Nollywood actor Jide Awobona has poured out heartfelt gratitude to his “sister” Funke Akindele, revealing how Jenifa’s Diary transformed his career and took him to international fame in South Africa and Ghana.
In a candid chat on the Conversations With Kenni podcast hosted by Kehinde Ajose, the veteran thespian who has been acting for over two decades opened up about his journey, from Super Story days to blockbuster success.
Awobona described the massive impact of the iconic series:
“There are some projects that are there to shoot you out more and make people notice you better. That was what Jenifa’s Diary did to my career then. I traveled everywhere — even South Africa and Ghana — and I was loved by fans. I didn’t expect it.”
He expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity:
“I will always say ‘thank you’ to my sister, Funke Akindele, for that.”
The actor recalled his excitement when he landed the role, having previously worked with Funke on other Yoruba productions.
“I was excited that I got the role… every actor wanted to be on major jobs so when I was called to be on Jenifa’s Diary, it was a plus.”
He shared the tough sacrifices during filming:
“Though it wasn’t easy when we were shooting then. I used to have to move from Agric — sometimes taking ferry. We’d start very early in the morning and finish very late at night. But then, we thank God.”
Awobona praised Funke’s remarkable drive and success:
“Sometimes when I see her, I see myself… I like her energy, discipline, and aura. And thank God she has the funds to run things the way she wants.”
He drew parallels to his own independent path in content creation, especially with YouTube films like Inspector Jero.
Read “I Fasted to Look Hungry for Inspector Jero Role” — Jide Awobona
When a colleague asked who was bankrolling him, he replied proudly that he funds his projects himself as practice for bigger productions.
“This is me practicing in advance. I don’t see any production as ‘small’ as far as I’m concerned.”
His words celebrate resilience, friendship in the industry, and the power of consistent hard work, inspiring many upcoming talents.