Ondo ex-commisioner chides Funke Akindele for snubbing Toyin Abraham

By John Ogunsemore

Former Ondo State Information Commissioner, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said Nollywood actress and producer, Funke Akindele flouted Yoruba cultural norms for appearing to publicly ignore colleague, Toyin Abraham, during a recent public meeting.

Funke Akindele has been in the eye of the storm since footage emerged of her seemingly snubbing Toyin Abraham at the star-studded premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s new film, The Return of Arinzo over the weekend.

In a video trending on social media, Toyin Abraham can be seen approaching Funke Akindele and almost kneeling in greeting.

However, Funke Akindele appeared to feign ignorance of the gesture and maintain a straight face, an action that has sparked social media buzz.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Ademola-Olateju said Yoruba’s concept of Ọmọlúwàbí dictates an acknowledgement of greeting in public even in spite of private animosity.

She said, “I watched the viral clip from Iyabo Ojo’s premiere with a heavy heart. In the glittering world of Nollywood, where egos often outshine the camera lights, we saw a stark display of the friction between Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham.

“One reached out repeatedly; the other looked straight ahead, unbothered and unyielding. To the casual observer, it is just celebrity beef. But to those of us who value the Yoruba concept of Ọmọlúwàbí, it is a masterclass in what happens when we let the Genesis of our feuds overshadow our character.

“On Toyin’s side: The Ọmọlúwàbí understands that Ìtìjú (shame/modesty) and Ọ̀wọ̀ (respect) are paramount. To greet an estranged colleague repeatedly and publicly is an act of vulnerability. Even if the intent was performative for the cameras, the act of reaching out is, in our tradition, an attempt to build a bridge.

“On Funke’s side: Our elders say, “Àgbà kì í wà l’ọ́jà, kí orí ọmọ tuntun wọ́” (An elder cannot be present in the market and allow a newborn’s head to droop). As a leader and a “Big Aunty” in the industry, the Ọmọlúwàbí response to a public greeting no matter the private grievance is a nod of acknowledgment. To ignore a hand reached out in public is to break the calabash of communal decorum.”

Ademola-Olateju added, “Nollywood rivalries are as old as the celluloid era, but we must ask; at what point does the quest for box office supremacy erode our cultural values? Success is hollow if it comes at the expense of Ìwà (character). Funke and Toyin are Nigerians before they are actors. Both are daughters of the soil before they became Queens of the Box Office. If they cannot find it in themselves to acknowledge one another in the light, how can we hope to lead the next generation in the dark? Let us remember that when the curtains fall and the cameras stop rolling, all that remains is our name and how we treated those who crossed our path.”