Entertainment
Clergy Rededicates Community To God
It was jubilation galore at Emohua kingdom in Rivers State over the weekend,as a renowned ecumenical clergy, Rev.Dr Chukwuemeka Oji,rededicated the kingdom to God amidst praise, worship and dancing to the glory of God,as well as thanks giving and exchange of good wishes to usher in the new year.
The theme of this year’s Emohua Day With God, titled “Arise, Go To Nineveh (Jonah,1:2,2-3)” where God instructed prophet Jonah to “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city and cry against it,because their wickedness has come before me …”, attracted a humongous crowd of both indigenes and none indigenes.
The guest preacher, while delivering his sermon at the event held recently, at StateSchool 1 field, Ahia-Ezi,Emohua, likened his mission to Emohua to that of Jonah in the Bible, whom the same God directed to go to Nineveh and preach the gospel of repentan and salvation to the people and rededicate their land.
After his sermon, prayers and rededication service, the Man of God charged the people to repent from their evil ways and embrace God’s salvation in order to enjoy the abundant blessings of God upon the land.
In his address at the event, the traditional ruler of Emohua Kingdom, HRM,Ohna, Sir Sergeant Awuse, Olo iv, Nneweli Emohua xiii lauded the guest preacher for his inspirational sermon and prayers which he said had rejuvenated the spirit of the people who were oppurtuned to witness the divine encounter with God.
The monarch announced some changes in the annual event. He directed that henceforth, the event would no longer hold at the Government Secondary School’s field Emohua, rather it should be held at State School 1 field Ahia-Ezi,Emohua. He noted that Ahia-Ezi was the ancestral center of Emohua clan, therefore it was the right place to hold the event since it involves the entire Emohua kingdom.
He also stated that the date of the annual event would no longer be January 15,but January, 2nd because Emohua kingdom must begin the new year with God, while the planning and organisation of the event which was previously handled by the Gospel Ministers Fellowship of Emohua (GMFE), since inception 22 years ago would now be handled by the Royal palace in conjunction with the gospel ministers.
He stressed that the new changes would give the event the prominence it deserves as an important event in the kingdom. He noted that the event had contributed immensely to the restoration of peace in Emohua communities through their prayers and ministrations and directed that the programme must be encouraged by all well meaning individuals in the kingdom
Also speaking, the President of the gospel ministers fellowship of Emohua, Rev. Dr. P.O. Ezeonye, JP expressed gratitude to God for the massive turnout of the people and success of the event despite initial difficulties. He noted that the year’s event was one of the best in terms of attendance, divine ministrations and spiritual impact on the people since the inception of the program 22years ago.
Rev. Dr Ezeonye who is also the minister in charge of first Baptist Church, Rumuche Emohua lauded the guest preacher for his amazing and inspirational sermon adding that his divine ecumenical calling had saved many souls and communities within and outside Nigeria and thanked God for sending him to Emohua to deliver the people and bless the land.
Rev. Ezeonye also commanded the gospel ministers for keeping Faith with God and for championing the continuation of the event over the years. He also applauded Ohna Awuse for the changes in the the events of the annual program and for taking over the organisation of the programme which has removed the financial burden from the gospel ministers .He however assured the ministers that they would be carried along in the new dispensation.
Earlier in his speech at the event, the former President of the gospel ministers fellowship, Rev. Barr. Dan Obinna praised God for sending the guest preacher to Emohua. He also commended Ohna Awuse for changing the old narrative of the programme which he said was a right step in the right direction.
“The new venue, Ahia-Ezi happens to be the ancestral center of Emohua clan, today the Ark has returned home to its rightful place to the glory of God, the guest preacher is the harbinger of the new dawn,” he said.
The historic event was attended by several church groups, including Government House chapel of everlasting grace choir, Port Harcourt ,Century of Grace choir, Rumuakunde, Baptist church Emohua, First Baptist Church choir, Rumuche Emohua and Emohua Kingdom Gospel Band, 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.