Gabriel Afolayan Praises Brother Kunle’s Filmmaking Excellence

Gabriel Afolayan opens up about his bond with Kunle Afolayan, detailing childhood memories and their professional collaboration in Nollywood films

Nollywood actor and singer Gabriel Afolayan has shared insights into his relationship with filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, revealing how their shared childhood experiences shaped both their personal bond and professional collaborations.

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Gabriel Afolayan recalled memories of Kunle carrying him on his shoulders to watch films together.

“We’ve already had that filmic bond while growing up. It translated pretty well. We love quality stuff, fundamentally. And we love ourselves, even though when we argue, it’s for a certain cause that’s going to set things right. So it was pretty easy to work with him,” he said, attributing their shared dedication to excellence to the influence of their father.

Gabriel Afolayan also praised his brother’s latest project, Anikulapo, highlighting the professionalism behind the production.

“For a big-scale project like Anikulapo, you can’t be any better. The project itself calls for exactly what it gets at the moment building sets from scratch, having professional cinematographers, good technical people on grading, costumes, art design… everything has to be grand,” he explained.

Reflecting on his own career, Gabriel stressed that his pursuits in acting and music are motivated by personal passion rather than obligation to family legacy.

“Being inspired is one thing. Having your own inner core is another. I knew from a young age that this is what I wanted to do, even without seeing my dad or anyone else. It was within me,” he said, describing his craft as more of a calling than a job.

Gabriel Afolayan added that growing up surrounded by films influenced his intuition and artistic sensibilities.

“We saw a lot of films while growing up. There’s a way all these things inspire your own intuition. For me, this is more of a calling than a job,” he noted, emphasising the deep personal connection he feels to his work.

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His reflections highlight how family, upbringing, and individual conviction have shaped one of Nollywood’s notable talents, illustrating the intersection of legacy and personal passion in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.