Entertainment
Nollywood Loses 8 Stars In First Quarter Of 2019
After the painful death of Bisi Komolafe on December 31, 2012 – leaving grief and sorrow for the better part of January 2013 – a lot of Nollywood practitioners were hoping such occurrence will cease to usher in a new year. Unfortunately, 2019 isn’t towing that line of hope and prayer with eight deaths already recorded in the first quarter of the year!
Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde (Whatzup), Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi [Facebook] and LinChung Oliver [Facebook] died between January 2019 and April 2019.
The first four months of 2019 has witnessed at least two deaths of movie practitioners whose ages ranged between 30 years and 58 years. The movie practitioners that have passed away have not only left sad pills on the mouth of the fans of these practitioners but also their friends and colleagues.
Gbenga Akintunde aka Burger was the first actor to pass away in 2019 [Instagram/kunleafod)
Early on Friday, January 4, Yoruba actor, Gbenga “Burger” Akintunde passed away. He was 47-years-old. Exactly 17 days later, it was revealed that a younger actor, Adewale Olanrewaju aka ‘Ishow Larry’ also passed away. The two deaths left a hole in the heart of their families, friends, colleagues and fans with eulogies pouring in on different social media platforms – majorly Facebook and Instagram.
Reports of two Yoruba actors’ death in a month – and both under the age of 50 – saw practitioners kicking off the year with hopes of a better year ahead.
And just exactly a month after Gbenga “Burger” Akintunde’s death, Funmilayo ‘Ijewuru’ Ogunsola passed away on February 4, 2019. She died at the age of 53.
23 days after colleagues began mourning Ijewuru, the industry recorded another death. It was the death of Rotimi Alfred Popoola. Ogun state arm of the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners of Nigeria, TAMPAN, announced the death of Popoola, who starred in over 80 movies before his death.
The late Alfred Rotimi Popoola was a member of TAMPAN, Abeokuta chapter before his death. (TAMPAN).
March wasn’t to go without recording another death as actor, Tony Anyasodor passed away on March 8, 2019. And two days after Anyasodor’s death was announced, the industry was greeted with the news of Paul Emema, the brain behind popular soap opera in the early 9os, ‘Behind the Cloud’. Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi capped the month of March when she passed away on March 30, 10 days after welcoming a baby.
Tony Anyasodor was announced dead on Thursday, March 7, 2019. [Instagram/Tessyblog]
As the industry enters the second quarter, the news of comedian and actor, LinChung Duke Oliver rented the air on April 2, 2019. He died after a car crash on his way to Lagos.
Paul Emema is renowned for producing soap operas like ‘Behind the Clouds’ and ‘Supple Blues’.
Of all the deaths, LinChung was the only one that wasn’t associated with terminal or ill health. From Akintunde to Ijewuru, Larry Ishow, Popoola, Anyasodor and Emema, they were all health related deaths. This has left many wondering if the practitioners actually give worthy attention to their health or lack of funds should be held responsible for their deteriorating health before death.
LinChung Duke Oliver has passed away days after the burial of his late mum [Facebook/Jimboy Olayinka COmedian]
However, help came to Babatunde ‘Babasuwe’ Omidina after news broke that his health was fast failing and the family sought donations. Babasuwe was further supported by TAMPAN and the Health minister, Professor Isaac Adewole. Babasuwe is back on his feet and ready to proceed to the United States of America to complete his treatment.
Olabisi Monsurat Abe Ishola passed away on March 30, 2019 [Facebook/Abe Ishola Olabisi Monsurat]
On March 28, the news of Samuel ‘Alabi Yellow’ Akinpelu broke and practitioners are already rallying round to help him regain his health. But the question remains, what can be done to reduce the death rate of popular Nigerian movie stars who resort to seeking funds when terminal ailments hit them? An arm of the industry has been working on health insurance programmes but while some of the entertainers embraced the ideas, others aren’t sure of its possibility. Let’s only pray no more deaths are recorded till the end of the year.
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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