Entertainment
Lady IB Emerges Rivers PMAN Chairman
The protracted leadership
tussle that polarized the Performing Musicians Employees Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State Chapter seems to have ended peacefully with the emergence of vasertile musician, Ibitoru I .B. Green, popularly known as lady IB as the new chairman of the association in the state.
The Bonny, Rivers State born musician was elected at the general election of the association held on Monday October 7th 2013 in Port Harcourt. By her victory, she becomes the second female chairman of the association after the Ekpeye born Nubian queen Gift, Iyumame Uwame popularly called Muma Gee. Who was the first female chairperson, in the state PMAN.
Speaking with The Tide entertainment after the election, lady IB thanked members of the association for their massive turn out and peaceful conduct during the election which was attended by top members of the association such as Mama Rose, Lexy M. Arthur Pepple Jnr. Peter Stone cold, comedians and other top showbiz personalities within and outside the state. She disclosed that at the election, two factions, namely the reformation team and restoration team were billed to participate in the election which was advertised extensively in both the media and internet. However, on the agreed day of the election only few members of the restoration team turned up. Therefore, the members who attended the election saw it as a step down.
According to her, the present executive is made up of herself as chairman, Moses “Big Mozy” Mabadeje, 1st vice chairman, Karibo ‘K.B’ Longjohn, 2nd vice chairman, Allaiye ‘Daddy O’Bobmanuel, publicity secretary, Ezekiel “Ice.T.” Benibo, treasurer and Eke ‘Peples’ Emmanuel Mark provost. Others are Isong ‘Senator’ Sunday, welfare I and Valentine ‘Val’ Amaso welfare 2.
The chairman contended that the new administration is poised to rebrand the association and take it to higher level, to this end she said several programmes have been earmarked to be embarked upon before the end of their one year tenure. They include:- organizing PMAN award night, legends night, partnership with various sectors of the state economy, support the less privileged in the society including families of their departed colleagues as well as promote the welfare of its members and to ensure lasting peace in the association amongst others.
She noted that the special award nights have become necessary because in the past 5 years no such events were held in memory of the departed icons of the music industry in the state such as the late Prince David Bull of the professional seagulls dance band of Port Harcourt, Jack West Omodu of the Garden City Band of Port Harcourt. Cardinal Jim Rex Lawson and Living legend, King Sunny Brown among others.
Commenting on the election a popular musician in the state and former chairman of PMAN Rivers State chapter Mr Lexy Mueka, popularly known as Lexy M stated that Monday October 7, 2013 marked another milestone in the annals of the association in the state as it witnessed the peaceful election and swearing in ceremony of the new executives after a protracted battle of supremacy in the musician body. He described the election as all embracing, peaceful, credible and constitutional.
He stressed that although there were attempts to impose a leader on the association by a factional leadership at the national level, members of the association in the state resisted the move and today we have a new executive of our choice who are duly elected by the members. According to him, the new executives have been tested in the past and accepted for their vision and selfless service to the association.
Lexy M noted that with the new exco the association will no be focus to carry out its constitutional duties in the interest of all. He therefore, called on serious minded members of the association to come back to the fold so as to speak with one voice again instead of pursuing individual self-fish interests to the detriment of the rest members. According to him no individual interest will supersede the collective will and purpose of majority of the members.
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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