Entertainment
Rastafarian Tasks Reggae Artistes On Concerts
A Port Harcourt-based showbiz personality and Reggae artiste, Ras Arthur Umeh has expressed delight over the vibrant entertainment industry in Rivers State, particularly the music clan which he said has produced notable musicians in the country.
He said “our artistes are doing very well and are competing favourably with their counterparts in other states”.
Ras Umeh who spoke with The Tide Entertainment recently, contended that reggae music in particular had not done well in recent times, because most music fans in the state prefer Hip-hop, RnB and Gyration music which he said had taken centre stage, while Reggae is facing serious decline.
According to him, Rivers State can boast of good reggae artistes, but due to lack of funds and encouragement they have not been able to release new albums or to organise regular shows which will help to revive the music genre and make it more appealing to fans and music lovers in the state. He maintained that a Port Harcourt-based reggae outfit, Isroko Sound Production has done a lot to promote reggae music in the state through various concerts and urged others to emulate the organisation.
On his exploits in the industry, the Rastafarian said he started playing reggae music in 1981 at the age of 13 years and through the music he had visited 18 countries in the world including England, Holland, Germany, Australia and Ghana amongst other. He also speaks nine languages which include English, Arabic, Shanty, French etc.
The reggae master also has some albums to his credit such as “Voice of Zion released in 1997, under the defunct New Dove music label and ‘Voice from the Ghetto among others. The Okija, Anambra State-born reggae star stated that today he is into music production and assisting to bring up budding reggae artistes through promotions and recording of their songs.
He said as a Disco Jockey (DJ) he has played in many nite clubs in the Garden City such as the defunct O.J. Maroni, Studz Aristo House Emma Chez and Tariebi Gardens. Others are Lulus, Nite Bus, Bootleggers, Maxi class, Mr. Smith Muriela, Rollingstone and D-Daniels amongst others.
The showbiz personality stressed that before now, one could easily count 20 nite clubs within Port Harcourt metropolis, but today most of them have been closed down while only a few are now functional. He however, remarked that though nite clubs business in the state had declined, the state is still a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
The seasoned musician enjoined musicians in the state not to relent in their chosen profession because there is always light at the end of the tunnel. He stressed that music is an enviable profession and musicians are well respected all over the world. He said apart from the fame and wealth it gives to the artistes, music also contributes to the economic development of the country and generates employment opportunities.
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.
Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.
Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.
Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.
What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.
Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.
Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.
Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.
Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.
And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.
Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.
The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.
“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.
While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.
Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”
The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.
Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.
The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.
After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.
Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.
“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”
The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.
Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.
Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.
The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.
“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.
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