Kampala, Facebook and TikTok: Funke and Toyin's December box office battle heats up

Grab your popcorn. Nollywood's December season has not even started, and two of its biggest names are already trading promotional punches.

Funke Akindele has been out in a blue Kampala outfit printed with the title of her new film, The Four: No One Fights Alone. Not to be outdone, Toyin Abraham stepped out in her own orange and pink Kampala set splashed with the name of her movie, Bestie.

The face-off goes beyond fashion. On 29 October, Funke announced a partnership with Facebook to push The Four to a bigger audience, promising behind-the-scenes clips and early looks for fans. A day later, Toyin shared an old TikTok collaboration from her OverSabi Aunty campaign, saying she was looking forward to more partnerships ahead of Bestie.

Fans did not miss the timing. Some read Toyin's post as a reply to Funke and criticised her for it, while others said she was simply celebrating her own past work. Both actresses have long been linked to a rivalry in the industry, though Toyin has also publicly praised Funke's box-office records.

Our take? Healthy competition is good for Nollywood, but it is hard to blame fans for the rivalry talk when the stars keep mirroring each other's every move. With The Four in cinemas from 11 December and Bestie following on 16 December, expect plenty more of this before the year ends.

For now, Funke's camp looks a step ahead. With a catchy jingle, a star-studded cast including Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha and Richard Mofe-Damijo, and a big tech partner on board, The Four is already the one to watch. Whichever side you are on, the real winners are moviegoers.