Kunle Afolayan Biography
Kunle Afolayan Biography : Kunle Afolayan (born September 30, 1975) is a prominent Nigerian actor, producer, and director. Renowned for raising the standards of Nollywood productions, he is credited with introducing larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, premiering films in cinemas, and improving stereotypical storylines in the industry. He began his acting career in 1999 with the political drama Saworoide and made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a supernatural thriller that won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language. Some of his notable directorial works include The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation.
Profile
- Full Name: Kunle Afolayan
- Date of Birth: September 30, 1974
- Birthplace: Ebute Metta, Ikeja
- Age: 50 years old
- Children: Darimisire Afolayan, Diekoloreoluwa David Afolayan
- Spouse: Tolu Afolayan
- Siblings: Aremu Afolayan, Gabriel Afolayan, Moji Afolayan
- Parents: Adeyemi Afolayan
- Occupation: Film Producer, Director
- State of Origin: Kwara State
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Net Worth: $1.3 million
Kunle Afolayan Age
Kunle Afolayan is 50 years old, born on September 30, 1974.
Kunle Afolayan Early Life
Kunle Afolayan is of Igbomina-Yoruba heritage from Kwara State and the son of the late theatre and film director Ade Love. He initially studied economics and worked in banking while pursuing casual acting before transitioning fully to filmmaking. He later attended the New York Film Academy to hone his craft.
Kunle Afolayan Career
Kunle Afolayan has been active in the Nigerian film industry since 2005, directing films such as The Figurine: Araromire (in both Yoruba and English) and Phone Swap, featuring stars like Wale Ojo, Joke Silva, Nse Ikpe Etim, and Chika Okpala. The Figurine earned five major African Film Academy awards.
In 2011, he represented Nigeria’s film industry alongside Zeb Ejiro at the Subversive Film Festival. His film Phone Swap premiered in France in 2013 at the inaugural NollywoodWeek Paris, where it won the Public Choice Award.
Netflix Deal
In 2021, Kunle Afolayan signed a three-film deal with Netflix. The first was Swallow, an adaptation of Sefi Atta’s book, co-written with the author. The film, set in 1980s Lagos, explores a woman’s decision to consider drug trafficking. The second, Anikulapo (2022), became the most-nominated film at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards with 16 nominations. The third film, Ijogbon, is a coming-of-age adventure about four teenagers in a southwestern Nigerian village.
Kunle Afolayan Personal Life
Kunle Afolayan married Tolu Afolayan in 2007, and they share four children. The couple divorced in 2019. He identifies as a freethinker.
Golden Effects Pictures
Kunle Afolayan is the CEO of Golden Effects Pictures, a production company established in 2005. Its notable works include Irapada, The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, Roti, Omugwo, The Tribunal, The CEO, and Mokalik.
Kunle Afolayan Children
He has two known children, Darimisire Afolayan and Diekoloreoluwa David Afolayan.
Kunle Afolayan Controversies
In April 2015, Kunle Afolayan faced backlash over a tweet suggesting Igbos were behind copyright piracy in Nigeria. He later apologized, clarifying that his concern was piracy’s impact on his films, particularly October 1. Despite this, pirated copies of October 1 were released shortly after.
In an interview with Cable Magazine, Afolayan mentioned he rarely watches Nigerian films, preferring movies that challenge his perspective. This statement, taken out of context, led to criticism from fans and colleagues, which he later clarified.
Kunle Afolayan Filmography
- October 1
- The CEO
- Swallow
- Anikulapo
- The Bridge
- Irapada/Redemption
- Araromire/The Figurine
- Phone Swap
- Mokalik/Mechanic
- Citation
Kunle Afolayan Net Worth
Kunle Afolayan’s net worth is estimated at $1.3 million.