Entertainment
Unveiling 12 Top ‘Naija’ Artistes Brands Ignore
Wande Coal
Famous people have
always made excellent salesmen, presenting a familiar face is one of the fastest and easiest ways for companies to create brand associations in the minds of consumers. When a widely loved artist or a heroic sports figure endorses a product, that product gains credibility and consumer acceptance which makes one wonder why some artistes who have been consistently popular in the recent past seem not to be able to attract brands despite their mass appeal and wave-making hits.
Following the recent signing of ‘Aye’ hitmaker, Davido into the league of Pepsi ambassadors, which include Wizkid, Tiwa savage and Seyi Shay, here’s a list of 12 Nigerian music stars brands are ignoring despite their thrills in the industry.
1. Oritese Femi
He is one of the hottest Nigerian artistes for a couple of year now with hit tracks including ‘Double Wahala’ ‘Body & Soul’ Igbeyawo, “Sukus’ and ‘Sexy dance’ Despite allowing D’banj to promote products including Koko Garri and Beats by Dre head phones in ‘Double Wahala remix’ video-a move which shows he’s willing, the self-styled ‘Musical Taliban’ is yet to be looked upon by brands.
2. Niyola
A talented soulful singer, she seems to be the right person for commercial airlines and other transportation firms with song titles ‘Go on’ and ‘last bustop’ to sign endorsement deal with-but has none yet.
3. 9Ice
Once in the league of Glo ambassadors, the ‘sugar’ singer has been neglected by brands for some years now, even though he still impresses fans with beautiful songs.
4. Wande Coal
Blessed with a unique voice, the farmer Mo’hits act recently dropped his second album to wide acclaim. His chart-topping skills however has seemingly gone unnoticed by brands and companies. Surely, the ‘Baby Hello’ singer is worthy to be a ‘Superwoman’ again.
5. Sean Tizzle
Since the “perfect Gentleman” was dropped by MTN last year, following a deal worth N20m when he was signed in 2014, he’s yet to be picked up by another brand.
This may be due to allegations of ‘skin bleaching’ leveled against him by fans, or may be not.
6. Adekunle God
After successfully dropping hits back to back, from sade to Orente to Pick up, and now that he’s ready, what are the brands waiting for?
7. Small Doctor
Small Doctor’s ‘Mosquites killer’ and ‘Gabera’ – a popular song for Dog and Horse race speculators. Should have been enough to get him an endorsement deal.
Alas, unlike Harrysong who sang ‘share the Gala, share the booze, the booze, the booze and got a deal, the deals seems not to be in the horizon.
8. Lil Kesh
You won’t believe the YBNL act and Headies nominee has No brand endorsement, his ‘street credibility’ notwithstanding. Yes we’re shocked too.
9. Dr. Victor Olaiya
At 85, he’s arguably the oldest and most active highlife singer in the world after Bobby Benson passed away in 1983, E.T. Mensah in 1996 and Jerry Hansen, leader of Ramblers Dance Band of Ghana, who died in April 2012.
The remix of his hit song “Baby Jowo’ featuring 2 face Idibia in 2013, Baba is yet to be signed up by a brand.
10. Ill Bliss
As one of the most hardworking rappers in the country, ‘Oga Boss’ from the eastern side of Nigeria deserves that bank alert, Chukwu Agozigo gi…
11. Runtown
Walahi he’s been making Bangers from Lagos to Kampala and several others. He’s had a couple of hits to his credit in recent years and any brand that partners with the 26 year-old singer will surely become more successful.
12. Saheed Osupa
The self –acclaimed King of Fuji music is nowhere close to his acclaimed rival Pasuma and Alao Malaika when it comes to brand endorsements.
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.