Funke Akindele’s A Tribe Called Judah is the first Nollywood film to gross a billion naira at the box office.
FilmOne Entertainment, the filmmaker’s production partner on the project, announced the milestone in a statement on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
A Tribe Called Judah debuted in theatres nationwide on December 15, 2023, grossing a total of 113.3 million, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood opening weekend of the year.
Throughout its nearly three-week run, the film has remained a massive hit with audiences, selling out in theatres across the country. It is also currently on display in the United Kingdom.
According to the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), A Tribe Called Judah finished 2023 with a total gross of 854.3 million, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood film of the year and the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever.
Akindele is also the director of the second highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, Battle on Buka Street (668 million), and the third highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, Omo Ghetto: The Saga (636 million).
According to Moses Babatope, Group Deputy Managing Director of FilmHouse Group, the new milestone demonstrates that Nigerian cinema is in its golden era.
“Funke Akindele’s A Tribe Called Judah reaching the one-billion-naira mark is an indication that despite the stiff competition from international streaming platforms, our local content continues to thrive, engaging audiences on a grand scale.”
A Tribe Called Judah follows five brothers, Emeka Judah (Jide Kene Achufusi), Pere Judah (Timini Egbuson), Adamu Judah (Uzee Usman), Shina Judah (Tobi Makinde), and Ejiro Judah (Olumide Oworu).