Adunni Ade: Nollywood Must Grow Without Losing What Makes Our Stories Unique

Adunni Ade says she is in “a very interesting season” of her life, balancing motherhood, work and family while learning to enjoy life without placing so much pressure on herself.

Her youngest child, Baby Sal, keeps her busy, but Ade says she is more present this time around. When she was raising her two boys, she was also trying to find her way through life and her career. Now, she feels more settled and can slow down to enjoy the small moments, even if toddler energy remains intense.

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I’m in a very interesting season of my life right now.

Mothering a baby girl has brought a different experience. Ade says her daughter arrived and effectively told her to “Start again.” She describes a new softness in raising her, made more special by the large age gap between her and her brothers, who love and protect her. Ade is also enjoying the clothes, hair and other elements of what she calls the girly side of motherhood.

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Start again.

Taking on the role of executive producer for Soólè gave Ade a broader respect for filmmaking. Instead of focusing mainly on her own character, she had to consider the story, casting, locations, logistics, budget and marketing. The experience also made her a better actor because she now understands what goes into building another filmmaker’s set.

Ade says she wants to produce more projects, including some for YouTube, but no longer wants to create something simply because she can. “The story has to be worth telling.” She also says she has never wanted to place herself in one box, describing Yoruba culture as part of her while pursuing strong stories across English- and Yoruba-language productions.

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The story has to be worth telling.