Entertainment
Check Out Five Biggest Losers At 2018 Headies
Although the Headies Awards, one of the biggest music awards in Africa has come and gone, some of the memorable events of the glamourous night are still trending in the social media platforms as we reflect on five of the biggest names in the music clan who failed to pick up the coveted plagues.
The Headies Awards which was held on Saturday, 5th May 2018 at the Convention Centre, Eco Hotels and Suites, Lagos, was the 12th edition of the music event but despite creating winners in 27 categories, on that faithful night, some funs were left disappointed as their favourite acts went home empty handed. The awards celebrated artistes who have enjoyed remarkable success in the year under review.
The biggest winners include Davido and Simi who both won three plagues each and Wizkid who bagged two Solo awards and one collabo award for ‘Malo’ with Tiwa Savage.
Some categories however left questions to be asked with some taking to the social media to air their grievances.
Here are five of the biggest loosers at the Headies Awards Night:
D Run Town: Perhaps the biggest snub of the night, Run Town was nominated in three categories for Best Pop single category, Headies viewers choice and song of the year. The singer, who had a steady rise following the release of his debut album “Ghetto University” in 2015 and delivered some of the biggest songs in “Mad Over You” and said with South African rapper, Nastec was expected to at least bag one award on the night, but he ended up with none.
Tekno:
Another artiste, who has enjoyed a really big year is Tekno Miles, despite critical and commercial success over the past couple of years, Tekno only received one nomination for producer of the year with Davido’s. The talented artiste and producer had released the smaship hit single ‘Pana’ in July 2016 which falls within the year under review for the awards.
Tekno soon followed up with other hit singles like ‘Yawa’, but somehow was not considered good enough for artistic nominations more so an award.
Burna Boy: Now this is the one that raised a number of eye brows, individually Burna Boy is one of the most talented acts around and in an industry where Reggae and dance hall acts are not exactly falling from the sky in their numbers. It is believed that with the quality of the material that he puts out, he should be winning at the Headies.
Nominated for Best Reggae/Dancehall Act with his single ‘Rock Your Body’, the artiste lost out to 2 baba’s Holy Holy. This is not the first time that Burna Boy will be losing out on the Headies as he had previously lost the next Rated.
At 2013 edition which was won by Sean Tizzle alongside the Hip Hop Revelation of the year and Best RnB Single at the 2014 edition.
Erigga: Predicted as favourite for the Lyricist on the Roll category, Erigga like previous years left the Headies with nothing to show for it. Up for two nominations, including Best Rap album, the rapper who enjoyed critical acclaim from Hip Hop heads for his single ‘Industry Night’ refix off “TheTrip to the South” album took to his twitter page to vent his frustration at losing out yet again.
Adekunle Gold: With his sophomore album due for release any time soon, Adekunle Gold can look back and count his blessings over past three years, but not a Headie. The Gold album released in July 2016 is considered a near classic by critics, parading singles like ‘Orente’, pick up, Friend Zone, Ariwo Ko and many more.
Adekunle Gold delivered a project that earned him plaudits not just at home but abroad, peaking at No 7 in the bill boards world album charts. Nominated in five individual categories including Best RnB/Pop album of the year, the singer who had also bagged four nominations at the 2018 edition of the Headies could not get a plague.
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.