Entertainment
RSG Vows To Make CARNIRIV World’s Largest Carnival
Acrobats at the stand up show
River State Government has formally flagged off activities for this year’s edition of its internationally acclaimed cultural fiesta popularly referred to as CARNIRIV 2012, declaring its intention to make the annual event one of the world’ biggest cultural festivals.
This year’s festival, which is branded CARNIRIV 2012 Port Harcourt 100 Edition, will hold from Saturday 8 to Saturday 15, December 2012. It is being celebrated in a special way this year as it coincides with the commemoration of the 100 years’ existence of the City of Port Harcourt.
Addressing a world media conference at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, where the detail programme of activities for this year’s CARNIRIV was announced, the state government also unveiled an dvancement plan for the CARNIRIV brand with the projection to make it one of the world’s biggest cultural fiestas by 2015.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nabs Imegbu, said the intention of the administration of Governor Rotimi Amaechi was not just to make CARNIRIV a platform to project the rich cultural value of people of the state, but to make it become a major pillar for the socio-economic growth of the state.
The commissioner, who added that CARNIRIV is the second largest cultural event in Nigeria revealed further that the government also desires to make CARNIRIV one of the most sought -after cultural fiestas in the world by tourists. To this end, he said the state government was doing all that was necessary to make CARNIRIV 2012 like no other, in terms of planning, content, logistics, security, attendance and participation among others.
“A carnival is about big media, big mobilisation and big performance, and we are improving on these at every yearly edition of CARNIRIV”, he said while assuring prospective guests and tourists that the yearly edition of CARNIRIV,he said while assuring prospective guests and tourists that the carnival would be an unforgettable experience. He informed that his ministry and the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA) are collaborating to actualise the policy of the state government on cultural revival by according CARNIRIV its pride of place as a focal policy thrust of the Amaechi administration.
In his presentation, the Director-General, RSTDA, Dr. Sam Dede, stated that the growth potential for CARNIRIV was unlimited, and that was why the state government was projecting it to become a global brand with the largest support and attendance possible. “CARNIRIV will evolve into a recognizable global brand beyond the imminent demands of 2012 edition. Our projection is to make it a carnival brand of reckon and a recognisable global brand that would become the biggest cultural fiesta by 2015, in terms of impact, benefits and attendance,” he declared.
Dede added that the envisioned future for CARNIRIV also included its financial autonomy, stating that the era of dependence on government subventions was over. In the light of this, he explained that this year’s carnival has been packaged to attract more corporate sponsors as well as deliver greater return on investment. The director-general further gave a thumb-up for the carnival for its wide acceptance among the people while assuring that it would continue to impact the prosperity of the people
On the activities lined up for the carnival, he stated that the carnival would be kick-started on On Saturday, December 8 with a Stage Performance entitled King Jaja, which renders momentous account of the earliest migrations of the Riverine peoples onto the precipice of Western reckoning. Another activity is the Old Port Harcourt Town Groove, this is designed to enliven the fond memories of the city.
Other activities include, kids Carnival in demonstration of the importance attached to children in Carnival CARNIRIV and by extension tourism development in the state while Carnival Praise Jam is meant to uplift and inspire spiritual ambience for which Port Harcourt is renowned. Local and international groups including Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa are expected to feature during the praise jam.
There will also be the unveiling of the Carnival Monument one of which is the CARNIRIV ‘88 monument. The old carnival monument is the symbol of CARNIRIV, the oldest carnival in Nigeria established in 1988, has just been renovated into a befitting memorabilia. The second is the new CARNIRIV monument, a towering monument to mark the Port Harcourt 100 Edition of the Carnival.
CARNIRIV 2012 Colloquium, a forum for intellectual discourse on issues that border on the state and nation, is another A-list event outlined for the carnival with the Nobel Laureate; Prof. Wole Soyinka expected to give the keynote address.
Monday, December 8 is the grand official opening of CARNIRIV 2012 and it will commence with the opening of with the opening of the Carnival Village by Governor Rotimi Amaechi. ‘This is an elaborate display of fireworks.
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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