Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has expressed heartfelt gratitude to singer Dbanj for his unwavering support for her and her Jenifa brand.
During the premiere of her highly anticipated movie Everybody Loves Jenifa on Sunday night, Funke recounted how Dbanj went out of his way to support her by putting aside his personal commitments. She revealed that the singer was scheduled to travel for a project but agreed to attend the event after her persistent pleas. Remarkably, Dbanj made this sacrifice at no cost.
Funke shared, “A big thank you to Bangalee; he was supposed to travel for a project. I begged and begged and begged. He told his guys to cut the project, and he would do this for me, and he did it at no cost.”
This isn’t the first time Funke has lauded Dbanj for his support. At Dbanj’s anniversary dinner in June, she shared how God used the singer to inspire her to maintain her Jenifa brand and remain steadfast in her career. Funke also revealed that Dbanj had supported her financially for her next project, emphasizing how much his belief has propelled her journey.
Dbanj’s encouragement and support have contributed significantly to Funke Akindele’s career success. She currently holds the title of Queen of the Box Office after making history earlier this year by becoming the first Nigerian filmmaker to gross over N1 billion at the cinemas with her 2023 blockbuster A Tr!be Called Judah, which brought in over N1.4 billion.
For her latest project, Everybody Loves Jenifa, Funke celebrated the efforts of 175 crew members who worked tirelessly for nine weeks to bring her vision to life. She noted that the self-funded project allowed her to empower a team predominantly made up of young people (95% of whom were youth) to showcase their creativity and skills.
Additionally, in August, Funke collaborated with Lagos State Fire Service for her movie, a partnership highlighted by Jubril Giwa, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos State Governor, on his X page.
Funke Akindele’s dedication to her craft and her belief in empowering others through her projects continues to solidify her status as one of Nollywood’s most hardworking and celebrated figures.
