Kehinde Bankole Opens Up On Her Experience in Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti

The award-winning actress and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti star actor, Kehinde Bankole, opened up about her experience as the lead actress in the biopic, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.

In her words, Bankole recounted to MUTIAT LAWORE, that the entire journey of playing Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a powerful experience. Funmilayo deeply understood the strength that comes from women uniting. Building upon that understanding, she founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU), a force for change, testifying to the power of collective action.
She added, “Playing this role is more than just acting. It’s a chance to truly understand the struggles and triumphs of a woman who paved the way for so many. History will remember me for this.”

Speaking with Saturday Beats, Bankole recounted one of her most incredible moments on the Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti biopic, which is working with ‘giants’ in the industry. She said, “their experiences and guidance were invaluable throughout the filming process. The opportunity to learn from those established actors added another layer of significance to my performance in the movie. Having their support and witnessing their professionalism firsthand was an enriching experience. It was lovely indeed.”

Winning the 2024 AMVCA award for Best Actress in the movie, Adire, Kehinde Bankole has ingrained her name as a powerhouse in Nollywood. The star actress has gone on to announce the unveiling of her new non-governmental organization, ‘What About the People (WATP).’ According to her, the initiative stems from a life-long passion of hers to empower underserved communities in Nigeria, particularly women. Portraying the young Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in the just-released biopic, however, reinforced her transformative experience and reignited the flame she had for advocacy.