‘DBanj Once Supported ‘Jenifa’ Brand With Money’ – Funke Akindele

Funke Akindele has revealed how Nigerian music star D’banj played a key role in her career by supporting her hit series, Jenifa.

Speaking at the 2025 Media Sales Conference of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in Lagos, Akindele shared how D’banj encouraged her to continue the Jenifa series when she was considering moving on from the project.

She recalled that after the first Jenifa movie in 2009, a club owner invited her to an event where she met D’banj. When he asked about her plans for the Jenifa brand, she admitted she was ready to move on. However, D’banj insisted she continue, calling it a strong brand that shouldn’t be abandoned.

“Nobody made me a star, only God. I wrote my script, and that was it. The first Jenifa was released in 2009, which was a turning point for me,” she said.

She added, “D’banj told me to keep going and even gave me money to continue writing. That support helped me push forward.”