This is a detailed biography of Kunle Afolayan, top Nigerian movie producer and film director.
In this article, you will get to know Kunle Afolayan's early life, net worth, age, educational background, family, private life, and movies.
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| Kunle Afolayan - Film producer and director| Image credit: Facebook - Kunle Afolayan |
Short biography of Kunle Afolayan:
- Name: Kunle Afolaya
- Born: 30 September, 1975
- Residence :Ebute Metta, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Citizenship: Nigeria
- Age: 47 year as at Sept., 2022
- Alma mater: New York Film Academy
- Occupation(s): Actor, Director, Producer, influencer
- Years active: 2005-Present
- Spouse: Tolu Afolaya
- Children: 4
- Parent: Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan (Ade Love - father)
- Mother: Her name is still private, will be updated soon.
- Relatives: Moji Afolayan (sister)
- Gabriel Afolayan (brother)
- Aremu Afolayan (brother)
- Secret: Name of Mother
- Net worth: $1.3 million
There is absolutely no way you will mention Entertainment without making reference to all the Afolayan's Family. The Afolayans have indeed taken film production and directing to another level and propelled Nollywood into the World.
One can not talk of Kunle Afolayan without making reference to his root - Family.
Kunle Afolayan Family Background:
Kunle Afolayan is from Igbomina, Kwara State, Nigeria. although he was born in Ebutemetta, Lagos, Nigeria, on September 30, 1974, to the family of late Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan, an extuberant Nollywood theatre and film director and producer, he flaunt his mother's picture on his social media pages but kept her name unknown.
He grew up in Lagos with his other siblings; Moji Afolayan, Gabriel Afolayan and Aremu Afolayan. He is a Nephew to the Popular Nollywood Actress; Toyin Afolayan who is the junior sister of their late father.
Kunle Afolayan's Father - Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade love)
Kunle's father; Adeyemi Afolayan was born in 1940 in Kwara state Nigeria, he was a film actor, director, and producer. He is the brother of actress Toyin Afolayan, as well as father to film actors, Kunle Afolayan, Tayo Afolayan, Gabriel Afolayan, Moji Afolayan , and Aremu Afolayan.
He established his own drama group which went on to stage comedic plays in the 1900s. In 1976, he appeared in Ola Balogun's Ajani Ogun and later produced and starred Ija Ominira (1979), also directed by Balogun. Kadara. Destiny in English was the first movie he wrote, produced and also starred as leading actor. The movie was shown at the ninth Tashkent film festival for African and Asian cinema. His movie includes Ija Orogun, Taxi Driver and Iya ni Wura. He died in 1996.
Kunle Afolayan's Educational background:
After Kunle’s secondary education, he obtained a BSc degree in Finance and secure himself a befitting work as a banker.
He also acquired a Diploma in digital film-making at the New York Film Academy in 2005 after quitting his job as a banker. Many did say "quiting his job to face film production allowed him discover himself."
His personal life:
Kunle is married to Tolu Afolayan and they are blessed with four beautiful children namely; Diekoloreoluwa David Afolayan, Darimisire Afolayan, Eyiyemi Afolayan whom he stared in his movie - Anikulapo, and Darasimi Bibiire Afolayan.
He is one who keeps his personal life private and describes himself as a free thinker when it comes to religious beliefs. However, his marriage to his wife appears to be facing some challenges since they are separated in 2019.
Tolu Afolayan, a business woman lives independently with the four children she had with Kunle Afolayan. While Kunle Afolayan currently lives in Magodo, Ikeja, Lagos State, South-West Nigeria.
Career:
He didn’t come to the central notice in the industry until 2005, after he resigned from his banking job, and became a reputed filmmaker. He established his production company – Golden Effects Pictures same year. He represented Nigeria at the Subversive Film Festival in 2011 together with Zeb Ejiro.
In May 2013, Phone Swap was premiered in France and won the Public Choice Award at the first edition of Nollywood Week in Paris.
Kunle is also the founder of Kunle Afolayan Productions Television (KAPTv) now KAP Hub, Kunle Afolayan Production Hub. Kunle also owns a clothing brand, IRE Clothing.
His flim background from his Father really helped him as he displays valuable and high-powered Production in his movies.
In 2021, the Kunle signed an agreement with Netflix to produce three full-length movies, one of which would be a cinematic adaptation of Sefi Atta’s Swallow.
Here are some of hiss movies and features:
- Saworoide
- Agogo Eewo
- Ti Ala Ba Ku
- Irapada
- Èjiwòrò
- Onitemi
- The Figurine
- Farayola
- Phone Swap
- Dazzling Mirage
- October 1
- The CEO
- The Bridge
- Omugwo
- Crazy People
- Mokalik
- Diamonds in the Sky
- Citation
- Ayinla
- Swallow
- A Naija Christmas
- Anikulapo
It should be noted that Kunle Afolayan does not like to be featured in movies with other Actors and Actresses in the entertainment industry. He made this known in an interview. Watch: credit - Gold MyneTV
According to him, he said he doesn't want problem that do emanate from collaboration; hence, he only partnered with people of his like-minds; especially people like the top movie producer and director - Mr. Tunde Kelani (TK), the producer of "Ayinla".
Awards and Nominations:
- Africa Movie Academy Award nominee for Best Director – 2010
- Golden Jury award for Best Film at the Abuja International Film Festival – 2012
- Festival Prize for Outstanding Film Directing at the Abuja International Film Festival – 2012
- Nollywood Movie Award nominee for Best Director – 2013
- Nigeria Entertainment Award nominee for Actor of the Year – 2015
- Africa Movie Academy Award nominee for Best Director – 2015
- Best Movie Director at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards – 2015
- October 1 won the Best Costume Design at the 2015 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
- Best Nigerian Film – October 1 at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) – 2015
- October 1 – Best Movie of 2014 at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2015
- An Icon in the African Entertainment Industry Award at the Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards (AHBEA) – 2016
- City People Movie Award-nominated him for Best Movie Producer of the Year (English) – 2017
- Nominated for the City People’s Movie Award for Movie Director of the Year (English) – 2017
- The Best Film Award at the Durban International Film Festival (2019)
- Nominated for Director of the Year at the Best of Nollywood Awards (Diamond in the Sky), 2019.
- Nominated for the Most Searched Actor at the Net Honours, 2021.
Net worth and endorsement:
Kunle Afolayan signed endorsement deals with big brands like Lontor Products, Pavillon Afriques, Air France, Pan Nigeria, and Globacom Nigeria, and he earns well from his various businesses with his career as a movie director and producer. As such, Kunle’s net worth is valued at $1.3 million.
Kunle Afolayan’s Cars And Houses and luxury;
Kunle Afolayan is a passionate lover of antique pieces like vintage vehicles. This reflects in his choice of cars, and interior house design.
Currently, he owns 4 classic cars from companies like Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, and Ford. Including 1929 Mercedes Benz W10 Gazelle, 1982 Jaguar XJ6, Peugeot 508 and Thunderbird Ford 1965.
Kunle owns a house in one of the high-rise areas in Lagos state worth millions of Naira and also owns houses similar to what is obtainable in Beverly Hills, USA.
He love coded lifestyle and enjoys having fun in natural environment; perhaps why he loves having fun at his Kap Hub.
Kunle Afolayan's Social media followers:
Kunle Afolayan:s Instagram handle is @kunleafo and has 953K followers.
Kunle Afolayan on Facebook has 24K followers.
Kunle Afolayan is on Tiktok @ogbenikunleafolayan with 12.2K Followers.