Kamo State has moved to kill talk of a fallout with Funke Akindele after the actress missed the Lagos premiere of his debut cinema film, Star Lomo. Online critics called her absence a slap. He called it travel, nothing else.
The premiere held on Sunday in Lagos and pulled a heavy Nollywood crowd, including Odunlade Adekola, Lateef Adedimeji, Mo Bimpe, Iyabo Ojo and Kiekie. Akindele, the woman Kamo publicly calls Iyamii, was not in the room. By Monday morning, that empty seat had become the story.
Fans framed it as unpaid loyalty. Kamo had boosted Akindele’s projects, including the Everybody Loves Jenifa run. On his night, they asked where she was. One post that travelled far put it bluntly:
“WHERE IS FUNKE AKINDELE? Kamo supported Funke heavily during her own movie season, but now it’s his turn and we hardly see her anywhere. Why isn’t Funke showing Kamo the same support?”
Akinyoola Ayoola, known as Kamo State, answered on X.
“I woke up to see different opinions online about Iyamii and myself. Please we’re on good terms. She missed my premiere simply because she wasn’t in the country and nothing more to it, so please don’t assume otherwise. We’ve spoken about it, and she’s going to support this film. I’d appreciate it if our personal relationship isn’t speculated on. Let’s keep our focus on the film, STARLOMO is coming this Friday. See y’all at the box office!”
The denial did not freeze the pile-on. A TikTok live that spilled onto Instagram accused Akindele of a pattern: showing up thin for people in her circle when their big nights arrive. The speakers named Esther Kalejaye, Folagbade Banks, Tobi Makinde and Kamo, and went further than attendance.
“You are supposed to be ashamed of yourself, Funke, let us tell you the truth. If someone you like offend you, correct them. This is trauma response, you need to get a therapist. Folagbade Banks had to block you and Esther Kalejaye blocked each other. This is why you and Eniola Badmus used to fight because she used to tell you the truth. Even if you are not around, what does it take to post his movie pictures on your page?”
The timing made the noise louder. Funke Akindele was in Ghana on a staycation with singer Waje, who is attached to Akindele’s forthcoming film The Four. For some fans, a holiday photo beat a premiere appearance. For others, it was an overread. Akindele had already gone public for Star Lomo on September 8, congratulating Kamo and director Kayode Kasum with, “Congrats Kamo and Kayode, this is so good.”
This is also not the first time the pair have had to swat rift rumours. In July, Kamo told BBC Yoruba they were closer, not colder, and that work had simply pulled them onto different clocks. He has named a daughter after her.
“There is no fight; don’t let people paint what doesn’t exist,” he said then.
Monday’s post sounded like the same sentence, rewritten for a premiere week.
Star Lomo hits cinemas nationwide on Friday, September 25, 2026. Kamo wants the argument to end at the ticket counter. The timeline he sold is simple. She was out of the country. They talked. She will back the film. Whether that is enough for the crowd that wanted Iyamii on the carpet is another matter.