By Adedapo Adesanya
President Tinubu has congratulated celebrated Nigerian film producer and actress, Ms Funke Akindele, after her 2023 blockbuster, A Tribe Called Judah, became the first Nollywood film to gross N1 billion, a box office record achieved within 21 days of its release in cinemas.
In a statement signed by Mr Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Friday, lauded the movie star on her record-setting film and commended her contributions to the growth of the industry.
The movie, which premiered in the cinemas on December 15, 2023, has continued to break records, becoming the first to gross over N133 million in its opening weekend.
It became the highest-grossing Nollywood film for the year 2023 after grossing over N613 million within the first 14 days of its release.
The film earlier made history on January 2, as it emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever with a reported N854 million at the box office within 18 days in cinemas.
This feat has surpassed Ms Akindele’s previous films Battle on Buka Street (N668.4m), and Omo Ghetto (N636.1 million) which currently sit as the second and third highest-grossing films at the Nigerian box office respectively.
The President extolled the excellence of the Nigerian creative industry, acknowledging its pivotal place as a medium not only for artistic expression but also a source of enormous soft power and viable export.
“The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths. It is an industry that is crucial to my administration. I salute Nigerians for their enduring support and patronage of home-grown creative efforts.
“We will provide a conducive environment for the industry to thrive further,” President Tinubu said in the statement.
A Tribe Called Judah was directed by Adeoluwa Owu, aka Captain Degzy. The film tells the story of a family of boys, who decide to rob a mall to raise money for their mother’s hospital bill. However, on getting there, they are faced with armed robbers.
The star-studded movie featured seasoned actors and actresses including Nse Ikpe Etim, Funke Akindele, Timini Egbuson, Ebelle Okaro, Uzor Arukwe, Genoveva Umeh, and Nosa Rex, among others.
Other cast include Boma Akpore, Ebele Okaro-Onyiuke, Etinosa Idemudia, Fathia Balogun, Jide Achufusi, Olayode Juliana, Olumide Oworu, Paschaline Alex, Tobi Makinde, Uzor Arukwe and Yvonne Jegede.
According to Ms Akindele, the plot revolves around a woman called Jedidah Judah, who has five sons from five different men, all belonging to different tribes.
She said, “The story is so dear to my heart and it has a part of my late mum in it, and it represents the struggles faced by many single parents and mothers in society.”
