Entertainment

Celebrating Olu Jacobs At 70

Published

13 years ago

March 15, 2013

It has become fashionable – pertinent, some would argue – for those who choose to pen their views about Nigeria to switch to a negative default setting prior to processing their thoughts. We live in times when one can demand for and receive prescription painkillers for the symptoms experienced daily, after perusing reports contained in the Nigeria news space. It is an era when kindergarten aged children, learning to read and write, will pick a newspaper and spell D-E-A-D on every single page, and perhaps, play games with two different daily newspapers on which will boast more occurrence of D-E-A-D.

Yet, it is expedient at this time, more than ever, that we identify and celebrate individuals who have chosen to create an atmosphere around themselves that we covet as our national culture. As Olu Jacob celebrates his 70th birthday, one can confidently state that he is one man who has, within his sphere of influence and profession, maintained a grace that is uncommon in our times.

Finding himself by calling and training in a scandal-friendly industry, Olu Jacobs has maintained his integrity; never for once has he been linked to any form of indignity, high or low. When adultery, senseless divorce, perversion, and every imaginable manifestation of low-life daily make the news in Nollywood, Olu Jacobs has unfailingly come out unscathed. He has remained married to the delectable Joke Silva who consistently glows like a teenager who has just fallen in love for the first time.

Never for once has Olu Jacobs been heard mouthing ethnic sentiments in his description of the Nigerian film industry. When it has become the trend, for instance, for some actors and producers to make such statements as “Yoruba movies are the best” “Igbo actors are better than others” “Hausa movies are beyond Nollywood” and other such divisive assertions that expose the closed mindedness of those who utter them, Olu Jacobs, a bridge builder, would always judge each movie according to its merits, and approach his analysis of the industry with uncommon broad mindedness. He has maintained the highest level of professionalism with his colleagues, producers, directors and marketers, choosing – like the elder he is – not to keep quiet about the decay in the industry, but without personalizing or sectionalizing his utterances. Don’t be deceived, he is proud of his Yoruba roots, as every African ought to be of his primary nationality, but he appears to have understood that life, to be lived to the full must never be approached from an either/or perspective, but from a both/and viewpoint. We live to learn from each other, not to hate, contest with or castigate each other.

Never for once has Olu Jacobs been linked with fraud, embezzlement or some other political maneuverings, be it within the Actors Guild of Nigeria or at the macro level, when it comes to wining and dining with the notoriously corrupt Nigerian political class. Not that it is unbecoming of one to leverage on one’s talents and popularity to make “important friends,” but Olu Jacobs has consistently maintained his professionalism by standing apart, even shunning the political space of Nigeria. Except when called upon to promote certain humanitarian or charitable causes, he has been content to act his scripts out and retire to enjoy life with his family.

Nothing is inherently wrong with a Wyclef Jean trying his hands on the Haitian presidency or Youssou N’Dour aiming a shot at Senegal’s topmost position, or even George Opong Weah vowing to rule Liberia in his lifetime, but there is profound wisdom in the proverb that says that a hunter who has only one arrow to shoot does not shoot with careless aim. Olu Jacobs has lived his single lifetime with dedication to his calling and training, wavering neither to the left nor to the right.

On his 70th Birthday, Nigeria has a man to celebrate in Olu Jacobs. Although close to two decades older than the independent nation, Olu Jacobs represents the new breed of Nigerians who will soon, hopefully populate the country’s geographical space.

It would be recalled that Olu Jacobs studied drama at the Royal Academy, London against his father’s wish. He is married to a delectable actress, Joke Silver.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.