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By Lawrence Agbo
Nollywood filmmaker and actress, Funke Akindele, has explained that her popular dance videos began as a creative solution to promote her films when she could not afford a marketing budget.
Speaking in an interview shared on X on Tuesday, Akindele said she turned to social media promotion while preparing for the release of *Battle on Buka Street* after running out of funds for public relations and advertising.
According to her, she set up a simple backdrop in her sitting room and used her phone camera to film dance videos, with support from her brother and cinematographer.
“I did Battle on Buka Street and I didn’t have the budget for PR and marketing. So I just did a backdrop in my sitting room in my house and I put the camera there,” she said, adding that her cinematographer and brother helped her create the content.
The actress said consistently posting the videos helped connect with audiences, who came to associate her with joy and dancing.
Responding to critics who dismiss her promotional style, Akindele insisted the videos represent hard work rather than mere entertainment.
“Stop belittling my work. It’s not dancing. It’s hard work,” she said, adding that others are free to create their own unique promotional strategies instead of criticising hers.
Beyond promoting her films, Akindele said she is committed to mentoring the next generation of filmmakers and actors. She recalled becoming emotional after noticing young performers showing signs of exhaustion similar to what she experienced early in her career.
She said the experience strengthened her determination to continue creating opportunities for emerging talents, even when such projects are not financially rewarding.
Funke Akindele added that she remains intentional about collaborating with new writers and industry professionals as part of her efforts to nurture fresh talent in Nollywood.
