No longer at war: The Afolayan Brothers Reconcile after Years of Discord

If grief doesn’t change you, then nothing ever will. The loss of a dearly beloved especially parents and/or spouse has a way of altering one’s reality for the remainder of their lives. Anyone who has ever grieved or buried a loved one will agree with me on this.

The change can either be positive or a negative one, but more than often it’s usually a change from bad to good. This is the case of the Famed Afolayan brothers, Kunle and Aremu, his younger brother, who over the weekend announced that they had buried their hatchet, at the just concluded funeral of their mother, last Friday, 22^nd of November, 2024.

Back in 2018, the Feud between the two brothers, was made public for the first time, following a viral story from an interview made available by Aremu Afoloyan to Sunday Punch on the 14^th of April, where he alleged to have been born with a “wooden spoon” against expectations of the General Public that the being the son of One Nigeria’s most Famous Filmmakers of the last century, Mr. Adeyemi Afoloyan better known as “Ade Love” He must have been born into wealth and Affluence.

“I was born poor but I don’t know if my other brothers would say otherwise but I know that I was born poor in a makeshift wooden face-me-I-face-you house in a very poor area. Rich people never affiliated themselves with us or allowed their children to play with us. In fact, we did not see them because there were no rich people in the area I grew up, everyone was poor. There was no life for me basically while I was growing up. I got to know where the airport is in 2006.

This He Aremu said amongst other pointers from the Interview, most striking is his remark that despite being Famous, his Father Ade Love, Lived an improvised life, He went further to state, that despite being the last born of the family, he was speaking of his reality, as either of his older siblings, might have had it better growing up. which many people then attributed to his Elder brother the Famous Producer of October 1^, Kunle Afolayan, due to their striking resemblance.

Reacting to the development, Kunle, expressed shock at the contents of his younger brother’s interview, which he strongly debunked, in a follow-up interview on the 22nd of April 2018, refuting his brother’s claim that their father died broke and poor, according to him, it was unbefitting to tag their father as being poor and broke, because he was able to afford them a moderate lifestyle that included quality education, this he said while admitting that growing up, things were not entirely rosy for his parents back home.

According to his Punch interview, “He stressed that during the lifetime of his late father, he was the biggest filmmaker in Nigeria and he was always busy working on projects. He said, “I am sure I didn’t come from a poor home. Though I cannot speak for anyone, I just think he (Aremu) is stupid.”

Ever Since their feud came out in public domains, the two brothers have been at loggerheads with each other online, as they could barely stand each other. A most recent recount is a series of rants released on Instagram in March of 2023, when Aremu launched a profanity-filled tirade in a now-deleted Instagram video, criticizing his family for failing to buy him a car.

Reconciliation between Kunle and Aremu Afolayan

During their mother’s wake-keep ceremony for their late Mother, Who died on the 2^nd of November, aged 81 in Oyo state, the brothers reconciled, with Kunle stating he was Aremu’s father figure “One thing I want to tell all his (Aremu’s) friends is that I’m not his brother but his father. Ask him; I trained him. I’m ten years older than him, but you, his female friends, push him. But love conquers all.” and Aremu apologizing for his behavior acknowledging himself as the “Black sheep” of the family.

Aremu admitted he often ignored his family’s instructions, including Kunle’s insistence that he attend high school. While revealing that Kunle built a house for their mother and included their names, despite Aremu not contributing financially.  He also apologized to Kunle for the Instagram backlash and the challenges he caused him, stating it was because of his love for Kunle.

Tribute to their Late Mother

Kunle described his mother as a pillar to many, ensuring daily connections with his family and friends.

Aremu said their mother reunited him and Kunle before her death, as she did not stop praying for him despite him being the “black sheep” of the family.

At the after-party of the wake-keep, Kunle sang for Aremu as they danced and embraced each other warmly.