Entertainment

AFRIMA Organisers Receive 2,558 Entries …As Nigeria Tops List

Published

10 years ago

August 14, 2015

Olamide

The International Commit
tee for the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) said in Lagos last Thursday that it had received 2, 558 entries for the 2015 edition.
According to the organisers, the entries by African artistes were received on the AFRIMA website and social media platforms as well as from record companies and entertainment journalists.
Also submitted were works from artistes in the Diaspora.
All the works to be considered must have been produced between May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2015 according to the stipulated guidelines by the academy of the jury of AFRIMA.
Mr Steve Ayorinde, Chairman, International Media Committee of AFRIMA, said the development had shown the importance that had now been attached to the programme.
“The international committee is excited about the quality of entries received this year as many are from accomplished artistes in African music.
“The impressive number of entries received is a reflection of growth and acceptability of the vision and ideals of AFRIMA’s commitment to communicate Africa to the rest of the world via art, music, tourism and entertainment.’’
Ayorinde said the entries received this year were progressively higher than the 2,025 entries received for the 2014 edition.
Out of the entries received this year, 73 were from music and entertainment journalists across Africa, while entries were from artistes, songwriters, video directors, music producers and record companies made up the rest.
As part of the adjudication process which will last for seven days, the submitted works will be screened by a 13-man jury panel, representing the five regions of Africa and the Diaspora.
There will be representatives from Kenya, Senegal, Republic of Benin, Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon, the U.K. and U.S. as well as a representative from the African Union.
Following the adjudication process, a nomination list will be released to the public on a later date in August 2015, to vote for a nominee in each of the 33 categories of the award.
The founder of the awards, Mr Mike Dada, also revealed that this year’s event would hold on November 15 in Nigeria.
He added that it would be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village, a two-day event of music festivities featuring national pavilions, cultural/entertainment exhibitions and music concerts between November 13 and November14.
There will also be an Africa Music Summit on November 13 with the theme “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa’’.
Our Entertainment Desk reports that this is the second edition of AFRIMA.
This year’s edition of the awards is in partnership with African Union Commission (AUC), ONE Campaign and Africa 2.0.
Meanwhile, Nigerian artistes topped the list of the 2nd edition of the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) scheduled for Dallas in October.
According to statement from the organisers the Award, which would hold at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters was to celebrate the beauty of African music and artistry.
The statement noted that “the show will honour some of Africa’s top music artistes, producers and cultural influencers.’’
It stated that the Best Male West Africa category had the highest number of Nigerian nominees, including Davido, Wizkid, Flavour and Olamide.
AFRIMMA, also the Crossing Boundaries With Music Award, had the highest number of Nigerians, including Wale, Nneka, Asa, Jidenna and Tinnie Tempah.
Nigeria’s P-square was also nominated for the Best African Group.
Also, the Best Newcomer category was topped by Nigerian artistes Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello and Lil Kesh.
The Best Collaboration category was flooding with nominee collaborations with various Nigerian artistes such as Kcee, J Martins, Burna Boy, among others.
Similarly, Nigeria’s DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Exclusive were nominated for the Best DJ Africa award.
For the AFRIMMA Video of the Year, Ojuelegba by Wizkid, Golibe by Flavour and My Darling by Tiwa Savage were nominated.
Mavin Records CEO, Don Jazzy, was nominated for the Music Producer of the Year, alongside Shizzi.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

4 weeks ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

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

Published

4 weeks ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

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

Published

4 weeks ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

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.