Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has faced criticism on social media for her absence at the premiere of her protégé, popular skit maker Akinyoola Ayoola, better known as Kamo State.
Akindele’s absence from Sunday’s premiere of Kamo’s debut cinema film, Star Lomo, has sparked questions from netizens, especially given the close relationship the pair have shared in recent years.
Their association became more prominent during the production of Everybody Loves Jenifa in 2024, with Kamo playing a key role in promoting the film and appearing frequently in Akindele’s Snapchat content.
Akindele has also supported Kamo by hosting him and his wife, promoting his projects, and featuring him in her productions, including Aiyetoro Town Season 2, Behind The Scenes, and Everybody Loves Jenifa. The two have often been seen together at public events, with Akindele visibly supporting Kamo’s career.
However, their public interactions appear to have lessened in recent months, with Kamo no longer featuring as regularly in Akindele’s social media updates. This, combined with her absence from his movie premiere, has fueled speculation online about a possible rift between the two.
Some social media users have drawn parallels to Akindele’s past relationships with other protégés, such as Juliana Oloyede (“Toyo Baby”) and Tobi Makinde, suggesting a pattern. The conversation intensified when it emerged that while Kamo was premiering Star Lomo in Lagos, Akindele was in Ghana on a staycation with singer Waje, a cast member in her upcoming film The Four.
Online reactions have been mixed. Depegan of Lagos (@Mautiin01) questioned, “WHERE IS FUNKE AKINDELE? Kamo supported Funke heavily during her own movie season, but now it’s his turn and we hardly see her anywhere. Why isn’t Funke showing Kamo the same support?” Others defended Akindele, pointing out her history of supporting Kamo and questioning why her absence at a single event should overshadow their longstanding collaboration. Fúnmilọ́lá A. (@funmilo_la) wrote, “If not for Funke Akindele, would you have known Kamo? … Did Kamo come to complain to you? Why is a fully grown adult invested in people’s private lives?”
Additional comments highlighted Akindele’s previous support for Kamo, including attending his wedding, sponsoring his child’s naming ceremony, and featuring him in her films. However, some argued that her absence signals a change in their relationship, with @SariolaHahremu suggesting, “It’s now evident that they are not in good terms at the moment because Funke is like a godmother for Kamo and in all the promotions for the movie I didn’t see any from Funke.”
Others, like @OlabisiZoey, reflected on Akindele’s working relationships, cautioning against overfamiliarity with collaborators, which can lead to public speculation.
Despite the online chatter, there is no concrete evidence of a fallout between Akindele and Kamo. Their relationship has previously been marked by public support and collaboration, with Akindele featuring Kamo in her productions and helping to promote his work.
