Kunle Afolayan was raised in the acting terrain and his future in the same terrain also looked bright when he began to feature in movies. Due to the acting prowess displayed by Kunle in popular movie; Saworo Ide, by Main Frame productions, many believed the sky would be his stepping stone as an actor. But, Kunle damned to be different and toed the path of production, and today, the former banker has been able to set a new pace as a prolific filmmaker. To his credit are blockbusters like Phone Swap, Figurine, and Irapada just to mention a few.
The son of late popular actor, Adeyemi Afolayan a.k.a Ade Love, has broken another ground as he returned with his film, Figurine, in a book form. The film’s story is now being told in a scholarly book titled, Auteuring Nollywood: Critical perspectives on THE FIGURINE, which will be unveiled at Muson Centre come July 31. While former Minister of National Planning and respected patriarch of arts, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi is billed to chair the ceremony. Nollywood stars, allied film professionals, academics, top government functionaries among other important personalities are expected to grace the event.
Edited by Dr. Adeshina Afolayan of the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan, the book’s Foreword was written by Prof. Jonathan Haynes of the Long Island University, USA and a notable scholar on Nollywood.
Contributors to the 455 pages book include Dr. Sola Osofisan, Dr. Dele Layiwola, Dr. Chukwuma Okoye, Jane Thorburn, Matthew H. Brown, Gideon Tanimonure, A.G.A Bello, Foluke Ogunleye and Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi. An ‘Afterword’ on “Neo-Nollywood and its Other” by the prolific Scholar, Dr. Onookome Okome, is also provided in the book in addition to series of interviews with key actors and technicians that featured in the film.
The reviewers that will do justice to the intellectual content in the book are Mr. Emeka Mba, the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission and Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, who is the Director of Nollywood Study Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.