Entertainment
Headies 2013: MTN Ambassadors Dominate Awards
The headies has for a
long time been described as Nigeria’s most prestigious awards ceremony, formerly known as Hip Hop world awards.
However, the year 2013 was a good year for Nigerians musicians, particularly those with brand ambassador deals, international collabos, sell outs and awards both local and international. There exploits have not only given them their international recognition but stupendous wealth.
Communication giant MTN proved itself as the best entertainment brand in Nigeria as the company stole the show at the Headies awards held at the Eko Hotels recently.
Davido, Iyanya, harrisong, praize and Kcee won awards in several categories making MTN the brand with the highest awards at the Nigeria’s reputed musical awards.
Davido carted home with two awards for best RnB/Pop album and hip hop world revelation both as a result of the success of his album titled OBO. Davido who burst scene in 2012 was a commercial success in 2013 with over whelming record sales and down loads on MTN caller Tunez. Harrison won the most down loaded caller tunez award for his tribute song to late Nelson Mandela, had over a million down loads within 48 hours of release on MTN caller Tunez platform.
This is to confirm the brand’s commitment to assisting artistes in maximizing their gains and curbing piracy by providing a viable electronic distribution channel for original works. It was reported that in recognition of the artistes ingenuity stars like Femi Kuti, will be performing at the grammies awards courtesy of MTN.
Also MTN project fame graduates, Iyanyanya and praises were awarded Artiste of the year and best vocal performance respectively Kcee, another MTN Ambassador won the award for the song of the year, the song; Lam popo was the title song of the year 2013 which became a national anthem of sort amongst the Nigerian Youths.
With the foregoing it is clear that the headies awards did justice to MTN’s contributors to the Nigerians Entertainment industry in 2013. Considering the rate of concerts, shows and the depth of passion connected to these activities, the brand’s activities, the recognition could not have come at a beter time than this. For instance MTN lond in Naiga which was held across the major geo political zones of Nigeria succeeded in entertaining not less than 5 million Nigerians in Lagos , Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ilorin and Owerri where the brand ambassadors featured.
It is said that the achievement recorded by the company is more of a tip off the iceberge considering what the companies are planning to do this year.
However, the year 2013 Edition of the Headies has received more knocks than kudos more than ever before. The event which held at the oriental hotels Lagos and beamed live on national and local television stations had more than its fair share of flops.
Traditionally to hold annually on May , last year’s Edition was held in December, the change of date did not go well with many.
The combination of Dr. Sid and Tiwa Savage as compares was another disaster as their delivery was stilted several times during the show and it was obvious that quests were bored stiff. All these were compounded by the many technical hitches ranging from loss of audio out put to nominees names not showing on the scream, even at the event, presenters missed their way of the stage.
Worrisome and suspicious is the fact that the winners came in through the back stage an indication that they have already known the result before it was announced.
Virtually every section of the awards came under criticism on twitter and blogoshere but the event has been held, losers and winners have emerged and MTN rules the wards.
Iyanya & Davido
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.