Entertainment
How Anambra Stood Still For Burial Of Obi Cubana’s Mother
Anambra state literally stood still last weekend, as Abuja based billionaire business man and night club owner, Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana and his wealthy friends and associates stormed the sleepy farming village of Oba in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State for the burial of his late mother, Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu who died in December 2020 at the age of 78.
The burial ceremony dubbed burial of the year is still the most talked about event in Nigeria’s social circles and the social media. From the over 400 cows donated to the host, the more than N300 million raised by his committee of friends, to the 67 private jets that landed in Oba, to the fleet of over 500 luxury cars, the burial was a Jamboree of sorts.
The night club boss who had his mother’s face engraved in a diamond pendant with a neck piece worth $100,000 stated that the opulence with which he buried his late mother will make people hungry for death, despite the criticisms by some people over the display of wealth and affluence, it is quite obvious that Obi Cubana’s late mother’s burial has raised the bar too high for any one aspiring to beat his unprecedented record in the country.
The burial ceremony attracted the who is who in the society, including top government officials, seasoned politicians, captains of industries, veterans of the entertainment clan, civil society groups and cultural dancers as well as security operatives, among others.
The burial turned to a mini concert as A-list music stars, Davido and D’banj performed to the amazement of the humongous crowd that graced the event. The Tide gathered that not even Wizkid’s 31st birthday on Friday which coincided with the burial was enough to kill Cubana’s shine as some critics described the burial as “lavished display of wealth”.
Born Obinna Iyiegbu on 21th of April, 1975 the graduate of Political Science from University of Nigeria, Nsukka started his career in 2006 when he formed a club called Ibiza Club in Abuja as he sought to satisfy the yearnings of fun seekers. Following the remarkable success made from Ibiza Club, he established Cubana, a hospitality club that provides all round entertainment and satisfaction in 2009.
Cubana was first established in Owerri, Imo State, today it has spread across various state including Lagos, Abia, Enugu and Rivers. He is currently working on Cubana Dubai and Cubana real estate. His clubs across the country are worth over $2 billion, while his network is estimated at $500,000,000.
The socialite, Obi Cubana has won several awards and recognitions to his credit which include Ghana’s Achievers Award 2017, and Democracy Hero’s award 2018, among others.
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.
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