Entertainment
Nigerian Music Stars Missing In Action
The booming Nigerian
music industry in the last 10 years, has produced talented music stars, while some of them released one or two albums, others could not produce more than one hit single. However, they have all made their mark in the music clan before gradually moving into oblivion to the dismay of their numerous fans. Among the artistes missing in action in the industry include:
D-Banj: This is an artiste who has three flawless albums and countless hit songs on his belt. Everything he touched in the past turned to gold and if one artiste was literally ahead of his time, it was D’banj. Today, the self acclaimed ‘Koko Master is struggling for another hit since he produced ‘Oliver Twist’.
The break up with Don Jazzy erased doubt that DonJazzy was a major influence and source of the quality and quantity of music that came from D-banj. The last song that was officially promoted on Mo’ hits DonJazzy’s record label was Oliver Twists, it is still a monster hit across the world.
The last Nation’s Cup placed him on the continent’s spotlight again, but instead of unveiling a new song on that platform, he continued with The Don Jazzy produced ‘Oliver Twist’. Two years ago it would have been almost impossible for D’banj, to do a collaboration with Olamide which shows that the music star is gradually losing grounds in the industry.
Olu Maintain:- The ‘Yahooze’ crooner started having problems with his music career immediately he left Puffy T and Big Bamo who played vital role in his hit albums. Lately, he is said to be spending millions on new singles and videos but he is yet to make an impact. The “Nawty Girl” single almost brought him back to limelight, but it was gathered that the talented single has more enemies than friends in the industry as most entertainment stakeholders will not have anything to do with him as they see him as a betrayal.
Gice: This award winning Nigerian Star is now struggling with his career since he left his talented producer, ID Cabasa who has produced most of his hit songs. After the two albums produced by ID Cabasa, got stale his fans expected him to dish out something else soonest. It was gathered that The “Gongo Aso” hit maker is said to have totally lost his voice.
His broken voice, monotonous tones and weak delivery, cannot match the old gice of powerful vocal delivery well laced proverbial lyrics and catchy tones observed his fans.
Wande Coal: The talented singer who has several hits to his name, thanks to DonJazzy who produced all the songs under Mo hit started having endorsement deals after he parted ways with DonJazzy since he has the name and talent, but that was not enough for him to live above his fans’ expectations. By now most of the fans have expected two or three hit singles but non is forthcoming, unlike before that he headlined virtually all the shows, you hardly see him at gigs these days.
Kelly Handsome: After Kelly Handsome left Kennis music, he has been struggling with his career. He has sweet voice and good lyrics which he complements with good looks His career was never envisaged to end the way it did as music lovers tipped him for the Grammy awards which never came to be.
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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