Kunle Afolayan Biography: Net Worth, Awards, Movies & Family History of Top Yoruba Filmmaker
Kunle Afolayan is a prominent Nigerian movie producer, director and actor. He is arguably the best filmmaker in Nollywood today. We bring you the extensive profile, family background and personal life of this talented filmmaker.
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Kunle Afolayan Biography
The award-winning Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, was born on 30th September, 1974 (44 years ago) in Ebute Metta Lagos. He hails from the Yoruba-speaking region of Kwara state, in the North Central zone of Nigeria.
Kunle was raised in a family of drama artistes, as his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who is better known as Ade Love, was a very prominent theatre artiste. Ade Love reigned supreme during the last few decades of the last millennium. Kunle’s choice of career was probably inspired by his late father.
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The actor enrolled to study Economics in the University and obtained his B.Sc. degree in due time. He was able to secure a banking Job shortly after his graduation. During this time, he was visiting movie locations on a part-time basis. He finally took the bold step in 2004, when he decided to quit his banking job and focus squarely on his movie production and acting career.
He subsequently left the country for the United States, where he undertook his training in filmmaking at the revered New York Film Academy. Upon his return around 2005, he ventured into full fledged movie production and acting. Thirteen years down the line, Kunle Afolayan has become the best movie producer in Nigeria and also one of the best in Africa.
The talented movie producer’s illustrious career in the Nigerian movie industry has seen him coast home with several top local and international movie awards, as well as several mouthwatering ambassadorial/sponsorship deals.
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In 2009, Nollywood was recognized as the second most prominent movie industry in the world, behind the pace setting Hollywood. Two years later, in 2011, Kunle Afolayan was chosen as the face of the Nigerian movie industry, to represent Nollywood at a global event, Subversive Film Festival, where Nollywood was honoured for its second-ranked prominence at the global stage.
On the other hand, the prolific filmmaker, has also been recognized by several top companies within and beyond Nigeria. His most recent sponsorship deals is with Globacom in 2014 and his partnership with prominent French airline, Air France, in 2015.
In the midst of his professional prosperity, Kunle Afolayan enjoys formidable support from his wife and children, as well as his brothers and sister.
The star movie producer, who is a self proclaimed free thinker, was accused of tribalism few years back. In his tweet, which he posted on April 6, 2015, he accused Igbo marketers of piracy. Although, he was later forced to apologize, pirated copies of his movie, October 1, flooded the market barely one week later.
Kunle Afolayan Movies
Kunle Afolayan is better known as a movie producer, rather than just an actor. He has produced several top ranking/high grossing movies in Nollywood.
He made his acting debut, in 1998, in a blockbuster Yoruba movie titled, Saworoide. He took a prolonged break from acting, before coming back fully in 2005, which was shortly after his course at the New York Film Academy. He launched a movie production line, Golden Effects Pictures, which is the umbrella body under which Kunle Afolayan Productions operates in Nollywood. Since then, he has produced several top movies in Nollywood, which range from Yoruba movies to English movies. Prominent among Kunle Afolayan productions include; The Figurine: Araromire (2009), October 1 (2014), The CEO (2016) Phone Swap (2012) Irapada: Redemption (2006), The Bridge and many more.
The movie, The Figurine, is probably the greatest production of the star producer, so far. The film debuted in Yoruba and English languages in 2009. While it was script-written by Kemi Adesoye, Kunle Afolayan produced and directed the blockbuster movie. The movie featured popular Nollywood artistes, Ramsey Nouah and Omoni Oboli, as the lead actor and actress respectively. The Figurine won an impressive five awards at African Film Academy Award.
As an actor, Kunle Afolayan has been cast on several movies, since way back in the 1990s. He has featured in multitudes of Nollywood movies both in the Yoruba and English movie scenes. Today, however, he is more celebrated and decorated as a producer than as an actor.
For the producer’s outstanding contributions in Nollywood, he has been duly decorated with deserved laurels/awards. Worthy of note among his war-chest of awards include; 2014 African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Nigerian Film of the year and African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) for Best Feature Film of the year.
Kunle Afolayan House
The popular movie producer is currently resident in Magodo, a settlement in Ikeja Lagos, where he built his house. He is living with his family; his wife and children.
Kunle Afolayan’s mansion is, reportedly, equipped with a cinema, an extensive courtyard, a swimming pool, a studio, office spaces and more. He is also known for his unusual love for vintage cars and he has one in his garage; a 1965 Thunderbird Ford, which is powered by a formidable V8 engine.
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Kunle Afolayan Marriage And Family
This actor is happily married to Tolulope Afolayan (formerly Tolulope Kofoworola). The lovebirds got married on May 26, 2007 in Lagos. Their union has, so far, produced three beautiful children; Darasimi (daughter), Damisire (son), Eyiyemi (daughter) and Diekoloreoluwa (son).
In one of his chats with the media, Kunle Afolayan reiterated his commitment to his wife and children. He pointed out that, his extremely tight work schedule doesn’t in anyway hinder him from spending quality time with his family. Family first!
Kunle Afolayan Brothers
As posited earlier, the talented producer is from a family of entertainers, right from the head (his father), to the tail (the youngest sibling). The actor has three siblings; one sister (Moji Afolayan) and two brothers (Aremu and Gabriel). All three of them are popular Nollywood artistes, especially in the Yoruba movie scene.
Kunle’s brother, Gabriel Afolayan, who is popularly called G-Fresh, is a famous actor and musician. His other brother, Aremu Afolayan, is also an actor and a director. Of the three brothers, Kunle Afolayan is, without doubt, the most successful.
Kunle Afolayan Net Worth
Kunle Afolayan has enjoyed an illustrious career in Nollywood, as an actor, producer and director. Although, his exploits as a producer has earned him more laurels and income, he is still one of the best paid actors in Nollywood. Hence, in addition to his numerous endorsements deals, Kunle Afolayan’s net worth estimated net worth is 300 million naira ($800,000).
Kunle Afolayan Contact
His mobile number is not available for public consumption. However, he his a registered personality on prominent social media platforms like, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. His usernames on these platforms are outlined below.
- Facebook – “Kunle Afolayan”
- Twitter – “@Kunleafolayan”
- Instagram – “@kunleafo”
- YouTube – “Kafolayan”
