Entertainment
Fading Faces In Nollywood
The following are the Nollywood fading stars as they are hardly seen on the screens these days. They include:
Susan Patrick: The Akwa Ibom State-born actress hit it big when she played the role of a snake girl in Sakobi, a movie produced by Zeb Ejoro, but her career went off the rails following the death of her Police Officer husband, Dan Patrick in June 2006.
Since then, she could not regain the form that made her an instant hit. Other movies she featured in include Between Love, Put It On Me, Total Control, Disciples of Death, Agony, and Love Is Blind amongst others.
Chiege Alisigwe: Tall and pretty Chiege who had a very brief marriage with her Police husband came into the limelight after starring alongside Ramsey Noah in the block buster movie My Love. Although she got other movie roles, none pushed her nearer than where she was and she had not appeared in movies for the past six years.
Saint Obi: Once the hottest hunk in Nollywood, Saint Obi hardly gets a mention in movie circles these days. He was to revive his dying career with his movie, True Colours, but nothing has been heard of him.
Charles Okafor: Charles ruled the screen in the 1990s. He is perhaps best known for his role as “Agu’ in the 1990 epic movie, Igodo. For over seven years now, the Threatre Arts graudate of University of Port Harcourt has been inactive and seems to have faded away.
Liz Benson: This talented damsel was the most sought after actress in the 1990s, now married to Bishop Great Ameye of Freedom Assembly, Jesse in Delta State. She reportedly told her colleagues that as much as she loved acting, she would only act in movies that project her Christian faith.
Liz came into the limelight via Fortunes, a 1993 soap and the popular home video, Glamour Girls. Among some of the movies she starred in include Most Wanted, Inheritance, Diamond Ring, Stolen Child, Tycoon, Dead End, Body of Vengance,s etc.
Nkiru Sylvanus: Launched into prominence through her emotional role in A Cry For Help. Although she studied Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, she quickly blossomed and became one of the most recognisable talents on the circuit. She has starred in other films like Out Of Cage, Evil Forest, Egg Of Life, etc. Today, she is an Aide to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.
Clarion Chukwura: Like Liz Benson, she is one of Nollywood’s early front runners. She made her breakthrough with her role in Money Power, an Ola Balogun’s movie in the early 1980s. The talented actress has featured in over 80 flicks including Oduduwa, Valentino, True Love, Abuja Connection, Abela Pupa, Egg Of Life. These days, her appearance in movies are less regular.
Pete Edochie: He is considered one of Africa’s most talented actors going by movie awards he has garnered. He came into limelight in the 1980s when he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all time best selling novel, Things Fall Apart, but the fact now is that Pete seems to have gone into oblivion as Ola Jacobs seems to be playing the roles he normally played.
He had starred in movies like Billionares Club, Greatest Harvest, Rejected Son, Super Love, Tears In The Sun, Tunnel Of Love, When God Says Yes, Battle Line, etc.
Sola Sobowale: She hit prominence with the Awada Kerikeri group headed by Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello) and is remembered for her role in Asewo To Be In Mecca. She is a cross over artiste who had starred in such flicks as : Dangerous Twins, Madam Dearest, Okun Oko Somida, Emotional Tears, etc. Since leaving for London last year, she had not featured in any new flick.
The Tide Entertainment reports that International stars Busta Rhymes and Gunna topped the bill, while the festival showcased a powerhouse roster of African talent including Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Shenseea, Phyno, Fave, Juma Jux, Qing Madi, and Diamond Platnumz, among others.
The festival launched December 7 with an eye-catching opening ceremony featuring aerial ballet performers, establishing an elevated artistic vision for the weeks ahead. That first night brought Nigerian heavyweights Wande Coal, Young Jonn, Ice Prince, Darey, Fola, Shoday, and Jerry Shaffer to the stage.
The Federal Ministry of Art and Culture partnered with the festival, with Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa acknowledging Detty December Fest as a vital force in Nigeria’s cultural landscape. She emphasized its impact on amplifying the country’s creative presence internationally and driving holiday tourism.
The 2025 edition raised the bar for live entertainment in Lagos, building on Detty December’s established reputation as a catalyst for tourism, entertainment, and economic growth during the year-end season.
The milestone was confirmed on Monday by FilmOne, the movie’s distributor, who announced that the film is now the fastest title in West Africa to cross ?1 billion. The achievement further cements Akindele’s dominance in the Nigerian film industry.
Since its release, Behind the Scenes has shattered multiple records. It posted the highest single-day box office gross ever on Boxing Day, earning an impressive ?129.5 million. It is also the highest-grossing film of 2025 so far, and remarkably, it marks Akindele’s third movie to cross the ?1 billion mark, a feat no other director has achieved.
The Tide Entertainment reports that with this latest success, Akindele has strengthened her position as Nollywood’s highest-grossing producer of all time, becoming the first filmmaker to deliver three billion-naira blockbusters within a single calendar year.
Reacting to the achievement, the actress and filmmaker expressed heartfelt gratitude to her supporters, collaborators, and distributors, while also revealing the film’s growing international reach.
“Over the years, I’ve always valued my fans, because without God and you, I am nobody,” she wrote.“Thank you all for coming out to watch this movie and for supporting my brand through the years.Thank you to the distributors, my colleagues—especially those not in the movie who still came out to meet and greet my fans.Big love to the cast and crew. This is only the beginning; let’s take Behind the Scenes even further.”
She also disclosed that the film is currently screening in cinemas across two European countries and the United States, signaling its expanding global appeal.
Akindele’s box office dominance has been nothing short of historic. In 2023, Battle on Buka Street became Nollywood’s highest-grossing film with ?640 million. She raised the bar again in January 2024 when A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nigerian movie to hit ?1 billion. Later that year, Everybody Loves Jenifa broke another record, grossing ?1.6 billion to become the highest-earning film in West African history.
Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has revealed his former bandmate Faze’s position in the long-running rift between him and their other ex-bandmate, Blackface.
The Tide Entertainment recalls that Blackface and 2Face have been involved in an on-and-off feud over the years, with the former repeatedly accusing the latter of intellectual property theft, allegations 2Face has consistently denied.
Addressing fans midway through his performance at the Made in Benue Festival in Makurdi recently, 2Face said Faze has maintained a neutral stance in the dispute between him and Blackface.
He stressed that the rift does not involve Faze in any way.
“You all know that Plantashun Boiz consisted of Blackface, 2Face and Faze. But due to some unforeseen circumstances, Blackface is not with us right now.
“However, no matter the beef wey me and Blackface get, nothing concern Faze inside. So, Faze is right here with me and we will represent Plantashun Boiz,” he said.
The rift between Blackface and 2Face began after Plantashun Boiz disbanded in the 2000s.
Following their split, Blackface blamed 2Face for the breakup and accused him of song theft.
The relationship between the duo has remained strained over the years despite several attempts at reconciliation, with peace efforts often short-lived.