- Nollywood actress Jaiye Kuti recently joined an esteemed list of thespians who have produced a cinema movie
- Jaiye Kuti recently made her debut at the box office as a cinema movie producer with the film Alagbede (Blacksmith)
- During an interview with Legit.ng, the actress talked about her journey and how she got to where she is now after over two decades in the movie industry
Nollywood actress turned-filmmaker Jaiye Kuti is the latest Yoruba actor to take her movie to the cinemas as she joins her younger colleagues, Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham and Mercy Aigbe as a box office producer.
During a conversation with Legit.ng’s Nosa Oke-Hortons, she shared why being a box office movie producer isn’t for everybody.
Photo credit: @jayeola_monje/@femiadebayo
Source: Instagram
The actress shared why Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham had been producing cinema movies for nearly five years before other Nollywood stars like herself could attempt going to the box office.
She also shared what inspired her new movie Alagbede (Blacksmith) and why she decided to make it a cinema movie.
What inspired Alagbade?
During the conversation, Jaiye revealed that the underlying inspiration behind Alagbede was to make a movie that would resonate with the youth.
She noted that the story was intentionally built around an artisan, considering how many think less of such people’s struggle in society with too much emphasis on white and blue-collar workers.
“I have always wanted to tell a story or teach our youths that they don’t need to live in a way where they won’t live for tomorrow. Everyday happens for itself. Life itself is one step at a time. You cannot over rush it. You have to calm if you want to get ahead in life, you have to think about it. The inspiration speaks to living a life without comparison. Live your own truth and let others live theirs. Don’t try to live the same way other people live their own lives.”
Jaiye further revealed how she got the inspiration for Alagbede while listening to a radio program:
“One day I was listening a radio program, and something happened to a guy which he shared on-air and it was from there I got a story that their is the need to tell people, especially the youths about the desperation for ill-gotten wealth.”
Alagbede cost me over N100m – Jaiye revealed
The actress shared during the conversation how she had to borrow money to produce Alagbede. She said:
“When I was producing I didn’t have enough money to run the movie. To produce a cinema movie is no joke. I had to borrow and bring other people on board to achieve this dream and I am grateful to my sister and friend, Motunrayo for coming through.”
Why I named the movie Alagbede
Jaiye Kuti spoke about the new movie’s title and why she chose to go with the name Alagbede (Blacksmith).
