Entertainment
Highlights Of Nollywood Week In Paris
This year’s Nollywood Week in Paris has come and gone. The well attended International film event started on Thursday, May 3rd and ended Saturday May 6th, 2018 in Paris.
The star-studded event paraded seasoned Nollywood film makers, actors and other movie practitioners who competed favourably with their counterparts from other countries.
Highlights of Events
Thursday May 3rd, 2018 marked the beginning of the three days event with opening night ceremony attended by V.I.P guests and an opening night film, “The Wedding Party2”
The Wedding Party 2 (‘Ludus’, Playful Love’)
Synopsis: Nonso proposes by accident while on a dinner date and sets off a chain of events too powerful to stop. Deirdre’s upper class British family is against the pairing as are some members of the Nigerian clan. After a near disastrous introduction ceremony in Lagos, both families reluctantly agree for a wedding in Dubai-setting off another colourfully chaotic and memorable journey to everlasting love.
The wedding party 2 is a romantic cum comedy, directed by Niyi Akinmolaya, featuring Adesua Etomic, Banky Wellington, Richard Mofe Damijo, Iretiola Doyle, Enyina Nwigwe, Danicila Down etc. The movie is produced in Nigeria in 2017 with English and French subtitles.
Friday, May 4th, 2018
The following films were screened the second day and they were: categorized as official selection they included:
The Lost Café: “Philauta” – Self Love)
Synopsis: When a young woman decides to pursue her dream career and move to Norway, to further studies in film making, she becomes torn between two worlds. Family issues back at home in Nigeria and integration issues in Norway begin to take a toll on her studies, when the problem facing her start to become more than she can handle, she stumbles upon a café that provides her with more than just the best coffee.
The lost café belongs to the drama genures directed by Kenneth Gyong, featuring Tunde Aladese, “Confusion Na Wa”, Omatta Udabor Terje Lien. Produced in Nigeria and Norway in 2017 with English and Norwagian and French subtitles.
Isoken (‘Storge’ – Familiar Love)
Synopsis: Everyone in the Osayande Family worries about Isoken, although she is beautiful, success ful and well liked, Isoken is 34 and unmarried which in her culture is a serious cause for concern. All is forgiven when her mother finds her the ultimate Nigerian man, Osaze.
However, in an unexpected turn of events Isoken meets Kevin who she finds herself falling in Love with, but not only that he is not Nigerian, he is Oyinbo (white). Isoken is a romantic dramedy that explores cultural expectations, racial stereotypes and a bond that unites families.
It is directed by Jade Osiberu starring Dekore Egbuson-Akande, Joseph Benjamin, Marc Rhys, Funke Akindele and Amilola Adegbite produced in Nigeria in 2017 with English and French Subtitles.
Tolu (Short Film)
Synopsis: A young girl in Nigerian fishing village decides to help her family and learns to believe in her slef, the movie’s genre is fantasy, it is directed by Nadine Ibrahim. The casts are Wale Ojo, Somekele Iyamah Idhalama, Halimat Olarenwaju and Karibi Fubara; produced 2017 in Nigeria.
Alter Ego (“Eros”, Canal Love)
Synopsis: Ada Igwe is a highly revered Law Attorney who has focused a substantial part of her law practice on seeking justice against sex offenders even when the court room fails her. However, a dark secret puts her at odds with the very thing she hates most. How will she reconcile her own demons before its too late?
The movie is a drama genre, directed by Moses Inwang, starring Omotola Julade-Ekeinde, Wale Ojo, Kunle Rhemmy, Bobby Obodo, Charles Billion, Emem Inwang, Esther Eyibio produced in Nigeria in 2017 with English and French subtitles.
Saturday May 5th 2018
The day featured screening of the Wedding Party 2, short film titled ‘Wetin for Hassan’ followed by feature film ‘Kasola’.
Kasala (Philia, Brotherly Love)
Synopsis: Taking place in a Nigerian slum, Tunji a fast talking teenager borrows his no-nonsense uncle’s car and gets his friends, Chikodi, Effiong and Abraham to join him on a joy ride around the neighbourhood, things turn sour when they crash the car and only have five hours to raise the required funds to fix the car before Tunji’s uncle gets back. They resort to avenues known to each one of them in order to get quick money.
The genre: category is coming of Age, directed by Ema Edosio, featuring Jide Kosoko, Sambasa Nzeribe, Judith Audu fought, Chimezie Imo, produced 2018 in Nigeria with pidgin English and French subtitles.
Sylvia (World premiere): “Mama’ Obsessive Love
Synopsis: Richard Okezie is loyal when it comes to love which is good since Sylvia his childhood friend and the woman of his dreams takes loyalty seriously. The two have always been inseparable until the day Richard meets Gbemi the real love of his life.
Genre: Drama/Thriller, directed by Daniel Oriahi featuring Zainab Balogun, Chris Attohini Dima Okojie, Udoka Onyeka, produced 2018 with English and French subtitles.
Delivery Boy (‘Agape’, Sacrificial Love)
Amir, a young Nigerian terrorist goes rogue right before his final mission, in a romantic affair. A long way he joins forces with an unlikely comrade leading to an ending that non of them would have predicted.
The genure is drama, it is directed by Adekunle Adejugigbe, Charles Etubiebi, produced in 2918 with Hausa, English and French subtitles.
Sunday May 6th 2018 (Closing Formalities)
The closing day witnessed the screening of Banana Island Ghost, short film titled “Still Water Runs Deep”, the House wife, question and answer session, closing night ceremony announcing the winning film(s) and the world premiere of the Lagos landing followed by question and answer with the cast and crew.
Banana Island Ghost (Big) ‘Soul Love’
Synopsis: A ghost that is cared to go to headen because he never found his soul mate convinces God to give him three days to find love. He is paired with Ijeoma, a cantankerous fire cracker who will stop at nothing to save her late father’s estate in the most prestigious neighbourhood in Nigeria, Banana Island. The two of them must learn to work together to find what they each are seeking.
Genre, Comedy, director BB Sasore, cast Chioma Omeruah, Ali Nuhu, Danilola Adegbite, Saidi Balogun, Patrick Diabuah, produced in Nigeria, 2018, dubbed in French.
Lagos Landing-‘Cyber Love’
This love story inspired by true events centres around Jacqueline, an upright middle class Parisian woman who joins a dating site in search of the perfect novel like romance and adventure, she’s always imagined. She connects with Bayo, a self made young rich lawyer in far away Nigeria who has a seemingly boring life.
After a few weeks she finds herself in Lagos Nigeria to meet her outline lover face to face. The story takes a twist when Jacqueline upon arriving Lagos becomes a victim of mistaken identity.
Starring Rmasey Nouah, Kayla Eva, Emmanuel Ekubese.
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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