Entertainment
12 Years A Slave Makes History At Oscar 2014 …As Lupita Nyongo Wins Best Supporting Actress Award
The slavery drama, “12
Years A Slave,” has won the Academy Award for best picture, making history as the first movie from a black director to win the film industry’s highest honour in 86 years of the Oscars.
British Director, Steve McQueen’s unflinching portrayal of pre-civil war American slavery also won two other Oscars, including best supporting actress for newcomer Lupita Nyongo and best adapted screen play based on the memoir of Solomon Northup, a free man sold into slavery in Louisiana.
“12 years a slave” prevailed over space thriller Gravity”, from Mexican film maker, Alfonso Cuaron, which never the less racked up the most Oscars of the Night with seven including the best director honour for Cuaron, a first for a latin America Director.
Low budget “Dallas Buyers Club,” a biopic of an early Aids activities two decades in the making won three Oscars, including the two male acting awards. Matthew McConanghey won best actor for his portrayal of the homophobe turned AIDs victim turned treatment crusader, Ron Woodroof his co-star, Lared Leto won best supporting actor for his role as Woodroof’s unlikely business sidekick the transgender woman Rayon.
Mathew David Mc Conanghey in the 2000s, became best known for starring in romantic comedies, including the Wedding planner (2001), “How to lose a Guy in 10 days” (2003), “Failure to Launch” (2006) and “Ghost of Girl Friends Past” (2009).
Since 2010, he has moved away from romantic comedies and has had critically acclaimed roles in the films, the Lincoln Lawyer (2011) Bernie (2011), Killer Joe (2011), Mud (2012), Mud (2012), Magic Mike (2012) and the Wolf of Wall Street (2013) for portraying a cowboy diagnosed with Aids in the biographical film” Dallas Buyers Club,” which earned him the Golden Glob award for Best Actor-Drama, among other awards and nominations. He currently stars in the 2014 HBO crime anthology series, True Detectives alongside Woody Harrelson.
The Tide Entertainment reports that International stars Busta Rhymes and Gunna topped the bill, while the festival showcased a powerhouse roster of African talent including Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Shenseea, Phyno, Fave, Juma Jux, Qing Madi, and Diamond Platnumz, among others.
The festival launched December 7 with an eye-catching opening ceremony featuring aerial ballet performers, establishing an elevated artistic vision for the weeks ahead. That first night brought Nigerian heavyweights Wande Coal, Young Jonn, Ice Prince, Darey, Fola, Shoday, and Jerry Shaffer to the stage.
The Federal Ministry of Art and Culture partnered with the festival, with Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa acknowledging Detty December Fest as a vital force in Nigeria’s cultural landscape. She emphasized its impact on amplifying the country’s creative presence internationally and driving holiday tourism.
The 2025 edition raised the bar for live entertainment in Lagos, building on Detty December’s established reputation as a catalyst for tourism, entertainment, and economic growth during the year-end season.
The milestone was confirmed on Monday by FilmOne, the movie’s distributor, who announced that the film is now the fastest title in West Africa to cross ?1 billion. The achievement further cements Akindele’s dominance in the Nigerian film industry.
Since its release, Behind the Scenes has shattered multiple records. It posted the highest single-day box office gross ever on Boxing Day, earning an impressive ?129.5 million. It is also the highest-grossing film of 2025 so far, and remarkably, it marks Akindele’s third movie to cross the ?1 billion mark, a feat no other director has achieved.
The Tide Entertainment reports that with this latest success, Akindele has strengthened her position as Nollywood’s highest-grossing producer of all time, becoming the first filmmaker to deliver three billion-naira blockbusters within a single calendar year.
Reacting to the achievement, the actress and filmmaker expressed heartfelt gratitude to her supporters, collaborators, and distributors, while also revealing the film’s growing international reach.
“Over the years, I’ve always valued my fans, because without God and you, I am nobody,” she wrote.“Thank you all for coming out to watch this movie and for supporting my brand through the years.Thank you to the distributors, my colleagues—especially those not in the movie who still came out to meet and greet my fans.Big love to the cast and crew. This is only the beginning; let’s take Behind the Scenes even further.”
She also disclosed that the film is currently screening in cinemas across two European countries and the United States, signaling its expanding global appeal.
Akindele’s box office dominance has been nothing short of historic. In 2023, Battle on Buka Street became Nollywood’s highest-grossing film with ?640 million. She raised the bar again in January 2024 when A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nigerian movie to hit ?1 billion. Later that year, Everybody Loves Jenifa broke another record, grossing ?1.6 billion to become the highest-earning film in West African history.
Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has revealed his former bandmate Faze’s position in the long-running rift between him and their other ex-bandmate, Blackface.
The Tide Entertainment recalls that Blackface and 2Face have been involved in an on-and-off feud over the years, with the former repeatedly accusing the latter of intellectual property theft, allegations 2Face has consistently denied.
Addressing fans midway through his performance at the Made in Benue Festival in Makurdi recently, 2Face said Faze has maintained a neutral stance in the dispute between him and Blackface.
He stressed that the rift does not involve Faze in any way.
“You all know that Plantashun Boiz consisted of Blackface, 2Face and Faze. But due to some unforeseen circumstances, Blackface is not with us right now.
“However, no matter the beef wey me and Blackface get, nothing concern Faze inside. So, Faze is right here with me and we will represent Plantashun Boiz,” he said.
The rift between Blackface and 2Face began after Plantashun Boiz disbanded in the 2000s.
Following their split, Blackface blamed 2Face for the breakup and accused him of song theft.
The relationship between the duo has remained strained over the years despite several attempts at reconciliation, with peace efforts often short-lived.