Entertainment
Kajola, Timely Warning To Our Leaders – Princewill
Kajola, the most expensive film ever produced in Nigeria which was premiered at the Silver Bird Cinema, Abuja on Friday 30th July 2010 is a must watch as it is the first special effects block buster action movie to be produced in Nigeria. It is a timely warning for our leaders to be people centred to avoid the kind of future catastrophe that the movie suggests.
The movie jointly produced by Prince Tonye Princewill and prolific Nollywood producer Adonijah Owiriwa, was directed by foremost Nollywood Director Niyi “The Genius” Akinmolayan, the Founder and Creative Director of Anthill Multimedia; a post production facility based in Lagos and Port Harcourt. The whooping production cost of one hundred and thirty million naira (N130 million) also stands it out as the most expensive movie ever produced in the country. Equally of interest is the plot of the movie set in Nigeria 2059, which is expected to appeal to all Nigerians in the sense that it explores the implications of the continuous neglect of the poor and the widening gulf between the rich and poor and the ensuing catastrophic outcomes stemming from such neglect.
Kajola the title of the movie is the Yoruba word for commonwealth in the year 2059, Nigeria becomes a totalitarian state. After a second civil war, the rich relocate to the Island areas of Lagos State and turn it into an ultra modern city. The war torn mainland of Lagos state is disconnected and abandoned. A rebel leader, Allen learns of a plot code named Kajola to build cities on the mainland and eliminate the remaining survivors. He leads a rebellion against the government. And must be stopped by Yetunde, the police chief. Though mortal enemies, both discover that everything they thought they knew were nothing but lies. It’s a story of love and lust and it heightens the fact that if we don’t deal with the segregation and negligence issues facing the country today, then out future is quite predictable because TOMORROW IS TODAY.
Prince Tonye Princewill former AC Leader in Rivers state, who is also the Executive Producer of the movie, has described it as a must watch and most importantly a timely warning to our leaders to be people centred to avoid the kind of future catastrophe that the movie suggests.
Kajola is the second movie from the stables of Adoni Productions that Princewill is involved in, having been actively involved in the September 2009 premiere of Nnenda, a movie about the ills of orphanhood. It is commendable that his involvement with that movie has thrown light on this often neglected disadvantaged group thereby lifting the standards of the orphanages in Port Harcourt. Princewill was also involved in the October 2009 premiere of the Kunle Afolayan produced “The Figurine”, a delightful movie that has won both local and international awards and is said to be the second Nigerian movie to hit box office status after Stephanie Okereke’s ‘Through the glass’.
This politician of repute, who anchors his foray into politics on his need to engineer change sees his involvement in such projects as a way of acknowledging and supporting the contributions of people who like him have chosen to use their craft as a vehicle for change. To him life is nothing if we can’t impact on those who have little as opposed to those who have a lot. Prince Tonye is a vibrant force for change in the Niger Delta region with keen interests in youths empowerment and development. He is also a lover of entertainment preferring to help set high standards in Nigeria Entertainment by investing in laudable projects like the movie Kajola.
Starring in this movie that is poised to change the landscape of movie production in the country is hunky Nollywood actor Desmond Elliot as Ayub, a power drunk inspector General of Police with an eye on Keira Hewatch in the role of Yetunde, a police chief bent on bringing to justice a notorious rebel leader. One of the producers Adoniyah Owiriwa also stars as Allen.
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.