Entertainment
PH Comedians Converge At Laffwell Show …As Mr D Plans For Comedy Club In Rivers
It was a roll call of who is who in the comedy clan, as Port Harcourt based Ace comedians converged at Mr. D Plaza, D/Line Port Harcourt last Sunday to celebrate this year’s Laffwell comedy show.
Among the comedians that featured at the event were: Prince Hezekiah, Akas Baba, Slow Dog, Mudiaga, Angel D Laungh, Maxi, Romeo without Juliet, Dandy Boy, Arinze Baba, Anti-virus, Ganja Man, Niger Mumu etc.
Speaking with The Tide Entertainment at the event, the founder of Laffwell, Ambassador Induz Godswill, popularly known as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Comedy matters, disclosed that Laff, well is a brand he came up with two years ago, pointing out that this is the third event. According to him, Laffwell has come to stay and it has become an annual event as well as a brand.
The Ambassador of comedy noted that the aim of Laffwell is to give people hope and for them to laugh away their sorrows and look up to God. He reiterated that he read pure science in the university but later discovered that his talent and destiny rest with comedy, hence he embraced it with all he has and today, he has no regrets as a comedian.
He observed that in the past, comedy was not recognised and comedians were regarded as school dropouts and court jesters, but with people like Julius Agwu, Ali Baba, Basket mouth, I Go Die, Arinze Baba, Dan De Humorous, Mike Ogolo and other numerous rib crackers, comedy has become a lucrative profession and a formidable arm of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
The owner of Mr. D. Plaza Amb. Dala Iboroma who spoke on the red carpet said, the idea behind the hilarious event was to support the youths and create a conducive environment for them to relax and enjoy themselves. He said by so doing, the rate of criminality and youth restiveness in the state will be curtailed if not totally eradicated. He stated that Ambassador induz is his friend and decided to attend the show personally in order to support him in the area of security and other logistics to ensure maximum success .
Amb. Iboroma who has been in show business for the past 15 years said, Mr. D’S plaza has remained in the forefront when it comes to youth empowerment and has provided employment opportunities to quite a number of youths in the state.
The seasoned philanthropist and show biz personality, disclosed that he has a vision to set up a comedy club in Rivers State where people can go to relax and enjoy themselves. According to him such clubs exist in Abuja and Lagos, adding that his outfit has decided to pioneer one here in the state. He said he has already made the necessary contacts for its take off.
Mr. D who disclosed that his business started on the streets of Port Harcourt and behind, NITEL but has recorded tremendous growth over time and today the business is still growing from strength to, strength. He condemned the new era of strip dancing in night clubs. According to him,” we are Nigerians and an independent country, so we must not copy every thing that is western line, hook and Sinker, rather, we must be able to draw a line between immorality and virtue”.
Other entertainers who spoke with The Tide entertainment on the Redcarpet, include: Mr. Saint leader, the ‘Bad Belle’ crooner who currently does collabo with other artistes. He noted that the Laffwell annual event has awaken the spirit of comedy in the state stressing that comedy is now in vogue in show biz entertainment and Rivers State must not be left out.
He commended Amb. Induz for coming up with the show which he said has turned out to be the gathering of saints of comedy and the re-union of friends and professional colleagues.
For Romeo without Juliet, Mr. Adokiye Horsefall, the evening is long expected and it affords him the opportunity to crack many ribs with his hilarous Jokes which is intended to make people forget their sorrows and look up to God for a greener pasture.
Another entertainer, Aboki shine my shoe music maestro said, the night afforded another great opportunity to thrill his fans with their favourite song and thanked the organisers for given him the opportunity to showcase his talent once more.
Port Harcourt big boy and media practitioner, Mr Tonye Orabere expressed joy that comedy as an important arm of entertainment has come to stay in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The Press Secretary, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State chapter, said comedy is another avenue for relaxation and fun. He commended Port Harcourt based comedians for doing so well. According to him, comedians in the state could compete favorably with their counter parts in Lagos and Abuja, therefore they must be encouraged to sustain the tempo.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
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
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
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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