Kunle Afolayan is a Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He is credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywood storylines. After starting his film career as an actor in the 1999 political drama Saworoide, Afolayan made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a Nigerian supernatural thriller, which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language. His subsequent directing credits include The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation.
The Figurine: Araromire is a 2009 Nigerian supernatural suspense thriller film written by Kemi Adesoye, produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan, who also stars in the film as one of the main protagonists. It also stars Ramsey Nouah and Omoni Oboli.
October 1 is a 2014 Nigerian thriller film written by Tunde Babalola, produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan, and starring Sadiq Daba, Kayode Olaiya, and Demola Adedoyin. The film is set in the last months of Colonial Nigeria in 1960. It recounts the fictional story of Danladi Waziri (Daba), a police officer from Northern Nigeria, investigating a series of killings of young women in the remote Western Nigeria village of Akote just before 1 October 1960 – the date Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule.
Gabriel Afolayan, also known by his musical stage name G-Fresh, is a Nigerian actor and singer.
Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan (1940–1996) was a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, dramatist and producer.
Aremu Afolayan is a Nigerian film actor and the brother of Kunle Afolayan, a fellow actor.
Deyemi Okanlawon is a Nigerian film, television, theatre, and voice actor. He is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic talents in the Nigerian film industry, earning the distinction of being the highest-grossing Nollywood actor of 2020 and 2021, according to the Film One Box Office report. Deyemi is best known for his roles in Netflix Originals, including Blood Sisters, The King’s Horseman, King of Boys: The Return of the King, Lisabi, as well as major blockbusters like Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Prophetess, and All’s Fair in Love.
Taste of Love is a 2014 Nigerian telenovela, created by Globacom and aired on Africa Magic and STV. On release, it was reported to be the first Nigerian telenova. The complete season featured 150 episodes that began airing in October 2014.
Oyekunle Opeyemi Oluwaremi, known professionally as Kunle Remi, is a Nigerian actor, producer, and model. He appeared in the films Falling and Aníkúlápó, the television series Tinsel, and won the 7th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search in 2010. While studying at the New York Film Academy, he was simultaneously hosting an Internet Television Channel, Celebville 360. He hosted the Academy Awards nomination event in Beverly Hills. In 2012, he was cast in his first movie, Heavy Beauty, produced by Grace Edwin Okon and directed by Stanlee Ohikhuare. Though he graduated in 2014, he returned to study filmmaking and directing, and graduated in 2015.
Roti is a 2017 Nigerian film which was directed and written by Kunle Afolayan.
Omugwo is a 2017 Nigerian comedic movie written by Kemi Adesoye and directed by Kunle Afolayan under the production studio of Golden Effects Pictures in partnership with African Magic Films. Kunle Afolayan who is known for his whodunit movies diverted to provide the audience with comic relief. The comedic movie is one of the three movies by commissioned by African Magic Films to be produced in collaboration with him. The movie though, comical, addresses the vital issue in the African settings; motherhood. It prioritises the African traditional rites in motherhood, and it stars actors and actresses such as Ayo Adesanya, Patience Ozokwor, Omowunmi Dada and Ken Erics.
Gold Statue is a 2019 Nigerian comedy adventure drama film produced, written and directed by veteran filmmaker Tade Ogidan. The film stars Gabriel Afolayan and Kunle Remi in the main lead roles. The film was released on 17 May 2019 and received extremely positive reviews from critics. It was also nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Nigerian Film for the year 2019. The film also received few awards at film festivals.
Mokalik is a 2019 Nigerian bilingual comedy drama film produced and directed by veteran filmmaker Kunle Afolayan. The film stars newcomer Toni Afolayan in the male lead role along with Femi Adebayo. The film had its theatrical release on 31 May 2019 and received extremely positive reviews from critics while also performing well at the box office. It was acquired by Netflix in July 2019 and was streamed on 1 September 2019. The film has been included as a part of "Made in Africa" collection in May 2020 by Netflix to be streamed amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. The film was also nominated for the Best Film category during the 2019 Durban International Film Festival. The film was also premiered in several film festivals.
Citation is a 2020 Nigerian drama film directed by Kunle Afolayan, written by Tunde Babalola and starring Jimmy Jean-Louis, Temi Otedola, Bukunmi Oluwashina, and Gabriel Afolayan.
Peter King Nzioki Mwania, popularly known as Peter King, is a Kenyan actor. He is best known for his roles in the films The Constant Gardener, The Fifth Estate and Sense8.
Swallow is a 2021 Nigerian film directed by Kunle Afolayan, written by Sefi Atta and starring Niyola, Deyemi Okanlawon, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha and Ijeoma Grace Agu. It was released on 1 October 2021, by Netflix.
Diamonds in the Sky is a 2018 Nigerian drama film directed by Kunle Afolayan and produced by Femi Adebayo. The film stars Femi Adebayo, Omowumi Dada, and Joke Silva with Ali Nuhu, Bolaji Oba, and Toyin Abraham in supporting roles. The film tells the story of three families that struggle when cancer affects their lives.
Tenants of the House is a 2019 Nollywood film written by Tunde Babalola, produced by Dr. Wale Okediran and directed by Kunle Afolayan under the sponsorship of Ford Foundation, Premero Consulting Ltd, Bank of Industry, and National Livestock Transformation Plan. The movie was based on Wale Okediran fictional novel written in 2009 and it mostly focused on political conspiracies, girl child education and betrayals.
Aníkúlápó is a 2022 Nigerian epic fantasy film produced by Kunle Afolayan and distributed by Netflix. Released on 30 September 2022, it stars Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Sola Sobowale,Hakeem Kae-Kazim and Taiwo Hassan. The film was shot in Oyo State and Afolayan has described the work as a "Game of Thrones recreated in Nigeria but with a better representation of our culture ".
Ijogbon is a Nigerian 2023 coming-of-age adventure film produced by Kunle Afolayan and distributed by Netflix. It is one of the three movies agreement signed by Kunle Afolayan with Netflix. The film was written by Tunde Babalola and was released to Netflix on 13 October 2023. The movie stars Gabriel Afolayan, Adunni Ade, Ex BBNaija star, Dorathy Bachor, Sam Dede, Femi Branch, Yemi Sodimu, Bimbo Manuel, Yemi Solade and a host of others. The film was shot in Oyo State, in the KAP Film Village and Resort.
