Nollywood actor and singer Gabriel Afolayan has opened up about his relationship with his brother, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, describing how their shared childhood experiences shaped both their personal bond and professional collaborations.
Speaking with Channels Television, Gabriel recounted memories from their youth, recalling how Kunle would carry him on his shoulders to watch films together. “We’ve already had that filmic bond while growing up. It translated pretty well. We love quality stuff, fundamentally. And we love ourselves, even though when we argue, it’s for a certain cause that’s going to set things right. So it was pretty easy to work with him,” he said, noting that their shared dedication to excellence comes from their father’s influence.
Gabriel also praised his brother’s recent project, Anikulapo, highlighting the professionalism invested in the production. “For a big-scale project like Anikulapo, you can’t be any better. The project itself calls for exactly what it gets at the moment—building sets from scratch, having professional cinematographers, good technical people on grading, costumes, art design… everything has to be grand,” he stated.
Reflecting on his own career, Gabriel emphasized that his path in acting and music is driven by passion rather than obligation to his father’s legacy. “Being inspired is one thing. Having your own inner core is another. I knew from a young age that this is what I wanted to do, even without seeing my dad or anyone else. It was within me,” he said, adding that his career feels more like a calling than just a job.
Gabriel described how growing up watching films influenced his intuition and artistic sensibilities. “We saw a lot of films while growing up. There’s a way all these things inspire your own intuition. For me, this is more of a calling than a job,” he said, highlighting the deep personal connection he feels to his craft.
His reflections underline the role of family, upbringing, and personal conviction in shaping one of Nollywood’s notable talents, demonstrating how legacy and individual passion can intersect in the entertainment industry.