Entertainment

Behold, Five Naija Musicians Thrilling The World Most

Published

6 years ago

September 13, 2019

Wizkid Wizkid was born as Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, on 16th July 1990 in Surulere, Lagos State. He started his music career at the age of 11 with a 7 track album entitled Lil Prinz in 2001 in collaboration with Glorious Five. The award-winning recording artist is reputed to have over 80 Award nominations in his career so far of which he has won 20.
He started his record label Starboy Records in 2014 after leaving EME records, a label that now has over 5 artistes from Nigeria as well as Ghana. His long list of hits includes Holla at Your Boy, Azonto and Ojuelegba. Ojuelegba is the hottest on the list and Wizkid has worked with several local and international artists including the likes of R.Kelly and more recently Drake, which placed him as the first Nigerian on Billboard Charts: Courtesy of One Dance.
Tiwa Savage
Tiwatope Savage-Balogun, also known as Tiwa Savage or Tiwa for short, is among the notable Nigerian Musicians the word is listening to right now. The singer cum songwriter, performer and actress has had a lot of media attention recently by reason of her controversial failed marriage to husband Tuji “Tee Billz” Balogun.
The 1980 born musical icon came into stardom in 2006 after her appearance on the UK Version of reality show X-Factor. She is currently signed to one of Nigeria’s foremost record labels, Mavin Records as well as Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Her hit songs include Love Me, Kele Kele, Eminado and Wanted.
Dbanj
The “Koko” crooner and foremost Nigerian entertainer, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo is among Nigerian Musicians taking the world by storm. Dbanj and his famed harmonica have gained tremendous recognition on the global stage with several awards and guest appearances.
The singer turned entrepreneur hosted his own reality show “Koko Mansion” in 2009 and also starred in a Hollywood movie Cruel Summer. He has done several collaborations with top hip-hop artists Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Big Sean and others. His hit songs include Emergency, Oliver Twist, Why Me and Tongolo. Though he is not as popular in Nigeria as he used to be, the world won’t stop dancing to his tunes.
P-Square
Twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye form the group P-Square. The Hip-hop/R & B duo, who have been clouded by a lot of controversy and separation rumours in recent weeks.
With interest in other areas such as Oil and Gas, Real Estate and Agriculture, P-Square is one pair to watch out for. The Nigerian Musicians are consistent headliners for major events, shows and tours across the African continent and across the globe. Hit songs by P-Square include Busy Body, Do Me, Alingo, Personally and Shekini.
Fela
Widely acclaimed as Nigeria’s most celebrated musician, Fela Kuti is one Nigerian Musician the world will never forget. Fela Anikulapo Kuti or simply Fela, recognized by Wikipedia as the pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, kept Nigerians revelling and meditating on his words and music from 1958 up till 1997 when he passed on.
The multi-talented music maestro, human rights activist, and political maverick was a pain in the neck to successive military administrations in Nigeria for years with his vocal lyrics and political undertone. Star rapper Jay Z in 2009 organized the Felabration Concert in honour of the legend. Several artists have done remixes and adaptations of his songs and beats in recent times and they almost always become hits, because of its link to this great World-recognized Nigerian musician.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.