In April, Funke Akindele teased the return of her most successful franchise, Jenifa, with a new title Everybody Loves Jenifa. Since then, there’s been a steady build-up of publicity ahead of its December 13 release. Fans of the actor and filmmaker have been buzzing with excitement, eagerly following updates on the project. A closer look at Instagram posts reveals new details about the film: cast members, filming locations, and some exciting behind-the-scenes tidbits.
Directed by Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, this project continues her tradition of blockbuster December releases. The anticipation is high, with many wondering if Everybody Loves Jenifa will surpass the success of last year’s A Tribe Called Judah and once again reignite the cinema-going experience.
Story
Since the first ever installment of Jenifa aired in 2008, the once naive village girl with broken Yoru-English and garish style, thrust into a “fish out of water” storyline, has grown into a much larger world beyond the confines of the university and school-aged characters of the original.
While plot details for Everybody Loves Jenifa remain sparse, glimpses from on-set images suggest retaining Jenifa’s old salon – a nostalgic nod to the original series.
Filming took place in Lagos and Accra with a crew of 175 members, working over the span of nine weeks.
Cast
The film will see the return of fan favourites like Falz, Omotunde ‘Lolo’ Adebowale-David, and Olayode Juliana, along with new faces such as Chimezie Imo, Layi Wasabi, Bisola Aiyeola, Jackie Appiah, and Omowunmi Dada.
Crew
Joining Funke Akindele in directing Everybody Loves Jenifa is Tunde Olaoye, who previously directed episodes of Jenifa’s Diary.
Joining Akindele in the writing department are Collins Okoh and Akinlabi Ishola, who were also behind Tribe Called Judah. Cinematography is handled by John Njaga Demps, known for his work on House of Ga’a and Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
With a precedence of record-breaking successes behind her, all eyes are on Everybody Loves Jenifa this December. Both fans and industry insiders eagerly anticipate whether Akindele can again dominate the box office and breathe new life into Nigerian cinema. The expectations are high, and the excitement continues to build.
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