₦airaland Forum

Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has sealed a landmark collaboration between his company, Kunle Afolayan Productions (KAP) Group, and the Republic of Benin in a move aimed at strengthening cross-border creative development and advancing African cinema.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Lagos at the KAP Hub, the filmmaker’s creative headquarters, following an official invitation from the Beninese Presidency to establish a strategic partnership focused on transforming the region’s audiovisual and film production ecosystem. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Both parties described the agreement as a significant milestone designed to leverage cinema, youth empowerment and creative enterprise as tools for cultural diplomacy, economic development and global positioning of African storytelling.

The partnership comes weeks after Afolayan, alongside KAP Executive Director Seun Soyinka, led a senior management delegation to Benin Republic, where discussions were held with government officials and key stakeholders in the country’s film and creative sectors.

The consultations focused on developing sustainable structures to boost local content creation, enhance technical expertise and position Benin as a growing hub for film production on the continent.

Following directives from the Beninese President, a high-level delegation travelled to Lagos to formalise the agreement.

Members of the delegation included presidential advisers on media, audiovisual, arts and culture, as well as representatives from cultural development agencies and creative institutions.

On the Nigerian side, the hosting team featured Afolayan, Soyinka and Professor Tunji Azeez, Head of School at the KAP Film & Television Academy.

The collaboration is structured around three major pillars:

Film Co-Production: Joint production of films that showcase authentic African narratives while expanding international market reach.

Youth Training and Capacity Development: Structured training programmes covering filmmaking, production and creative entrepreneurship.

Film Infrastructure Development: Establishment and operation of a world-class Film City in Ouidah, Benin Republic.

The initiative will also utilise the expertise of KAP subsidiaries, including KAP Motion Pictures, the KAP Film & Television Academy and the KAP Film Village & Resort in Igbojaye-Komu, Oyo State.

As part of the official activities scheduled between February 19 and 22, the Beninese delegation is expected to tour KAP’s production facilities in Lagos and the film village in Oyo State, which has become a model for integrated film production, training and cultural tourism in Africa.

Speaking on the agreement, Afolayan described the partnership as a defining moment for African cinema, emphasising the importance of collaboration in projecting African stories globally.

A representative of the Beninese government also expressed optimism about the partnership, particularly in the area of skills development and industry capacity building.

Both parties noted that the MoU marks the beginning of a long-term alliance aimed at raising standards in film production, creative education and cultural expression across Africa.

alphonsoolajide:
https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/02/20/kunle-afolayan-film-pact-benin-republic-african-cinema/

SixSeven:
Afolayan had earlier said he would only fully return to cinema releases if filmmakers were no longer required to engage in exhausting promotional activities, including frequent social media dances, to sell their movies.


I totally agree with him. In fact, this is what made Bovi do in-person shows. He too said that he already has the craft, he has the product, those wey wan come and know the deal will come, he won't succumb to social media ridicule of this generation turning him to something else. That's why he went to Benin, Lagos and did his shows and said he won't do those crazy promotions online just to sell his tickets. If you notice, his show is so different, it doesn't have those insults, DJ mixes and noise the other comedians use to steal time and your money. Will people still go to those shows? Yes but the sky is big for everyone and that's what Kunle wrote in that proverb. Bovi further said he wanted to appreciate his original fans and removed those oppressive tables we use to extort ourselves in these comedy shows.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsciLgc2i8Y


Afolayan is from the TK School of Works so I am not surprised with his mature comments. After some years, the work that was done for the art will speak louder than the work that was done for the fart money. Art is long, life is short.

Keep building your legacy Kunle. From the interviews I have watched of him and read, he understands the business angle of this industry and this last line means a lot if you want to put respect on your name and get your work's worth:

owobokiri:
This xenophobe that blames others for all his misfortunes..

Ohibenemma:
Well, he might have just been right about his "intellectual claims" concerning his movies. Personally, I sometimes find them kinda boring (or too serious??), though with great graphics.

Thumbs up to him...

DeltaBachelor:
Good for him. Very nice and talented dude

Jamesclooney:
Awon filmmaker for professors and intellectuals…Na Benin Republic e end up 😂

Meanwhile Funke keeps smashing her own records back to back!

If pride was a person…

Last good movie he made was Figurine in 2009!

owobokiri:
This xenophobe that blames others for all his misfortunes..

SixSeven:
This guy should be studied for the BUSINESS OF FILMMAKING. Underline the word, BUSINESS. I remember back then when he did The CEO and partnered with an airline. He is always looking for ways to make sure that film business is serious business. That was the movie he made sure entered flights. He is also always insisting that creators must be rewarded for their creativity instead of selling it for peanuts and fame. Anyone who undermines him is not serious yet.

EN: Inside The World's First In-flight Movie Premiere - Afolayan's The CEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQdLwJnDX4k

Kunle Afolayan Responds to Cinema, YouTube & Collaboration Debates in Nollywood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-bwtRGNDGw

thomas2024:
I agree with some of your point. I’m a fan of him. I truly love his movie because I’ve been following him since the time of Ṣawaro Idẹ but ẹgbọn fvck up big time. He said the sky is big for birds to fly. But why is he bittered that people promote their movies in ways they like? WHY? This thing of “class” is a serious problem in our country. I’m a movie critics. I virtually all kind of movies in Nigeria from different genres, from Kannywood to Hollywood till the least grade of movie. I know quality works and mere works but your people (fans) who love quality will be for you when they see that you produce quality movie. You don’t need to even advertise. It’s just like saying I dey sell okrika for market, because you dey for boutique with AC selling quality clothes, you come dey vex for me because I dey use bell and dancing to advertise my goods. Ó wrong now. I may love Afolayan but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t call him out. Shey aunty Funke small ni? Aunty Funke thay has been acting since 90s, someone who featured in “I Need To Know”. By the way, I never see aunty Kemi Adetiba, mama mi Mo Abudu or aunty Jadesola Osiberu or even Mr Kayode Kasum, Femi Adebayo with Niyi Akinmolayan to come out and be talking in the format Kunle Afolayan talks. It really paint a character flaw in him. As a filmmaker that he is, but his first series of Anikulapo flop now? I only see ẹgbọn Kunle as the bitter person here who want us to regard him when it comes to Nigeria movie but I can tell you that he no longer produce meaningful movie anymore. He’s even banking on his old glory.


P. S: You’re one of the few i respect here. Don’t mind my long explanation😂 and few typos by the way, I’m an aspiring filmmaker too. So I know how these work.

Lest, I forget you talk about the business of filmmaking, I think ẹgbọn Kunle should go and learn that now from ẹgbọn Fẹmi Adebayọ. The way Femi Adebayo marketed his Agẹṣinkọle part two need to be studied in school.

I’ll be back. Time for lunch🥳

Jamesclooney:
Awon filmmaker for professors and intellectuals…Na Benin Republic e end up 😂

Meanwhile Funke keeps smashing her own records back to back!

If pride was a person…

Last good movie he made was Figurine in 2009!

thomas2024:
I agree with some of your point. I’m a fan of him. I truly love his movie because I’ve been following him since the time of Ṣawaro Idẹ but ẹgbọn fvck up big time. He said the sky is big for birds to fly. But why is he bittered that people promote their movies in ways they like? WHY? This thing of “class” is a serious problem in our country. I’m a movie critics. I virtually all kind of movies in Nigeria from different genres, from Kannywood to Hollywood till the least grade of movie. I know quality works and mere works but your people (fans) who love quality will be for you when they see that you produce quality movie. You don’t need to even advertise. It’s just like saying I dey sell okrika for market, because you dey for boutique with AC selling quality clothes, you come dey vex for me because I dey use bell and dancing to advertise my goods. Ó wrong now. I may love Afolayan but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t call him out. Shey aunty Funke small ni? Aunty Funke thay has been acting since 90s, someone who featured in “I Need To Know”. By the way, I never see aunty Kemi Adetiba, mama mi Mo Abudu or aunty Jadesola Osiberu or even Mr Kayode Kasum, Femi Adebayo with Niyi Akinmolayan to come out and be talking in the format Kunle Afolayan talks. It really paint a character flaw in him. As a filmmaker that he is, but his first series of Anikulapo flop now? I only see ẹgbọn Kunle as the bitter person here who want us to regard him when it comes to Nigeria movie but I can tell you that he no longer produce meaningful movie anymore. He’s even banking on his old glory.


P. S: You’re one of the few i respect here. Don’t mind my long explanation😂 and few typos by the way, I’m an aspiring filmmaker too. So I know how these work.

Lest, I forget you talk about the business of filmmaking, I think ẹgbọn Kunle should go and learn that now from ẹgbọn Fẹmi Adebayọ. The way Femi Adebayo marketed his Agẹṣinkọle part two need to be studied in school.

I’ll be back. Time for lunch🥳

owobokiri:
This xenophobe that blames others for all his misfortunes..

Sensiblerealist:
Give it to this guy. Built on his father's legacy and took it several steps higher