Nollywood filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has shared that the accommodation challenges he faced while shooting his epic film, “Anikulapo”, inspired him to create a film village that now features approximately 100 rooms.
During a recent podcast, Afolayan recounted how cast members, including veteran actress Sola Sobowale and Bimbo Ademoye, had to cope with inadequate lodging while filming in the village. He noted that some actors even brought personal items, such as curtains and a freezer, as they struggled to settle into their temporary accommodations.
“Most of the things I’ve done were motivated by my desire to solve problems. When we shot ‘Anikulapo’, we didn’t have accommodation. We were squatting in people’s houses,” he explained. “Imagine stars like Sola Sobowale and Bimbo bringing their own curtains. Sola even brought her freezer because we were living in the village.”
This experience led Afolayan to realise that such a situation couldn’t continue, especially since he intended to undertake more productions in similar locations. “I told myself that this cannot go on, as this wouldn’t be a one-time thing. We needed to build proper accommodation, so we got started.”
Afolayan added that the initiative has evolved beyond simply addressing immediate accommodation issues, with the film village now boasting around 100 rooms and attracting visitors. “Now we have about a hundred rooms in the film village. It’s become a destination.”
