efforts have become a key part of her filmmaking, despite some criticism.

Kosoko’s story gives insight into how her films are made, where multiple takes and attention to small details are part of her quest for the best results.

The veteran actor has worked in both Yoruba and English-language productions for many years. He remains a respected figure in Nollywood, with experience in acting, directing, and producing.