Funke Akindele has described Everybody Loves Jenifa as the most expensive film she has produced, pointing to the cost of filming in both Nigeria and Ghana, moving cast and crew across borders and securing locations for the comedy-drama.
The Nigerian actress and filmmaker discussed the production in an interview with CNN Africa journalist Larry Madowo, which attracted renewed attention this week. She did not disclose a precise production budget, making it impossible to calculate how much the international shoot cost compared with her earlier films.
Akindele said the Ghanaian portion of the production involved filming at Safari Valley Resort, an expensive location, alongside the expense of transporting the team from Nigeria. The decision to shoot in two countries expanded the logistical demands of a project built around one of Nollywood’s most familiar screen characters.
She also described her preference for constructing sets to meet the needs of her stories. Rather than depending exclusively on existing private homes, she said she rents or buys spaces and develops them for filming. Such an approach gives a production greater control over its visual environment but also requires substantial investment in design and construction.
Everybody Loves Jenifa was released in Nigerian cinemas in December 2024. The film subsequently became a major commercial success, with reported Nigerian box-office receipts of approximately ₦1.88 billion. Box-office gross, however, is not the same as profit: cinema distribution, marketing and production expenses all affect the amount ultimately retained by a filmmaker.
Co-directed by Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, the film brought together a large ensemble that included Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, Falz, Lateef Adedimeji, Layi Wasabi, Jackie Appiah, Omowunmi Dada and Patience Ozokwor. Its story follows Jenifa as she confronts a rival neighbour and becomes entangled in a dangerous situation during a visit to Ghana.
The project continued a franchise that began with the Yoruba-language film Jenifa in 2008. Akindele’s portrayal of Suliat, a young woman trying to establish herself in Lagos, became widely recognised for its humour, language and social observations. The original film earned Akindele the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards.
She later revisited the character in The Return of Jenifa and the television series Jenifa’s Diary. These successive productions helped extend the character’s appeal from cinema into television and, eventually, a larger theatrical release designed for audiences across multiple markets.
During the CNN Africa conversation, Akindele also discussed the purpose she attaches to storytelling. She said she wants her work to entertain while addressing social problems and speaking to young people about ambition and personal possibility.
Her account of Everybody Loves Jenifa offers a practical glimpse into the financial demands facing Nigerian filmmakers as they pursue larger productions. International locations, custom-built sets and substantial casts can raise production values, but they also increase the money at risk before a film reaches cinemas.
Akindele also reflected on the pressures of public attention and the importance of looking after her wellbeing alongside her career. She spoke about becoming more deliberate in balancing professional commitments with her personal life.
Although the filmmaker characterised Everybody Loves Jenifa as her costliest production, she supplied no audited budget or detailed distribution figures in the reported interview. The film’s reported cinema performance nevertheless remains an important reference point in discussions about the scale and commercial ambitions of contemporary Nollywood.
