Entertainment

Brand Ambassadors Music Stars Unveiled

Published

16 years ago

March 27, 2010

It is no doubt that music today has become a real business. In the past, it was done for fun and pleasure. Nigerian artistes now rake in millions of naira from the proceeds they earn from music. The figure you hear now runs into millions. While they earn their bucks from outright sales of their musical album or video, they also enjoy much money from playing at functions, parties, concerts, launchings, etc.

Candidly, the industry is now so open with several opportunities. The other arm of money spinning avenue is the branding aspect. Many artistes have pocketed millions of naira through this avenue by only being the face of a particular product. They include:

Banky W:Bankole Wellington aka Banky W won the Etisalat advert among several artistes and the deal fetched him millions of naira.

D’Banj: Dapo Oyebanji aka D’Banj is known as King of brand ambassadors. Since he hit the limelight, he has won several adverts for himself that absolutely came in millions. It was said that he pocketed N70 million from Glo mobile advert deal. He is also the face of Aires, a notable wrist watch company in Nigeria among other mouth watering deals with several companies.

Pasuma: Otumba Alabi Pasuma has really proved beyond doubt that he is a fuji act with class. When he became Glo ambassador years back, many did not believe it. It was said that the deal fetched him N20 million or thereabout.

Sunny Nneji: Sonorous voiced singer, Sunny Nneji is also on this list. He is one of Nigeria’s entertainers selected as one of the ambassadors of Chi Chi Limited and the company paid a whopping sum of money for that.

Tuface: Innocent Ujah Idibia, fondly called Tuface has actually established himself as a force to reckon with any day any time as far as entertainment is concerned in Africa. For his creativity and prominence Guinness Plc paid him millions of naira to secure his face on their billboard.

King Sunny Ade: Sunday Adegeye otherwise known as King Sunny Ade is a wealthy singer, aside his evergreen albums, the king of world beats is also a Glo ambassador with millions of naira attached to the deal.

Obesere:Energic Fuji singer Abass Akande Obesere is a brand ambassador for Yem-kem Trado- Medical Hospital in the country with millions of naira attached to it.

Sammie Okposo: With good gospel music and connections, his name was included as one of Glo ambassadors four years back. The ‘welu welu’ crooner also smiled to the bank alongside his counterparts who were part of the deal.

Ego: Ego Ogbaro Ihenacho was Lagbaja’s former back up singer. The leading solo musician is also a Glo ambassador and made millions of naira from the deal.

Zee World: Even without an album yet, the ‘Tentebo’ master was given the deal of N2 million to advertise a product of Oko Oloyun trado – Medical product called ‘Hero’ last year.

Atawewe: Sulaimon Adio Atawewe is the brand ambassador for Chelsea London dry gin with an undisclosed substantial amount attached to the deal.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

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

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

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

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

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.