Entertainment
Behold, Nollywood’s Boldest Babes
It is no gainsaying the fact
that Nigeria’s movie industry known as Nollywood, the third movie clan in the world after Hollywood of America and Nollywood of India is among the three main sectors of the nation’s entertainment clan, namely comedy, music and movies, but going by available records, Nollywood has recorded more controversies and scandals.
Some of the most celebrated in this field include the following actresses who are in the A-List (Class in the make believe industry.
Tonto Dike: She is seen by movie buffs as the most controversial and scandalized actress in the history of Nollywood. Apart from falling on stage in London, she is also fond of picking quarrels with her colleagues. Some years back she took on a popular Gollywood cum Nollywood actor Van Vicker, while on movie location in Festac town of Lagos State. She was reported to have puffed cigarette at the A-List actor and damned the consequence.
She was also reported to had not hidden her hatred for Mercy Johnson who many believe act more than her. Years ago, the Ikwerre, Rivers State born screen goddess was in the heat for controversies for her role in soft porm film released to the market where she acted alongside Jibola Dabo and Mona Obiekwe.
The fair complexioned role interpreter is also said to be friendly with alcoholic drinks and smokes heavily. She has been said to have had affairs with a few music stars including Don Jazzy Iyanya amongst others, but has not sustained any of the affairs for long. What makes her case surprising for many is the fact that she does not care about what some of her actions could do to her career.
Empress Njamah: Though she has been missing in action in Nollywood, these days, but prior to this time, she has been involved in few scandals that put her in the front page of entertainment magazines.
Her relationship with popular musician Timaya was without controversial news stores and gossips. It was reliably gathered that Timaya was reportedly beaten up by some military officers because of her.
Apart from that, news went viral on the internet about her alleged sex scandal with ‘big eyes’ (Segun Arinze) and taken the guy to a high level of romance, but the story turned out to be lies.
Ini Edo: This Akwa Ibom State born actress also had to do with many controversies, mostly sex scandals. Some years ago was alleged to have warmed the bed of a state governor from the south –south region of Nigeria.
It was even reported that the first lady of the state got wind of it and allegedly stopped the actress from her amorous affairs with the governor. Ini Edo who is now married to US based, Edo State born businessman, Philip Ehiagwina was in the news few years ago for allegedly patronizing a club with a man. The news raised dust at that time as her husband claimed she was not in the club as at that time as reported.
Genevieve Nnaji: She has also been involved in some scandals. Some years ago she was in the news for allegedly lubricating the “Lolly Pop” of a top and highly transit politician who obeys the land porting very well. Even that, the new brand ambassador of Etisalat was alleged to have fought dirty with a fellow actress over access to the presidency as well as the alleged romance with the Koko-master, D-banj.
The A-List actress has also been scandalized on issues that border on sex on several occasions and she is said not to be having a stable relationship till date.
Uche Iwuji: She is another actress with more than one scandal trailing her, some years ago, she was involved in a nude scandal mess with another lady while she was a student of University of Lagos (UNILAG). The same incident resurfaced late 2013. Apart from her nude photograph which went viral in the internet she was alleged to have had extra marital affair with a bank managing director.
It was reported that in late 2013, her marriage with an oil and gas bigboy, Juwon Lawal crashed because of the alleged affairs with the banker.
Last weekend, the Kogi born businessman released a statement that the marriage which was contracted in November 2012 has ended. The 15 month old marriage produced a baby boy in August 2013.
According to the oil magnate the marriage broke down due to irreconcilable differences bordering mainly on Uche’s alleged past alliances with men. She has always been unlucky with relationships as her past affairs with various men have always proved unrewarding.
She is seen as a god mother by some up and coming actresses in Nollywood especially those in the Yoruba movie industry. Sometime she was said to have pimped a colleague, Iyabo Ojo for Senator Musilnie Obanikoro during the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship stint in Ghana as High commissioner to the country.
It was during this time Iyabo took her crew to Ghana to shot some parts of her film titled ‘Arinzo’. The actress has also been romantically linked with some men in the past. She is presently married to an American based Nigerian.
Additional report from first magazine.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
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.
Entertainment
Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies
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.
Entertainment
Jesse Flames Opens 2026 With ‘Praise The Lord’ Featuring Magnito
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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