Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has made an emotional plea against the piracy of her upcoming movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, set to debut in cinemas on December 13th.
In a heartfelt video shared on social media, Funke urged Nigerians to refrain from recording videos in cinemas, labeling it as piracy. She emphasized the detrimental impact of piracy on the industry, stating, “I worked so hard on this project. Please, stop it. It is killing us.”
The actress highlighted the immense resources invested in the movie and appealed to fans not to support piracy, adding that such actions undermine the efforts of filmmakers and their teams.
Funke Akindele is not the only Nollywood star raising alarms over piracy. Last month, actor Deyemi Okanlawon addressed the issue after a fan expressed intentions to watch a pirated version of his latest film. In response, another fan offered to sponsor tickets for five people to see the movie legally, a gesture that restored Deyemi’s faith in Nigerian audiences.
Similarly, actress Wumi Toriola, who recently debuted her first cinema production, condemned fans asking for illegal links to her movie on platforms like Telegram. She publicly cursed such behavior, stressing the harm piracy causes to filmmakers.
Last year, Toyin Abraham also took a stand against piracy, apprehending individuals attempting to sell pirated copies of her film Malaika. During a press conference, she revealed the severe financial strain caused by piracy, with losses impacting projects costing hundreds of millions of naira.
Nollywood producers and actors are united in their fight against piracy, calling on fans to support legal movie viewing platforms. Their shared message is clear: say no to piracy to preserve the industry and the livelihoods of those who work tirelessly to bring stories to life.
Funke Akindele’s passionate appeal adds to the growing voices advocating for stricter measures and increased public awareness against this pervasive issue.
