My films are for intellectuals, not for everyone – Kunle Afolayan replies critics

Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has urged critics and viewers to be patient with his new Netflix series, ‘Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens’, saying his films are made for intellectuals, not the masses.

In an Instagram video, Afolayan explained that he doesn’t expect everyone to understand or like his work, but is focused on appealing to those who appreciate deeper narratives.

He said, “There’s something that is very peculiar about the kind of films that we make. We make films for the intellectual, not gbasgbos. We make films for people who can think.

“I don’t expect that everybody will like the film. And I don’t even expect that everybody will understand the film, but I expect that the people I’m trying to appeal to, the people that I had at the back of my mind when I was conceiving the ideas that I know they will get it, and they got it.”

Afolayan cited positive feedback from academics and scholars, and encouraged fellow filmmakers to keep creating despite criticism. 

“I’ve heard from scholars, from professors, from deep thinkers, from people who don’t only think about now”, he added.

He also criticised reviewers who judged the series without watching all episodes, saying it’s unfair to conclude it’s not good without seeing the entire story unfold.

“It is a series that has many episodes. What you have seen are just few of the episodes. How do you conclude in your brain that it is not good when you have not even seen the entire thing?

“When you watch a series like ‘Game of Thrones’, you have to wait every week before a new episode comes out. So you haven’t even seen everything and then you concluded that the stories are all over the place. We have created new plots”, he continued.

While thanking fans who have watched the series and acknowledging their feedbacks, Afolayan recalled similar criticism to his earlier works, noting that they eventually gained recognition.

He said, “I remember when I did ‘Irapada’, when the film came out, some people came out, critiqued it and they called it all sorts. At the end of the day, the film travelled, it got awards, it was internationally recognised.

“And then we moved to ‘The Figurine,’ and I remember when we did ‘The Figurine,’ you know, some people were like, no, you know, all sorts. And we’re here now.”.

Encouraging fellow filmmakers, he said, “As a filmmaker, don’t listen, just keep making your films.

Advertisement

“Those who think they understand what film and how film critiquing works, well done, E Mu ra si. (Keep it up). For us, we’ll keep appealing to those who have sense, common sense.”

Recall that the filmmaker, in January, reaffirmed his commitment to making complex, intellectually driven films, saying he’s not interested in box office records or competing for cinema revenue, but rather in creative control and long-term value.