Funke Akindele’s latest blockbuster, ‘A Tribe Called Judah,’ has etched its name in history as the first Nollywood film to gross one billion naira. During the Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network (FAAN) praise fiesta which took place on December 26th, 2023, the Nollywood luminary shared insights into the film’s creation.

 

 

Inspired by the desire to craft a narrative akin to ‘Money Heist’ while authentically reflecting Nigerian culture and society, Akindele embarked on a meticulous journey in scriptwriting. The storyline unfolds the compelling tale of five boys driven to robbery to settle their mother’s medical bills. In an unexpected twist, they find themselves face to face with other armed robbers with the same mission.

 

 

Akindele’s attention to detail extended to the cast’s names, with a particular focus on finding a name resonant with her character ‘Jedidah’. After a thorough search, she discovered ‘Jedidah,’ the wife of King Amon and mother of King Josiah in the Bible. This historical name exuded the power she envisioned.

 

 

The careful selection of names continued with Akindele’s five sons in the movie, each representing an ethnic group based on their fathers. Initially considering ‘The Tribe of Judah,’ she recalled a hip hop group that sprang up in the 90s called “ A Tribe Called Quest”. This led her to change the ‘Quest’ to ‘Judah’. And that birthed the movie title “A Tribe Called Judah”.

 

 

This blockbuster directed by Funke Akindele and Adeoluwa Owu has garnered lots of record-breaking achievements. Not only is it the first Nollywood film to gross a billion, but it also claims titles such as the Biggest Opening for a Funke Akindele Film, the Fastest Movie to hit 1 Billion at the Box Office, the Biggest Opening of All Time for a Nollywood Film, the Biggest single-day gross for a Nollywood film, and the Biggest Opening for a Film Released in 2023.

 

 

‘A Tribe Called Judah’ stands as a testament to Funke Akindele’s dedication to storytelling and cultural representation, earning its place as a monumental success in the world of Nollywood.