Entertainment
MTN Project Fame Winner Decries Glorification Of Afro Pop
The winner of MTN project fame West Africa Season 9, Okiemute Ighlorodje has decried the glorification of the Afro pop to the detriment of other genres of music as she noted that other music genres including Blues, Reggae RNB, Jazz, classical and folk were being stereotyped.
The artiste, who stated this in a recent interview said such stereotype would not give the affected genres and their artistes the opportunity to attain their full potential. The budding singer, whose stage name is also Okiemute urged relevant stakeholders particularly music promoters, radio and television stations to place deserving attention to the neglected genres.
“There is need to understand that music is diverse, there should not be a deliberate attempt to promote a music genre over the other, Afro pop is making a lot of waves over the others because of its promotion.
Whereas there are many people that love other music genres, they should stop stereotyping other firms of music, music is music, if it is of good quality and it follows the rules, it should be appreciated”, she said.
Okiemute said some radio and TV stations especially the music channels adore quality of this stereotype because of their failure to feature the neglected music genres as Afro pop.
“From morning till night, what you hear most of these stations playing is Afro pop music, they do not give the audience the opportunity to make choice, listeners want to make up in the morning, tune to a radio station and listen to cool music.
In the afternoon, they want to listen to mid-day music, cross over tunes before late night, they will like to listen to party songs that will make them shake their body and all that. If listeners are given opportunity to listen to the genres, they will start reciting them and the music will see the light of the day”, she said.
Speaking on the predominance of vulgar lyrics in contemporary music, Okiemute said artistes must by to strike a balance. She said many of the artistes being condemned for vulgar Lyrics in contemporary music, Okiemute said artistes must try to strike a balance. She said many of the artistes being condemned for vulgar lyrics also have songs with lyrics that propagate good values and teach morals. She contended that vulgarity could not be totally taken away from music because it has its social functions.
“Our generation wants to party and have fun, we know the ills in the society, we know about the stress and happenings, but most artistes want to take their listeners out of all these challenges. They use what is being regarded as vulgar music (lyrics) to create the illusion for people to forget their sufferings and move on with life.
The 27-year-old budding artiste and graduate of linguistics and Communication, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), who have so far dropped two singles titled ‘Good Loving’ produced with a video and ‘African Wonder’ noted that the problems of the upcoming artistes like herself were finance and lack of direction as well as difficulty to strike a collabo. He urged the older artistes to carry the young ones along.
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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