Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has addressed mixed reactions to the second season of his Netflix series, Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre, urging audiences to reserve judgment until they have experienced the complete work.
In a video shared on his Instagram page, the award-winning director explained that his creative approach targets a specific audience demographic.
'Not Everyone Will Understand'
"There's something peculiar about the kind of films we make. We make films for the intellectual, not gbajú-gbajú. We make films for people who can think," Afolayan stated.
He emphasized that he neither expects universal approval nor complete understanding from all viewers. Instead, his focus remains on the audience he consciously envisions during the creative process. "The people I had at the back of my mind when conceiving the ideas—I knew they would get it, and they have," he said.
The filmmaker disclosed that he has received positive feedback from academics and scholars. "I've heard from professors, from deep thinkers, from people who don't only think about now," he noted.
A Call for Patience
Addressing critics who dismissed the series after only a few episodes, Afolayan drew comparisons to international productions. "When you watch a series like *Game of Thrones*, you wait weekly for new episodes. You haven't even seen everything, yet you conclude the stories are all over the place. We have created new plots."
He reminded viewers that Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre is a multi-episode series, and passing final judgment prematurely is unfair to the creative work.
A Pattern of Vindication
Afolayan recalled similar criticism directed at his earlier works, which later received international acclaim. "When I did Irapada, people called it all sorts. At the end, the film travelled, won awards, and gained international recognition. The same happened with The Figurine. And here we are now."
He encouraged fellow filmmakers to remain undeterred by negative feedback. "Don't listen. Just keep making your films. Those who think they understand film criticism—well done. For us, we'll keep appealing to those who have sense and common sense."
Creative Control Over Commercial Success
This response follows his January statement that he is not driven by box office records or cinema revenue competition. Afolayan maintains that his priority is creative control and long-term artistic value rather than headline-grabbing earnings.
The filmmaker reaffirmed his commitment to producing intellectually driven cinema and continuing to tell stories for audiences who appreciate layered, thought-provoking narratives.
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