The Blessing Was in the Sold-Out Show

Hey fam! Something interesting happened this week, and honestly, what better way to process it than to share it with you?

The festive season might be over, but some memories linger longer than the fireworks. And if you’re like me — someone who loves catching movies in the cinema every December — then you already know that in Nigeria, December cinema outings are practically tradition.

And right now, one name consistently rules that space — yes, exactly who you’re thinking of: the queen of the December box office in Nigeria, Funke Akindele.

Year after year, she has mastered the art of giving audiences something to look forward to in cinemas. And I’m one of the faithful who show up every time.

But there’s also another filmmaker I used to follow closely — Toyin Abraham.

So, as usual, I planned a December movie date with my mum. The plan was simple: watch Funke Akindele’s latest movie, Behind the Scenes (BTS). But when we got there, the show was sold out, and I honestly didn’t have the patience to wait for the next showing.

So we switched plans and decided to watch Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty instead.

Now, here’s the twist.

I had actually stopped watching Toyin Abraham’s movies in cinemas because previous ones didn’t quite meet my expectations. In fact, I had even said I’d wait to stream Oversabi Aunty later instead of going through cinema stress again.

But since I was already with my mum — who was shocked I even agreed to watch a Toyin Abraham movie after all my complaints — cancelling didn’t feel right. So we went ahead.

And let me tell you…

When the movie ended, the entire cinema hall burst into applause.

My mum cried because the story hit so close to real life. I noticed several people wiping tears too. I remember a woman we met before entering the cinema hall who complained that her husband dragged her to watch the movie. Surprisingly, she ended up crying the most and kept saying how much she loved it.

And mind you, this was two days before New Year. I’m emphasizing that because, prior to that time, Toyin Abraham and some other filmmakers with movies showing during the festive season had complained that they weren’t given enough screen time or favorable showtimes for audiences to actually show up. They even alleged that some cinemas claimed certain showtimes were sold out and then pushed another movie to viewers when, in reality, they weren’t.

But two days to New Year, I personally witnessed a sold-out cinema hall for the movie. I also went on X and saw several testimonials from people praising how good the movie was. I even shared my own thoughts on my WhatsApp status, encouraging people to watch it because it truly was a good movie.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have known what I was missing if I hadn’t watched it.

At that moment, I realized something:

Sometimes the plan that fails is the one that leads you to what you truly needed.

I’m also glad reviews helped — and are still helping — the movie get the recognition it deserves. Despite the comparisons, online bullying, and snide remarks telling Toyin Abraham to give up, she kept pushing. And honestly, the constant comparison between Toyin Abraham and Funke Akindele has always felt unnecessary to me.

Yes, Funke Akindele has mastered the December cinema window, but that shouldn’t mean others should step aside or postpone their work because she has a movie out.

In fact, I find it admirable that Toyin Abraham keeps showing up every December regardless of criticism or competition. That takes guts.

Consistency will eventually silence doubt.

Interestingly, I later watched BTS on another day, and as expected, Funke Akindele delivered again. The movie has gone on to cross massive box office milestones, including surpassing the ₦2 billion mark, proving her consistency yet again. Oversabi Aunty also made its mark, surpassing ₦1 billion in cinemas across West Africa.

And watching both movies made something clear:

Two women in the same industry, breaking records and succeeding in their own ways.

No one cancelled the other.

Both are winning.

So, What Did This Cinema Experience Teach Me?

1. Don’t Give In to Naysayers 

People will always have opinions about your journey. Some advice comes from a genuine place, but others project their fears onto you.

I once said something that still rings true: people often ask why you don’t have what they have, but rarely ask how you achieved what they haven’t.

Some people amplify what worked for them and discourage anything outside their experience.

Not everyone advising you wants you to win.

Keep moving anyway.

2. Comparison Is a Silent Thief 

They say comparison is the thief of joy, and social media has magnified it.

On Instagram, everyone seems to be vacationing. On LinkedIn, people are constantly announcing achievements. Everywhere you look, it feels like everyone is winning except you.

And when your path looks similar to someone else’s, comparison becomes even stronger.

But here’s the truth:

Comparison steals the time meant for your growth.

Time you should spend learning and improving gets wasted measuring yourself against others.

Keep your eyes on your own journey.

3. Choose Collaboration Over Competition 

Now, this part is important.

Sometimes, the person you think you’re competing with is actually someone you’re meant to learn from.

Pride has robbed many people of growth because they refuse to seek guidance from their peers.

But remember:

Never compete with someone you’re supposed to learn from.

Collaboration can open doors you never imagined. You might have something they need too. And when people join forces instead of fighting for space, bigger results happen.

4. The Sky Is Big Enough 

Someone succeeding doesn’t mean there’s no space left for you.

Celebrate others. Clap for their wins. Support them genuinely.

Because today might be their turn, and tomorrow could be yours.

The sky is big enough for everyone to fly.

5. Don’t You Dare Give Up 

No long speech here.

Just this:

The breakthrough you’re praying for might be right after the show you almost walked away from.

Keep going.

So tell me — have you ever judged something too quickly and later discovered you were wrong?

What lesson has life been teaching you through unexpected detours lately?

Share your thoughts in the comments. I’d really love to read them.

Ok bye.