Award-winning Nigerian actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed that American filmmaker Tyler Perry played a major role in shaping her storytelling style and career.
In a post shared on X, Akindele said Perry was one of her earliest role models, adding that watching his films taught her valuable lessons in storytelling and scriptwriting.
She stressed that she has never been ashamed of her humble beginnings, saying there is nothing wrong with learning from people you admire.
“I have never been ashamed of my humble beginnings, and I never will be. Tyler Perry is one of my role models, and I learned a lot from his films, especially in storytelling and writing.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning from someone you admire. In fact, that’s how many great journeys begin,” she wrote.
Akindele said she built on that foundation by attending workshops, gaining practical experience and continually refining her craft until she developed her own unique voice.
“Over the years, I broadened my knowledge, attended workshops, sharpened my craft through experience, and found my own voice. And I am still learning because growth never stops,” she added.
The box office record-holder said she is proud that many emerging filmmakers now look up to her work for inspiration, describing it as the natural cycle through which creativity is passed from one generation to another.
“Never be ashamed of where you started. Keep learning. Keep growing,” she urged.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akindele made Nigerian cinema history by becoming the first Nollywood filmmaker to surpass both the ₦2 billion and ₦2.7 billion box office milestones.
Her latest blockbuster, “Everybody Loves Jenifa,” set a new national box office record by grossing over ₦2.7 billion, surpassing the earnings of her previous hits, “A Tribe Called Judah” and “Battle on Buka Street.”
