‘A Tribe Called Judah’ Makes History With ₦1 Billion At Box Office

Funke Akindele’s comedy-drama, ‘A Tribe Called Judah,’ has grossed ₦1 billion at the box office, just less than three weeks after it was released. This makes the filmmaker and veteran actress the first Nigerian filmmaker to break into the billion naira category with the highly acclaimed film topping her other movies; Battle On Buka Street, and Omo Ghetto: The Saga, as the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time.

When she released Battle On The Buka Street, co-directed by Tobi Makinde, in 2022, the critically acclaimed comedy drama grossed ₦668 million, while Omo Ghetto: The Saga, co-directed by JJC Skillz, grossed ₦636 million. But with A Tribe Called Judah, released on December 15, 2023, Akindele has smashed her box office records.

The movie, which starred Timini Egbuson, Olumide Oworu, and Jide Kene Achufusi, also broke the record for the biggest opening for a Funke Akindele and Nollywood film ever, with ₦122 million. A Tribe Called Judah joins Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as leading box office films with billions of naira in ticket sales in Nigeria.

This is all owed to Funke Akindele’s influence and marketing campaign that involved some of Nollywood’s biggest names, including Nse Ikpe-Etim, Jaiye Kuti, Mo Abudu, Faithia Williams, coupled with a host of reality TV stars such as Somadina, Liquorose, Pere amongst other influential personalities. Alongside a tear-jerking film experience, stellar storytelling, and a star-studded cast, Funke Akindele was unstoppable at the box office.

According to the Nigerian Box Office, in December 2023, the Nigerian Box Office earned over ₦1.65 billion and sold over 461,000 tickets, with about 88% of that number sold between December 15 – 31, 2023. A Tribe Called Judah premiered on December 15, 2023, in cinemas. In total, Funke Akindele’s win has impacted the Gross Box Office numbers for 2023 as it grossed over ₦7 billion, a 4.3% increase from 2022 and the highest ever.

Funke Akindele’s A Tribe Called Judah was co-written by Collins Okoh and Akin Labi. Collins Okoh also co-wrote ‘Omo Ghetto: The Saga.’ The record-breaking film was also co-directed by Adeoluwa Owu, who had worked with Funke Akindele as a cinematographer on ‘Battle on Buka Street.’

The film tells the story of a middle-income family and how their illegal quest to get funds for their mother’s health leads them down a challenging path.