Entertainment

Bole Festival Pulls Large Crowd – As Fun Seekers Defy Bad Weather

Published

4 years ago

August 13, 2021

There is no doubt that the entertainment industry in Port Harcourt is growing by leaps and bounds with innovative and creative ideas by the shakers and movers of the industry.
This came alive as Port Harcourt fun seekers defied the rain in their number and trooped into the main arena of Peace Park on Aba Road near the Airforce Base to participate in the Bole Festival, late afternoon penultimate Friday and Saturday.
The festival however, turned into carnival as the both side lines of that part of Aba Road witnessed gridlock. Fun lovers adorned different fashionable clothes like don green (jean upon jean), black T-shirt and black chino jean trouser and other assorted fashionable clothes which added more colour, pomp and pageantry to the festival.
Port Harcourt residents, especially those who took part in the festival would not forget so soon that the huge success achieved by the management team and the organisers of this event, as though there was no cash crunch in the nation’s economy, has proved that the entertainment industry in the state is rich and robust, waiting to be explored and tapped by both indigenous and foreign tourists.
Little wonder, despite the bad weather and the presence of fierce looking bouncers and other private security men at the main entrance into the Peace Park, the gate fee of two thousand Naira (N2,000,00) and the small pieces of bole in a foil plate which was sold at two thousand Naira (N2,000.00) participants did not mind as they queued up and paid in their number.
There were other festive lovers who could not find their way into the Peace Park proper, due to the large crowd, but brought their bole from volunteers in the main bowl of the peace park behind the wire cage on the counter.
Speaking to The Tide, the volunteers who preferred anonymity said they had to assist the organisers and the management of the bole festival was ensure that every fun seeker is treated as an important personality which was responsible for huge patronage. They also revealed that there were some patronisers in the festival, who did not have money on them, but availed themselves of the POS services rendered by the volunteers.
In the large crowd, The Tide spoke with a member of the management team, Mr Divine Agulu, who declined to grant interview, but promised to get in touch with the head of the media team of the event but did not return back whilst The Tide waited endlessly in the rain accompanied by cold breeze.
In another development, there were important lessons to learn from the bole festival, it has created employment amongst the teeming youths in the state, as they voluntarily elected to work as volunteers and to be paid handsomely for their services by the management of the festival.
Again, the bole festival has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that if the right atmosphere, innovation and creativity are put in place, the entertainment industry in the state has a lot to offer in the areas of employment, comic relief, fight against boredom which are elements of healthy living. In consideration of the huge crowd that was attracted by the bole festival, fun seekers in the city would be willing to pay any amount of money just to catch fun.
However, the two-day bole festival which shook Port Harcourt has come and gone, but the memory would continue to linger in the hearts of both the crowd who participated in the festival, the management and the organisers for a long time.

By: Okwein Parker/Newlife Sunday

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

3 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks 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.