Entertainment
Nigerian Idol: Faith Mac, Dotun Eliminated As Top Nine Contestants Emerge
Two Nigerian Idol hopefuls, Faith Mac and Dotun have been eliminated from the top 11 stage of the competition after scoring the least votes in the first round of public voting.
During the live show on Sunday, the show’s host, IK Osakioduwa revealed the names of the contestants who made it through to the top nine stage of the competition. To arrive at the top nine, each lucky contestants was given an opportunity to prove their mettle with their song selection.
This week’s performances had surviving contestants perform covers of songs composed by their music idols. The Judges, Seyi Shay, DJ Sose, and Obi Asika, on the other hand watched in the capacity of audience members as the power to save and eliminate contestants had since left their hands.
Performances: Kingdom who revealed that he idolised ‘Teni The entertainer’ handed in a percussion backed rendition of the hit song ‘UyoMeyo’ which was well received by the audience. DJ Sose said that he seemed very comfortable with the song and Seyi Shay noted that the performance was emotive.
Daniel went with a rendition of James Arthur’s ‘Empty Spaces’ which Seyi criticised for lacking verve. Obi Asika was also critical of the song arrangement, but DJ Sose was of the opinion that he did a good job. Faith Jason dressed in all red attire performed a cover of Jon Bellion’s ‘All Time Low’, the same song he performed at the auditions and the judges loved it, even more this time around.
Seyi Shay could not contain her excitement, Beyonce, who disclosed her admiration for the K. Pop band BTS, chose to perform a cover of the track, Dynamite, with assistance from the live band. DJ Sose commended her for showing her playful side, while Obi Asika noted her growth through the stages of the competition.
Emmanuel who had clearly become a fan favourite rendered a soulful cover of Lobrinth’s ‘Beneath your beautiful’ which was lauded by Obi Asika for the palpable emotion. Seyi Shay described the performance as ‘captivating’ while DJ Sose added that he would do better as a live performer and not a recording artiste.
The sixth contestant to be saved was Akunna, the entertainment lawyer. She took on the difficult task of covering Beyonce’s ‘XO’ but her strong voice carried the performance. The voters also appeared to show kindness to Clinton who put his vocals to the test with John Legend’s ‘Tonight’ with some help from the live Band.
Also getting saved by the voting public was Francis who chose to perform Sam Smith’s ‘Writing on the wall’, the theme song for the James Bond’s film ‘Spectre’ which he pulled off brilliantly much to the applause of the Judges. Obi Asika described his voice as a ‘lethal weapon’.
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.
-
Politics5 days agoEFCC Alleges Blackmail Plot By Opposition Politicians
-
Business5 days ago
AFAN Unveils Plans To Boost Food Production In 2026
-
Sports5 days agoJ And T Dynasty Set To Move Players To Europe
-
Politics5 days ago
Datti Baba-Ahmed Reaffirms Loyalty To LP, Forecloses Joining ADC
-
Business5 days ago
Industrialism, Agriculture To End Food Imports, ex-AfDB Adviser Tells FG
-
Politics5 days ago
Bayelsa APC Endorses Tinubu For Second Term
-
Business5 days ago
Cashew Industry Can Generate $10bn Annually- Association
-
Entertainment5 days agoAdekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies