Entertainment
BB Naija 2019: Reactions Trail Choice Of House Mates …As Jaywon Says ‘Organisers Are Scammers’
Some Nigerians have expressed shock over the choice of house mates for the on going fourth season of BB Naija reality show. The season kicked off Sunday when 21 house mates most of whom some viewers have described as more foreign than Nigerians.
Respondents said that it was puzzling how Manchester based Mike, London police officer, Khafi and Ike, who said this was his first time in Lagos made the list while thousands of Nigerians flooded audition centres in February.
The audition centres across the country were crowded with people struggling to get in by scaling the fence; viewers felt it was unfair to have people risk lives to auditions and then pick Nigerians in diaspora.
Nigerian super singer, Jaywon, has called out the organizers of the BB Naija show and described it as a scam. He opined that the show only picked house mates who were bankable. He stressed that from their profile, most of them were either social media celebrities of sorts, schooled or worked abroad and have pretty impressive resumes.
Given the calibre of people chosen, Jaywon has accused the organisers of the show of being scammers. In his opinion, the show which made many Nigerians believe that it was for any one who knew how to play their cards right, apparently was only for people who ve be marketed to the public.
Jaywon appears to believe that the show organisers only select certain kind of people who they can reap their money back from.
Recall that the BB Naija 2019 kicked off on Sunday night with 21 house mates battling for the N60 million worth of prizes as announced earlier by the organiser, M-Net West Africa. The house mates would be staying at the Big Brother House for the next 12 weeks to entertain TV viewers across Africa and beyond.
At the launch, popular media personality and host of the show, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu ushered the hosue mates into the BB Naija house with the edition themed “Pepper Them”. It was gathered that the housemates will spend 99 days in the house, competing for the grand prize of N60 million.
Here are the 21 House mates that will make you stay glued to your television screen all through the 12 weeks:
Avala: 30 years old, female, hails from Ogun State
Khafi: 20 years (female), Ekiti State
Omotshola: 38 years (male) Delta State
Frodd: 28 years (male) Anambra State
Ike: 21 years (male) Imo State
Ella: 30 years (Female) Anambra State
Nelson: 26 years (female) Rivers State
Isilomo: 23 years (female) Edo State
Zackye: 23 years (female) Anambra State
Tuoyo (male) Delta State
Sir Dee: 28 years (male) Kogi State
Seyi: 30 years (male) Ogun State
Esther:22 years (female) Lagos State
Gedoni: 31 years (male)
Telma: 26 years (female)
Kimophra: 23 years
Diane 23 years (female) Kaduna State
Mercy: 26 years (female)
Tacha: 23 years (female) Rivers State
Jeff 30 years (female) Anambra State
Mike: 28 years (female) Lagos State.
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.