# Battle on Buka Street

Battle on Buka Street is a 2022 Nigerian comedy drama film directed by Funke Akindele and Tobi Makinde. The film is jointly produced as a collaboration between Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network (FAAN) and FilmOne Studios. The film had its theatrical release on 16 December 2022 and opened to extremely positive reviews from critics. The film became a huge box office success.

## Plot

Yejide runs the most patronized buka (stall) in Otanwa community's "Buka Street" with help from her mother Asake and her children. However, her step-sister and archenemy Awele buys the neighbouring shop one day and starts competing. Their rivalry dates back to before their childhood; their mothers, Asake and Ezinne, both married to their father Meduka, were jealous and conflicted with each other, and this carried on to their children.
At first, Awele fails to attract customers away from Yejide's buka, so she turns to sabotage: she sends her younger twins Kaira and Kaiso to lock Asake in Maduka's house so she can't make her stews. This works and people flock to Awele's restaurant instead, starting a series of retaliatory acts where Awele and Yejide try to curry favor in the town and use their children for their own selfish interest.

## Cast

* Funke Akindele as Yejide
* Mercy Johnson as Awele
* Sola Sobowale as Asake
* Tina Mba as Ezinne
* Nkem Owoh as Maduka
* Femi Jacobs as Lanshile
* Kelvin Ikeduba as Chukwuemka
* Sani Musa Danja as Kazeem
* Bimbo Ademoye as Young Asake
* Uche Obunse as Ifunnaya
* Moshood Fattah as Ademide
* Judith Ushi as Fadekami
* Gbemi Akinlade as Kaira
* Miracle Gabriel as Kaiso
* Mike Afolarin
* Wumi Toriola as Yedije friend I
* Regina Chukwu as Yedije friend II

## Production

The film project marked the third cinematic directorial venture for actress Funke Akindele after Your Excellency and Omo Ghetto: The Saga. The film also possibly marked the final film venture for Funke Akindele who has insisted on joining politics and running for the Office of Deputy Governor in the Lagos State Governorship Election.

## Box office

It became the second highest grossing Nigerian film of the year 2022 just behind Brotherhood grossing about ₦200,087,222 at the box office. The film surpassed Avatar: The Way of Water as the highest-grossing film in Nigeria during the Christmas weekend grossing almost ₦50 million at the box office. The film also grossed ₦26 million at the box office on 25 December 2022 coinciding with Christmas making it the highest grossing Nigerian film on a single day in 2022.
The theatrical run for the film came to an end on the 13th of April 2023, after 17 weeks at the box office with a gross box office of ₦668,423,056.
It finished as the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time displacing Omo Ghetto: The Saga with a gross exceeding ₦640 million.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress In A Comedy/TV Series | Mercy Johnson | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress In A Comedy/TV Series | Funke Akindele | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actor In A Comedy/TV Series | Nkem Owoh | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Art Director | Olatunji Afolayan | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Picture Editor | Valentine Chukwuma | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Sound Editor | Kolade Morakinyo & Pius Fatoke | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Sound Track | Gbas Gbos by Tolu Obanro & Adam Songbird | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Make Up | Hakeem Effects Onilogbo & Jemila Sedik | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Writer | Funke Akindele, Jack'enneth Opukeme, Stephen Oluboyo & Jemine Edukugho | Nominated |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Overall Movie | Funke Akindele | Nominated |