Renowned Nollywood filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has reacted to criticism of the second season of his Netflix series, Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre, explaining that his works are tailored for a specific audience and not meant to appeal to everyone.
In a video shared on his verified Instagram page on Tuesday, Afolayan urged viewers and critics to exercise patience before forming opinions on the series.
“There’s something very peculiar about the kind of films that we make. We make films for the intellectual, not gbasgbos. We make films for people who can think,” he said.
The filmmaker added that he does not expect universal approval or understanding of his works.
“I don’t expect that everybody will like the film. And I don’t even expect that everybody will understand the film, but I expect that the people I’m trying to appeal to, the people that I had at the back of my mind when I was conceiving the ideas — I know they will get it, and they got it,” he explained.
Afolayan revealed that he has received positive feedback from scholars and academics, calling them “deep thinkers” who appreciate the intellectual depth of his storytelling.
“I’ve heard from scholars, from professors, from deep thinkers, from people who don’t only think about now,” he said.
Addressing viewers who said they did not understand the series, Afolayan emphasised the importance of watching the entire season before making judgments.
“It is a series that has many episodes. What you have seen are just a few of the episodes. How do you conclude in your brain that it is not good when you have not even seen the entire thing?” he asked.
“When you watch a series like Game of Thrones, you wait each week for a new episode. We have created new plots.”
Recalling criticism of his earlier films, Afolayan said that despite initial mixed reviews, his works eventually gained recognition and international awards.
“I remember when I did Irapada, some people critiqued it harshly. At the end of the day, the film travelled, it got awards, it was internationally recognised. Then we moved to The Figurine, and the same thing happened,” he said.
Encouraging fellow filmmakers to stay true to their vision, Afolayan added:
“As a filmmaker, don’t listen, just keep making your films. Those who think they understand what film and how film critiquing works, well done, E Mu ra si (keep it up). For us, we’ll keep appealing to those who have sense, common sense.”
Afolayan concluded by reaffirming his commitment to creating intellectually driven films, prioritising creative control and long-term value over box office revenue, echoing comments he made earlier this year.