By Nigeria — A discussion around the use of dance based social media promotion for Nollywood cinema releases has continued to attract attention within the film industry, following comments by filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and responses from actress and producer Funke Akindele, as well as veteran actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde.
The conversation began on January 30, 2026, when Kunle Afolayan spoke at the Lagos Business of Film Summit in Lagos. During his remarks, the filmmaker said he would not engage in dancing as a strategy to promote his films, noting that such promotional methods may not be suitable for everyone. His comments later gained traction on social media platforms.
On January 31, 2026, popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele addressed ongoing industry conversations through her Instagram story, stating that she should not be held responsible for anyone’s challenges within the film industry. She encouraged filmmakers to adopt promotional strategies that best suit their individual projects, emphasizing that the creative space is expansive enough for everyone to succeed. Her remarks sparked widespread engagement across social media platforms and were subsequently reported by several entertainment news outlets.
The discussion expanded on February 3, 2026, when Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde addressed the issue in an interview circulated by the media. She stated that she would not dance to promote a film if it felt forced, stressing that participation in such promotional activities should remain a personal and professional choice for actors.
Between February 3 and February 4, 2026, Omotola also shared promotional content for an upcoming film project, including cast reveal videos that featured dance elements. The posts attracted public reactions in light of the ongoing conversation about dance based cinema promotion.
As of February 8, 2026, the topic continues to feature prominently in Nollywood entertainment coverage, with industry figures adopting varying approaches to film promotion in the digital space.
