Inside Funke Akindele’s feuds with colleagues

Actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, is undoubtedly the box office queen in Nigeria. However, her rise has also been marked by a series of high-profile tensions. Saturday Beats takes a look at different times her relationships with colleagues have made the headlines

Kunle Afolayan
The tension between Kunle Afolayan and Akindele escalated at the Lagos Business of Film Summit in January 2026, where Afolayan questioned the industry’s heavy reliance on dancing online to market films; remarks many interpreted as a veiled jab at Akindele.

Responding in an Instagram post, she urged creatives to focus on innovation rather than criticism, writing, “If you can’t beat them or join them, create your own path. No allow jealousy burn you. The sky is so big for everybody to fly.”

While social media amplified the narrative as a clash between “art-house credibility” and “commercial dominance,” insiders downplayed it as a misunderstanding. Today, there is neither open conflict nor visible collaboration.

Toyin Abraham
Akindele’s rivalry with Toyin Abraham remains one of Nollywood’s most talked-about. What began as friendly competition evolved into a recurring box office battle, especially during festive film releases.

Tensions resurfaced recently at the premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s film, The Return of Arinzo, on March 29, 2026, when Akindele snubbed Abraham. The moment reignited long-standing friction, previously heightened during their December film releases as fans turned promotional campaigns into online rivalries.

Ojo later suggested the issues run deeper than cinema numbers, revealing attempts at reconciliation that ultimately faltered after fresh accusations of sabotage emerged

Tobi Makinde
Akindele’s situation with actor and filmmaker, Tobi Makinde, is more subtle. Once a close collaborator—co-directing Battle on Buka Street—their relationship appears to have cooled.

Though neither has confirmed a fallout, fans have noted reduced public interactions and professional distance. Industry speculation points to creative differences and shifting priorities, leaving the situation unconfirmed but noticeable.

Juliana Olayode
Perhaps the most emotional fallout involved her former protégé, Juliana Olayode, popularly known as Toyo Baby from ‘Jenifa’s Diary’. Their relationship reportedly broke down after Olayode exited the series, with the actress later citing personal disagreements.

The rift played out publicly, sparking divided reactions among fans. However, both parties have since reconciled, with Olayode acknowledging Akindele’s influence on her career.