Veteran Nigerian actor Kunle Afolayan has spent decades in the film industry and is seen as one of the finest filmmakers.
He moved from acting to directing and creating his own films. Afolayan has also helped train many new talents.
In a recent conversation at the Kunle Afolayan Productions (KAP) Film and Television Academy, he shared his thoughts on his next creative steps.
He stated that he doesn’t have a new focus because he has his KAP Film Village, which he compared to luxury hotels in other African regions.
He said:
“There’s no point of call, have you been to KAP Village? When you go there, you won’t come back to Lagos. KAP Village is on 60 acres of land, we have 70 rooms accommodation, a hotel like anywhere in South Africa or Kenya and then the head office of the school is going to be there at some point because it’s a big place where people can do practicals and it’s a destination. I’m not looking for anything again, all I want to do is grow people, build people, impact more and continue to tell stories.”
Kunle Afolayan mentioned in the interview that his key to success is staying consistent and being true to himself. He believes that his achievements show he is on the right path.
In his words:
“My secret is I’ve been consistent and true to myself. What I don’t like, I will say I don’t like. What I said I didn’t like 20 years ago, I will continue to say I don’t like it and I won’t do it. For me to have achieved this much, I must be doing something right. I’m not saying 100% but I’ve stayed true to my art, craft and ideology and it’s very simple. Business is one but you won’t watch my film and say ‘he compromised here because he’s doing business’, I will rather put more to make sure that even if you’re seeing it from a product point of view, it’s a product with a brand, I’m not the only filmmaker in Nigeria but if you are privileged and have the grace to start something and you move from one step to the other, it means you’re on the right path.”