Funke Akindele’s protégé, Nollywood actor and skit maker Akinyoola Ayoola, popularly known as Kamo State, has addressed the absence of the actress at the premiere of his debut cinema film, “Star Lomo.
Kamo State explained that Akindele missed the Lagos premiere simply because she was out of the country, dispelling rumors that her absence was due to any disagreement between them. His clarification came after social media users speculated about the state of their relationship, given Akindele’s notable absence from Sunday’s event.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Kamo State said, “I woke up to see different opinions online about Iyamii and myself. Please, we’re on good terms.” He emphasized that Akindele’s absence was only because she was abroad and not for any other reason. According to him, Akindele had spoken to him about the premiere and promised her support for the film.
“She missed my premiere simply because she wasn’t in the country and nothing more to it, so please don’t assume otherwise,” Kamo stated. “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.”
Kamo’s close association with Akindele became prominent during the production and promotion of “Everybody Loves Jenifa” in 2024, after which he became a regular fixture in her content, including appearances on Snapchat. Akindele had also hosted Kamo and his wife and publicly supported his projects. Through her mentorship, Kamo featured in productions such as “Aiyetoro Town Season 2,” “Behind The Scenes,” and “Everybody Loves Jenifa.” They were frequently seen together at events, with Akindele often showing support for Kamo.
However, their joint public appearances have been less frequent in recent months, and Kamo’s reduced presence in Akindele’s social media content, coupled with her absence from the “Star Lomo” premiere, fueled online speculation about a possible rift. Some users even compared Kamo’s relationship with Akindele to her past relationships with other protégés, such as Juliana Oloyede (Toyo Baby) and Tobi Makinde.
Akindele’s absence was particularly noted because, while the “Star Lomo” premiere took place in Lagos, she was in Ghana with singer Waje, a cast member in her upcoming film, “The Four.”
Kamo State’s clarification, however, makes it clear that Akindele’s absence was solely due to her being outside Nigeria, not because of any fallout between them.
