The movie “Afemefuna,” directed by Kayode Kasum and featuring stars such as Kanayo O. Kanayo, Segun Arinze, Stan Nze, and Alexx Ekubo, has emerged as the highest-grossing film in Nigeria for the current month, according to data from the Cinema Exhibition Association of Nigeria.
The film has accumulated a total gross of ₦21,714,750, with ₦14,068,750 generated over the weekend. This indicates that “Afemefuna” has attracted more viewers in Nigeria this month compared to films such as “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” and “The Marvels.”
“Afemefuna” is a movie in the Igbo language that delves into the apprenticeship tradition synonymous with the south-eastern part of Nigeria. Despite being in a language less common in mainstream cinema, its success challenges the notion that films must be in English to perform well, showcasing a growing interest among Nigerians for content that resonates with their experiences.
Similar to “Afemefuna,” “Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman” is another successful title that wasn’t presented in English. “Bank Alert” and “Double Dekoi” secured the second and third positions among Nollywood titles with ₦3,709,100 and ₦1,021,000, respectively.
Although “Merry Men 3” holds the title of the overall highest-grossing movie in cinemas, accumulating over ₦118,330,368 since October, it’s noteworthy that “Afemefuna” achieved its impressive performance within just two weeks of its cinema run.
Additional Nollywood titles on the list include “Egun,” “Adire,” “Ifediche,” “Something Like Gold,” “Small Talk,” and “Praise Party.”
