Entertainment
Showbiz Personalities Storm Stand-Up PH Show
The second edition of stand up Port Harcourt show held last Friday at the At rium Event Centre, Stadium Road Port Harcourt was quite eventful as it did not only attract a Mammoth crowd of fun seekers but paraded the who is who in show business from within and outside the state.
Some of the celebrities in attendance were: the Nubian Queen, Gift Iyumame Uwame aka Muma Gee, the Krikata Master Oba Omega, multi instrumentalist, Romantic Rolly and ace comedians, Klint Da Drunk, John Okafor, alias Mr. Ibu, Dan De Humorous Rugged Pastor, He goat, MC Philosopher and the Wazobia FM crew’ Jeta, Omo Talk Ego amongst others.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide Entertainment at the show, the organiser Mr. Icha Paul Orji aka DJ. Smart Don said the show was his own contribution towards the growth of showbiz and entertainment – generally in the state as well as to provide an opportunity for relaxation and fun among the youths and the older generation alike.
He disclosed that he was born into show business because his mother was one of the leading showbiz personalities in the country and he had being in the business for the past 17 years. According to him everybody wants to come to Port Harcourt because it is one of the leading showbiz cities in the country with a lot of opportunities.
The Managing Director of Smart Don Entertainment business disclosed that show business was a very lucrative venture as top class artistes earn as much as five million naira per show while the least takes home between one hundred thousand naira and four hundred thousand naira excluding transportation feeding and hotel accommodation.
He described the stand up Port Harcourt show as a very huge success as all his tickets were sold. He attributed the success to good planning, logistics and the passion Port Harcourt residents have for fun and relaxation in a conducive environment.
One of the guests Mr Samson Bristol expressed gratitude to the State Government for ensuring the return of peace and security to the state. He said with this positive development Rivers State would bounce back to reckoning as the hub of entertainment and hospitality East of the Niger. He said this development would serve as a catalyst for investment in the sector, reduce the rate a unemployment and youth restiveness as well as generate revenue for government.
Also speaking, the operations manager, Smart Don Entertainment, Mr. Tony Odum said the idea of the stand up Port Harcourt is to divest from the oil economy as the entertainment sector was a source of revenue generation. According to him, the show was an avenue for the seasoned and up coming artistes to show case their talents.
The Ogbunabili born showbiz personability, reiterated that showbiz today was growing rapidly. He noted that in South Africa non oil revenue alone was about $45 annually and in USA non oil revenue is as also very high.
He stated that with the relevant policies in place and government participation the non oil revenue would ripple in Nigeria.
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.
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