Foremost Nollywood actor, Funke Akindele, has made history with her latest output, a Tribe Called Judah, as it becomes the first Nigerian movie to earn 1bn naira ($1.1m; £900,000) in cinema.
The movie, which has continued to receive high acclaim from critics and fans, smashed the box record in just three weeks since it hit the cinema during the yuletide.
Funke, who both produced and co-directed the movie, could not hide her excitement as she thanked her fans for making the historic feat possible.
In a post on her Instagram handle, she wrote: “Thank you Lord! Thank you, Nigeria! Thank you, Ghana!”.
With this feat, Akindele effectively cements her place in history as Nollywood’s highest-grossing director.
FilmOne Entertainment, the movie’s distributor, hails the movie as a cultural gem.
The company praised Akindele for her tireless commitment to storytelling, which according to them, has “etched a significant chapter in the vibrant tapestry of Nigerian cinema”.
“This achievement isn’t just about numbers; it’s a testament to the power of storytelling, cultural pride, and the unyielding spirit of Nollywood,” FilmOne Entertainment notes in an Instagram post.
“This remarkable achievement comes after Funke Akindele’s 500-million-naira box office haul from her 2021 film, ‘Omo Ghetto: The Saga,’ and her 650-million-naira haul from last year’s “Battle on Buka Street,” further cementing her status as the undisputed leader in Nigerian cinema.”
