Entertainment
2016 Musicians Rating: Yemi Alade Towers Above Tiwa Savage
The year 2016 has been
incredible for Nigerian entertainment and whatever we achieve from now on, we will always reference this year as perhaps the major turning point in 21st century entertainment, particularly in the music industry. With this growth, we have seen Davido ink a massive deal with Sony/RCA, just as Wizkid has done. Crossing over to the females, Tiwa Savage has got something with Roc Nation under the tutelage of American hip hop mogul Shawn ‘Jayz’ carter and the possibilities remain unending for the local industry.
On the flip side, there’s a brewing debate that Yemi Alade has had a more successful year than Tiwa Savage and so we thought to run through this discourse with as much available data as we could gather for the time being. We have analysed both stars based on their performances and star power for the year and we think Yemi Alade edged Tiwa Savage out for these three reasons.
Controversies:
Since April 2016 when the world witnessed the tumultuous nature of Tiwa’s marriage with ex-husband Tunji ‘Tee Billz’ Balogun, it hasn’t quite been the same for the pop star. You can argue that she retained her endorsement deals and has managed to perform at some of the biggest African gigs in the US, but it is what it is. Critics will always maintain that the episode was a setback for her in one way or the other, even though we believe she did an excellent job bouncing back from it. Yemi Alade on the other hand has had a near-impeccable record this year as far as social media dramas and controversies are concerned which is a huge plus.
Local Audience/Demographics: While Tiwa Savage has forayed into the international market with particular emphasis on the American audience base, many are of the opinion it is a wild goose chase. They maintain that it is almost impossible for an African to come from outside the continent and dominate the sounds except he or she is resident there and ‘playing ball’ in total conformity with the culture of the core American. It remains to be seen how far she goes with this.
But on her part, Yemi Alade has remained true to her root, connecting with a sizeable chunk of the African market and churning out materials appealing to their ethics, their existence as a people as well as performing on possibly very big stage. The continent has set up for their entertainer.
Awards: With Yemi Alade’s MTN MAMA award for Best Female Act for 2016, it makes it two years back to back for her and hardly anyone is in doubt of her artistry. We believe it is the result of persistence drive and staying true to ones root because not only did Tiwa Savage drop her R.E.D album in late 2015 which served as an early start for her 2016 campaign, she also dropped a deluxe version of the album in 2016 so that whatever the case she had ample materials with which to jostle for the top shot on the continent.
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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