The Nollywood biopic Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, directed and produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters, uniquely portrays the life of a Nigerian icon. It made a significant mark in its opening week, grossing US$48,586.
Leading the way in promoting Nigerian film content, the distribution and production company FilmOne shared the success of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti with the public on Instagram on Monday, May 27, 2024.
“Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti hit it big last weekend! This movie has amassed over US$ 48,586.41 at the box office. Thank you, Nigeria, for showing love and support for this iconic movie. Let’s keep it going,” FilmOne wrote.
This early success immediately underscores a hunger among Nigerian cinema-goers for content that adds value as much as it entertains, dispelling the myth that films with heavy subject matters can’t do well in local cinemas.
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the movie, chronicles the life of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s mother, from her pioneering years as the first female pupil at Abeokuta Grammar School to her marriage to Israel Ransome-Kuti. It portrays her as a fearless advocate against injustices who founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union, leading to a fierce conflict with traditional and colonial leaders.
The cast includes Omowunmi Dada, Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Adunni Ade, Iyimide Ayo-Olumoko, Ibrahim Suleiman, and Iremide Adeoye.
The film was first screened at the 12th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in 2023, where it won the award for Best Overall Feature Film and Best Screenplay.
Recently, it won Best Writing at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA)
Given how much Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti is dominating cinemas, it will be interesting to see how it does on the charts in the coming weeks.
