In the recent disclosure that has since gone viral on social media, Nollywood actor and content creator Ijoba Lande recounted how he worked on a film project under Funke Akindele’s production for an entire month, only to be paid ₦90,000, what he described as a disappointing amount. His exposure stirred conversation in the Nigerian entertainment industry knowing that Funke Akindele who is popularly known as “Jenifa” following her Television series, “Jenifa Diary” which has recently been in the news with the project hitting the Nigeria Box Office with a shocker of great height, a feat where she became the second director to gross over a billion naira at the Nigeria box office and currently the Highest Grossing Nigerian Director in Nigerian Box Office with a total Gross of over ₦2.9 billion. Noticeably is that Funke Akindele was also recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 by the SILVERBIRD GROUP, Nigeria.
Lande
lamented; “there was a time Funke Akindele called me for a movie production at
Amen Estate, and we spent one month there. I was shocked when she gave me ₦90,000 after spending one month”.
The
skit maker, known for his comic online videos and growing popularity in the Yoruba
film scene, shared his story as both a warning and a learning moment for
upcoming actors.
Lande
emphasised that while the allure of working with a top-tier filmmaker like
Funke Akindele is undeniable, it should not come at the expense of one’s self-worth
or professional standards.
“I
have learnt my lessons. I will always state my charges before going to any
location. When she called me, I was too excited to discuss payment, only to end
up with N90k after one month,” he added.
The
actor’s admission triggered mixed reactions online, with many expressing
disappointment, while others have questioned the context behind the payment.
Some
commenters suggested that Lande’s lack of initial negotiation contributed to
the outcome, while others criticised what they see as a broader issue of
underpayment in Nollywood, especially for up-and-coming talents.
A
user had this to say: "this is not about Aunty Funke or anyone, this is
about Business. It’s about knowing your worth and negotiating your pay before
accepting a job. Even Dangote or Elon musk will pay u chicken change if u did
not negotiate with them. It’s business! Not charity!”
An
upset user, Bukkyonradio responded: “Yes but this means you lack integrity if
you’re waiting on someone to price themselves better before you offer them
better.”
Another user stated: “I like Funke but have been hearing a lot of negative about how she treat her staff members Omo e bad but na allegedly.”
Lande’s
story sheds light on a recurring issue within the Nigerian film industry:
payment transparency and fair compensation.
Nollywood,
despite being one of the largest film industries globally by output, still
struggles with standardising rates for actors, especially newer or less
established ones.
While
A-list actors and actresses command substantial fees, many supporting actors,
extras, and crew members often work under vague verbal agreements or out of
sheer passion and hope for future opportunities.
Ijoba Lande’s confession underscores the risks of going into any project without a clear financial agreement, regardless of the production’s profile.
However, on a second thought, this story has more to be disclose being that Funke Akindele is yet to deliver her side of the story.
Credited to: Instablog
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