My Father’s Choice of 10 Wives Distracted Him — Kunle Afolayan

Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has said that his late father’s choice of 10 wives “distracted” him.

During an interview with BBC Pidgin on Wednesday, the filmmaker opened up on the true story of his childhood and his foray into the movie industry.

Afolayan said that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan who was a popular filmmaker before he died in 1996 married 10 wives and gave birth to 25 children.

However, he noted that he cannot marry many wives like his father because he witnessed what happened to him, this decision, he said, took a toll on his father.

The filmmaker also said that he and his siblings found it difficult to bond while growing up; due to language and other barriers.

“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives; and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said.

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“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes,” Kunle Afolayan said, recounting how he battled poverty before finding fame.

“It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily; people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars.

“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”