Entertainment
Funfare, Praise As Cleric Rededicates Rivers Community
Another peaceful mile-stone has been recorded in Emohua Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State following the re-dedication of the land to God by a renowned minister of God, Venerable Okechukwu Chezu of the Anglican Communion at this year’s “Emohua Day With God” Thanksgiving service, amid jubilation, songs of praise worship and thanksgiving.
The event which took place on Sunday, January 17,2021 attracted a massive crowd of worshippers within the eight villages of Emohua and beyond, most of who gave their lives to Christ and promised to turn a new leaf in order to sustain the present peaceful co-existence, unity and progress in the area.
In his message at this year’s thanksgiving service with the theme “Emohua Move Forward”, Venerable Chezu emphasised God’s command to Moses in Exodus 14:15 where God said: “ why do you cry to me, tell the people of Israel to go forward.” He urged the people of Emohua to move forward in this 21st century as those who are not ready to move forward will be left behind.
He charged the people to reciprocate the good gestures of God and do away with Idol worship, greed, injustice and wickedness in order to enjoy the peaceful environment God has restored. He joined hands with other gospel ministers to rededicate the land as he declared that “henceforth, it shall be forward ever,backward never in Emohua community”.
In his good will message, the monarch of Emohua Kingdom, Eze V.C.B Okor thanked God for his blessings upon the land as he urged the people to be mindful of their negative utterances, behaviour and lifestyle and promote peaceful co-existence as well as seek God’s guidance in all their endeavours.
The monarch who was represented by his son, Prince Chigozi Okor also urged the bad elements in the community to stop praying for the death of their neighbours and championing crisis in the area. He therefore called on parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards in order to forestall fresh communal crisis. He applauded Ohna Awuse for eradicating cultism and restoring peace in the community.
Also speaking at the event, Ohna Sergent Awuse commended the people of the community for their massive turnout at the event and for embracing peace. He noted that the annual event has helped to maintain peace and unite the people as he promised to sponsor the next edition of the event in 2022 to ensure its continuity.
Ohna Awuse who is also the spokesman of Ohna Emohua in Council called for prayers for Governor, Nyesom Wike whom God in his infinite wisdom has chosen to govern the state. He described Wike as an exceptional Governor who has the interest and welfare of Rivers people at heart and has impacted positively on the lives of the people through his various developmental projects and programmes across the state to the envy of his detractors.
He thanked the Governor for his various human interest projects in Emohua such as the commissioning of roads, establishment and funding of a Faculty of the Rivers State University in Emohua and appointment of Emohua indigenes to public office among others.
Awuse also urged the people of Emohua to observe all Covid- 19 protocols complement the state government’s efforts towards curbing the spread of the Covid -19 pandemic which he said has killed over 1.3 million people all over the world, even as he thanked God that none of the victims was from Emohua community and urged them to stay safe.
The president, Gospel Ministers Fellowship of Emohua, Rev. (Dr) P.O. Ezeonye disclosed that the Emohua Day with God Thanksgiving Service which started in 2000 has become an annual event where people of the community and beyond gather to pray and seek the face of God which has helped to restore peace, unity and progress in the area.
He said God has been keeping his covenant with the people, and urged them to also reciprocate by giving their lives to Christ so that peace and harmony will continue to reign in the land.
In his vote of thanks, the Founding President of the Gospel Ministers Fellowship and former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), Port Harcourt, Rev. (Barr) Dan Obinna thanked God for the success of the event as many people gave their lives to God. He also lauded Ohna Sergent Awuse for promising to sponsor the next edition of the programme as he prayed God to reward him.
By: Jacob Obinna
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.