Kunle Afolayan

Kunle Afolayan is a Nigerian filmmaker, actor and producer known for films including Irapada, The Figurine and Aníkúlápó. He is the founder of KAP Group and has expanded his filmmaking work through a partnership with Netflix.

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About Kunle Afolayan

Profile information current to 2026-08-19.

Nigeria · Filmmaker, Actor, Film director · 1 affiliation

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Known for: Nigerian film; Yoruba-language cinema; Creative-industry entrepreneurship
Country: Nigeria

Filmmaker
Actor
Film director
Film producer

At a glance

Afolayan moved from acting into directing, releasing Irapada as his first film as director in 2006.
The Figurine received five African Movie Academy Awards in 2010, including Best Picture.
Netflix announced a partnership with Afolayan in 2021 to produce and premiere three Nigerian films.
He founded KAP Group, which presents its activities as spanning film production, education, exhibition and streaming.

Background and entry into film

Afolayan has said that he was born in Lagos and that his family is from Kwara State. He is the son of the late Nigerian actor and filmmaker Adeyemi Afolayan, known as Ade Love or Adelove. After working in banking, he studied digital filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in London. He has traced the beginning of his acting career to a role in Tunde Kelani's Saworoide.

Directing career and recognition

Afolayan released Irapada (Redemption), his first film as director, in 2006; it received the African Movie Academy Award for Best Indigenous Film the following year. His later film The Figurine received five African Movie Academy Awards in 2010, including Best Picture. His work also includes the Yoruba-language film Aníkúlápó, which he directed and which Netflix released in 2022.

Production and creative enterprise

Afolayan is the founder of KAP Group, whose website describes a group of creative ventures covering film production, education, exhibition and streaming. In 2021, Netflix announced a partnership with him to produce and premiere three Nigerian films, including Swallow. The available evidence establishes his founder association with KAP Group but does not independently confirm current executive titles, ownership interests or board positions.

Affiliations

KAP Group Founder present

Timeline

1998 Afolayan said he began acting through a role in Tunde Kelani's Saworoide.
2005 He left banking to study digital filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in London.
2006 Irapada (Redemption) was released as Afolayan's first film as director.
2007 Irapada received the African Movie Academy Award for Best Indigenous Film.
2010 The Figurine received five African Movie Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
2021-03-09 Netflix announced a partnership with Afolayan to produce and premiere three Nigerian films, including Swallow.
2022-09-30 Aníkúlápó, directed by Afolayan, was released by Netflix.

Additional verified details

Current context

KAP Group's website identifies Kunle Afolayan as its founder and presents the group as operating creative ventures including film production, education, exhibition and streaming. This reflects the organization's self-description and was not independently verified against corporate-registration records.

Biographical facts

In a 2017 interview, Afolayan said he was born in Lagos and that his family is from Kwara State.
He is the son of the late Nigerian actor and filmmaker Adeyemi Afolayan, known as Ade Love or Adelove.
Before focusing on filmmaking, Afolayan worked in banking and later studied digital filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in London.