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Nollywood Veritable Tool For Cultural Diplomacy – IBB

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Former military president,
Ibrahim Babangida, last Tuesday said Nollywood was a veritable tool for cultural diplomacy and social re-engineering in Nigeria.
Babangida stated this in his address at the opening of the 2015 Annual Conference of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artistes (SONTA) in Abuja.
He said that beyond entertainment, Nollywood could adequately inform and educate Nigerians on the enormous benefits of living in peace.
Represented by Alhaji Ismail Ibrahim, former Chairman, Governing Board, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), he said that Nollywood could be used to address ills in the society.
According to him, Nollywood can be deployed as a potent mechanism to address current security challenges, and used to educate youths on the dangers of breakdown of law and order and effect of criminality and insurgency.
Babangida said that through the medium of film, Nigeria’s rich and diverse cultural heritage and achievements could be projected and promoted.
‘’Nollywood makes a huge contribution to Nigeria’s external relations and even foreign exchange earnings.
“We have to attract tourists and investors with Nollywood just the way foreign films have been effectively used to promote Indian and American national interests,’’ he said.
In his remarks, National President of SONTA, Prof. Sunday Ododo, said film was a very potent medium with very wide reach and with mass mobilisation appeal.
“If this present administration must go far in her change mission and national orientation, the answer is Nollywood.
He said that the gesture of Babangida in gracing the occasion was an endorsement of the ideals NICO stood for as the capacity building arm of the culture industry.
Earlier, Prof. Barclays Ayakoroma, Executive Secretary of NICO, organisers of the conference, said that the agency had been carrying out its mandate of sensitisation through programmes and activities across the nation.
“We are using our programmes to harness culture for national development and this is why we are partnering SONTA in sensitising Nigerians,’’ he said.

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Detty December Fest 2025:  Wraps Month-long Celebration With Star-Studded Finale

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Detty December Fest 2025 has concluded its month-long run at Ilubirin, Lagos, solidifying its position as one of Africa’s premier year-end festivals. Billed as “Africa’s Real Summer,” the event ran from December 7 to 29, featuring four marquee days that drew global headliners, celebrated African artistes, and hundreds of fans to the waterfront venue.

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.

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Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ Grosses   1 billion

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Funke Akindele has once again rewritten the record books, as her latest film Behind the Scenes storms past the ?1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office.

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.

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‘Faze Is Neutral In My Rift With Blackface – 2Face

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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.

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