Entertainment

AMVCA 2016: How Adesua Etomi Won Best Actress Award …Beats Genevive Nnaji, Nse Ekpe Etim, Belinda Effah

Published

10 years ago

March 11, 2016

Super talented Nigerian
actress, Adesua Etomi has emerged Africa’s Best Actress in the recently held 2016 African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) awards. She defeated Genevieve Nnaji, Nse Ekpo Etim, Belinda Effah, Fulu Mugovhani and Mary Lazarus to win the award for her role as ‘Muna’ in the movie titled ‘Falling’.
The super actress plays the role of the strong and loving wife in the movie which tells the story of Imoh and Muna who believe nothing can come between them until Imoh has an accident that leaves him comatose for months.
It was however a tears galore at the event as Nollywood Actress Bukky Ajayi bursted into tears as she wins AMVCA Industry Merit Award on Saturday, March 5. The event which was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos, had in attendance Nollywood stars, music artistes, showbiz personalities and much more. More tears rolled as actress Kemi Lala Akindoju won a brand new SUV GS5.
The success of the 2016 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), could not be compared with, as the show started at the exact time with a cocktail ceremony before the main show commenced at 7pm and ended before 11pm. From a dance performance to musical performances and to several categories of the award ceremony, most Nollywood actresses could not hide their joy as they saw their colleagues mostly the upcoming movie stars make away with most of the awards for the night.
Aside winning, the Best Actor in a movie Television series award to the movie of the year Award, DSTV decided to honour two Nollywood legends who have contributed immensely to the Nigerian movie industry over the years, in persons of Veteran Nollywood actress Bukky Ajayi and Sadiq Daba.
This announcement marked the major highlight of the night as the audience gave a standing ovation to veteran Nollywood actress Bukky Ajayi when she was called upon to receive her AMVCA Industry Merit Award. Despite being on a wheelchair and with tears in her eyes while receiving her award, she pleaded for forgiveness from anyone whom she might have offended in the past decades of her career.
Bukky Ajayi said “I just want to say to all my friends and non-friends, thank you very much, you do not know how much this award means to me. If I have offended you in one way or another please find a place in your heart to forgive me and if you think you have offended me don’t worry I have forgiven you a long time ago”, she added, “I am very happy from the bottom of my heart, I wish I could stand up, but if I do I will fall, but you all standing for me I say thank you”.
This sincere speech and apology got everyone on their feet in order to show respect to the veteran actress as some fans and colleagues could not also stop the tears rolling down their eyes. More tears rolled as fast rising Nollywood actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju, received the AMVCA. Trailblazer Awards which comes with a brand new SUV GS5 courtesy SUV Motors.
On Monday, February 2, Bukky Ajayi clocked 82 years and was hosted to a small celebration by her children at her home, in Lagos.
The African Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) is an annual awards show which features nominations in over 20 categories in African Film and TV Series. The award comes live under the tutelage of Multi-Choice and is a reward for the most remarkable performances in the continents movie industry with voting from the public.
The first edition was on March 9, 2013 and witnessed a massive viewership on over 50 countries around the world.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

7 hours 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

7 hours 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

7 hours 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.