Entertainment
Why Timaya Dumped MTN Contract Renewal Offer
Timaya
Bayelsa State- born
Dance Hall Music Star, Timaya, has revealed why he dumped MTN contract renewal offer. In a recent post on the social media, he said, “I have always wanted to become an ambassador to a telecommunication company. I was approached by both Globacom and MTN, I chose MTN, I am a businessman and I feel I should have a better deal this year, if the deal is not good enough for me then it is not right, because I worked very hard to get to the stage I am”.
“It could be right for other people, but I think I should do better this year. There are artistes that are brand ambassadors and they do not have any hit, song, they are just there based on pity. Every year I release a hit song and I feel if we are to renew a contract, we have to revisit the terms and conditions. Not that we will do the same thing as the last time or do it out of pity,” he stated.
He said, “being a brand ambassador makes you limited in some certain areas and I expect to be paid for such limitations, I want more, they are good people and we did not have any misunderstanding, it was purely a business decision.”
Though he did not disclose how much he was paid for the first contract or what he was offered for the renewal of the contract, it was gathered that the first contract was worth millions of naira.
It would be recalled that the hip hop and Dance hall music sensation who was born and bred in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, is among the music stars and celebrities who rose from grass to grace.
Also known as the Egberi Papa I (the peoples town crier) of Bayelsa State was born in November 29, 1977 in Port Harcourt, the award winning musician is popular for his socially conscious music that constantly references the role of God in overcoming difficult circumstances in life. He has written and produced a music track for YouTube star, Janet Holt and Eulonzo Jordan.
He started out with a couple of collaborations with some underground artistes and was a backup singer for Eedris Abdulkareen. His first major hit was the song, “Dem Mama” an account of the 1999 destruction of Odi, a riverine community in the oil producing Niger Delta by soldiers hunting down militants whom were alleged to have killed 8 policemen. The village was burnt and numerous people killed. Timaya bravely tackled the topic years later and won instant street credibility for his boldness.
Timaya is currently one of the top stars of the Nigerian music scene with a lot of other musicians interested in doing collaborations with him, he had done collabo with J. Martins and P-Square, Keffe on ‘Kokoroko’, Spyderman and others. His albums include: “True story,” (2007), “Gift and Grace” (2008),. The Rebirth 2010, Long Life and Prosperity, (2011), “Bow Down”, ‘Sanko’, “Bum-Bum”, ft Scan Paul, ‘Story’, Hold me Down’ amongst others.
His awards include: African Hip-Hop Award, (2008, 2009), Album of the year, Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) (2008), Best Dance Hall Album, Hip-Hop World Awards (2009). This year, he bought himself 2015 model Lexus SUV to add to his fleet of expensive cars.
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.