Gabriel Afolayan opens up about his bond with Kunle Afolayan, highlighting childhood memories and professional collaborations in Nollywood

Nollywood actor and singer Gabriel Afolayan has shared insights into his relationship with filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, describing how shared childhood experiences shaped both their personal bond and professional collaborations.

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Gabriel Afolayan recalled how Kunle Afolayan would carry him on his shoulders to watch films together.

“We’ve already had that filmic bond while growing up. It translated pretty well. We love quality stuff, fundamentally. And we love ourselves, even though when we argue, it’s for a certain cause that’s going to set things right. So it was pretty easy to work with him,” he said, attributing their shared dedication to excellence to their father’s influence.

Gabriel Afolayan praised his brother’s recent project, Anikulapo, noting the professionalism and attention to detail invested in the production.

“For a big-scale project like Anikulapo, you can’t be any better.

The project itself calls for exactly what it gets at the moment building sets from scratch, having professional cinematographers, good technical people on grading, costumes, art design… everything has to be grand,” he explained.

Reflecting on his own career, Gabriel Afolayan emphasised that his path in acting and music is driven by personal passion rather than obligation to his father’s legacy.

“Being inspired is one thing. Having your own inner core is another. I knew from a young age that this is what I wanted to do, even without seeing my dad or anyone else. It was within me,” he said, describing his craft as more of a calling than a job.

He also noted that growing up surrounded by films influenced his intuition and artistic sensibilities.

“We saw a lot of films while growing up. There’s a way all these things inspire your own intuition. For me, this is more of a calling than a job,” Gabriel Afolayan added, highlighting the deep personal connection he feels to his work.

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His reflections underline the influence of family, upbringing, and personal conviction in shaping one of Nollywood’s notable talents, demonstrating how legacy and individual passion can intersect in the entertainment industry.