Entertainment

Behold, Five Fast Rising Nollywood Actresses To Watch In 2019

Published

7 years ago

February 1, 2019

2018 was a roundly successful year for the Nigerian movie industry and a handful of actors and actresses got their big break, while others cemented and elevated their status.
Among the fastest rising Nollywood actresses who had a successful 2018 and will be hoping to extend the good fortunes in 2019 are:
Adesua Etomi: Since Adesua burst into the scene some two years ago, she has maintained a steady rise in the movie industry. She became famous after her starring role in the movie, “Knocking On Heaven’s Door.” However, the movie that actually shot her to limelight is “The Wedding Party (2016) where she starred alongside her hubby, Bankole Wellington, popularly called Banky W.
The elegant actress elevated her status as one of the fastest rising Nollywood Stars in 2018 with a handful star features some of which include “King of Boys,” Memoirs of 4, “Date Night” and more. She played the lead role in most of these movies. All things being equal, she is certainly one of the leading contenders to the ‘Best Actress’ accolade later this year.
Linda Ejiofor: She surely had a year to remember in 2018, both at the professional and personal levels. She became a household name in the industry with her starring role in the on going movie series – Tinsel, towards the end of the year, she crowned her professional success with a grander personal achievement.
She got married to fellow Nollywood movie star, Ibrahim Suleiman and for some reasons, her marriage further enhanced her popularity as well as that of her husband. Notable features of Linda in 2018 include: “Memoirs of 4,” “Chief Daddy,” “Tinsel” (series) “Rumour Has It” (series) etc. With a growing fan base she is definitely one of the actresses to look out for in 2019.
Belinda Effah: Belinda Effah is without doubt, one of the top rated stars of Nollywood today and while she has been in the industry for close to 15 years now, she is yet to break into the Nollywood A-class set up in 2013. She won the AMAA’s Most Promising Act. Since then she has not been able to take it one step further to the Best Actress category. Could 2019 be her year? Time will tell.
Belinda starred in a handful of movies in 2018 some of which include “Purpose Flame,” “Udemmenic,” I cannot “Fall In Love” and more.
Mary Lazarus: Mary Lazarus is one of the star actresses of new generation Nollyood, she started her career in showbiz since way back in 2002 when she left her corporate job to become a model. In 2009, she made her entry into Nollywood and went on to feature in a movie titled “Waiting Years,” directed by John Njama.
She has made a slow, but steady rise in the Nigerian movie scene, and she is today one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry so far in her decade and career. 2017 and 2018 have been her most successful years. All things being equal, 2019 is expected to follow the trend. Some of her movies in 2018 are “Downing, Married in Hell,” A Wildfire and more.
Zainab Balogun: Zainab Balogun has within the space of three to four years shot herself to the top of the Nigerian movie scene, she started her career in showbiz (as a model) at the age of 16 and she has enjoyed significant success in her chosen line of work.
The UK born actress made her entry into Nollywood a few years back. Within the period she has featured in some top grossing movies some of which include: the Wedding Party (IY2) Royal Hibiscus Hotel, “A soldier’s Story” and more.
Her most recent star feature is perhaps her role in ‘Syvia’ where she played the lead character named Syvia. Other notable 2018 features of Zainab Balogun include, “Chief Daddy” and God calling.
The actress was recognised by future awards for a successful year in the Nigerian movie industry and 2019 obviously shows more promise for her.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

5 days 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

5 days 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

5 days 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.