Nollywood actress Funke Akindele is clearly fed up with the rampant piracy that has been disturbing the Nigerian film industry, and she’s not holding back. Ahead of the release of her much-anticipated movie Everybody Loves Jenifa on December 13, Akindele took to Instagram with a message aimed at pirates who might consider recording her movie during its cinematic run. She was very serious when sent warnings to them that there would be serious consequences for anyone caught attempting to film her movie.
In a video, Akindele, with a calm but firm tone, addressed her fans and the general public, saying, “Don’t be scared, I’m fine. But if you go to see my new movie and you bring out your phone or any device to film, then that won’t be fine.” She went on to remind her fans of the love and respect they have for her, and how this should translate into supporting the movie the right way by actually going to the cinema to watch it, not by pirating it. “I know you’ve got mad love for me, but filming it is not you supporting me,” she said, making it clear that piracy is not acceptable.
Akindele’s message was clear and straightforward, if you really want to support Everybody Loves Jenifa, the right thing to do is to show up at the cinema, take pictures at the stands, share the trailers, and engage with the movie online in ways that promote it without resorting to illegal filming. “Uploading it on your social media is not support,” she emphasized, adding that such actions are harmful to the industry and the artists behind the work.
The actress also reminded her audience that this isn’t just about her, it’s a matter of survival for the industry. “We must not encourage piracy,” she said. “We are taking serious security measures to arrest anyone who does that. It’s affecting us, it’s killing us. It’s not helping the brand. We need to grow more than this.” She also pointed out the heavy financial investment put into creating the movie, a clear indication that piracy threatens not only the livelihood of filmmakers but the very existence of Nollywood’s future.
Dear Nigerians, stop pirating films if you claim to support the industry. If fans really want to show love, they should show up at the cinemas, engage with the content legally, and let filmmakers profit from their hard work. It’s time for the culture of piracy to be put to rest, especially when it’s affecting the creators who pour their time, effort, and money into making films for the public.
