Entertainment

Wizkid Accused of Clout Chasing Over Afrobeat Disassociation

Published

2 years ago

March 28, 2024

On March 16, 2024, Wizkid took to his Instagram story to announce the completion of his upcoming album ‘Morayo,’ named after his late mother who passed away in 2023.

In the latest episode of Pulse Hot Take, guests Obong Roviel and Basito discussed Wizkid’s recent decisive post distancing himself from the Afrobeats genre.

In a series of posts, Wizkid stated that fans who enjoyed his previous Afrobeats-style music like ‘Pakurumo’ should not expect the same from his next album. He also declared that he did not identify as an Afrobeats artist and requested Nigerian blogs not to promote his upcoming album, sparking a frenzy on social media.

Discussing Wizkid’s assertion of not being an Afrobeats artist, Obong Roviel dismissed it as a ploy for attention, likening it to Burna Boy’s statement that “Afrobeats lacked substance” before releasing his last album, ‘I Told Them.’

“When an artist is gearing up to release a project in Nigeria, you can always tell because they resort to attention-seeking tactics,” remarked Obong Roviel about Wizkid’s outburst.

Contrary to popular belief, Obong Roviel argued that being labeled as an Afrobeats artist does not limit creative freedom. He cited Drake as an example, noting that the rapper seamlessly transitions between different music genres without being confined by labels.

Basito, a staunch Wizkid supporter, countered Obong Roviel’s argument, highlighting the challenges African artists face in international awards due to the Afrobeats categorization.

“When it comes to international awards, African artists are often grouped into a single Afrobeats category, regardless of their musical style. Wizkid wants Nigerian artists to have the opportunity to compete in other categories,” Basito contended.

While some claim that the Afrobeats label restricts artists, others argue that Nigerian musicians have been recognized in non-Afrobeats categories. Wizkid’s song ‘Essence’ won an R&B category at the BET Awards, and Burna Boy was nominated in the Best Melodic Hip Hop category at the 66th Grammys for his song ‘Sittin’ On Top of The World’ featuring 21 Savage.

This demonstrates that Nigerian artists can receive recognition in other music genres beyond Afrobeats, suggesting that the Afrobeats label may not be as restrictive as perceived.

Entertainment

Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twins

Published

6 hours ago

January 8, 2026

By Huldah Shado

Nigerian singers Adekunle Gold and Simi have welcomed twin children.
Adekunle Gold announced the development on his Instagram page on Wednesday, January 8, 2026, expressing gratitude for the double blessing. “I asked God for another child and He gave me double,” he wrote.
Details of the twins’ birth were not disclosed, but the announcement sparked an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans, colleagues and well-wishers across social media.
The couple, who married in a private ceremony in January 2019, previously welcomed their first child, a daughter, Deja, in May 2020.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele Makes History as New Movie Hits ₦1bn

Published

1 week ago

December 30, 2025

By Onyeanya Immaculata

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele’s latest cinema release, Behind The Scenes, has crossed the ₦1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office, grossing ₦1,109,463,846 and setting multiple records, according to distributor FilmOne Entertainment.

FilmOne announced the milestone on Monday via its X handle, describing the achievement as historic and unprecedented in the West African film industry. The company said the film is now the fastest in West Africa to gross over ₦1 billion.

The distributor also revealed that Behind The Scenes recorded the highest single-day box office gross ever on Boxing Day, earning ₦129.5 million. In addition, the movie has emerged as the highest-grossing theatrical release of 2025 so far, maintaining strong momentum weeks after its cinema debut.

FilmOne highlighted Akindele’s continued dominance at the box office, describing her as the only director to have crossed the ₦1 billion mark three different times and Nollywood’s highest-grossing producer of all time. The company added that she is also the first filmmaker to deliver three consecutive ₦1 billion films within one calendar year.

“Thank you to everyone for the love and support so far. This win is for all of us,” FilmOne stated.

The film held advanced screenings on December 10 and 11 before its nationwide cinema release on December 12. Within days, it crossed ₦200 million and went on to post one of the strongest opening weekends of the year.

Earlier updates from FilmOne described the performance as the biggest opening weekend of 2025, with the film becoming the fastest Nollywood production to reach ₦500 million and the highest-grossing Nollywood film of the year at the time.

Behind The Scenes explores the theme of black tax, focusing on the social and financial pressures faced by individuals supporting extended family members. The storyline has resonated strongly with audiences.

The film stars Scarlet Gomez in the lead role, alongside Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale “Mr Macaroni,” Ibrahim Chatta, Kamo State, and reality TV stars Handi and Wanni Danbaki, among others.

Entertainment

Nollywood Actress, Producer Allwell Ademola Dies at 43

Published

2 weeks ago

December 28, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Huldah Shado

Nollywood actress and film producer, Allwell Ademola, has died at the age of 43.

Ademola reportedly passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025, after suffering a heart attack at her residence.

Details surrounding her death remained sketchy as of Saturday evening, with the news circulating quietly among her friends and colleagues within the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Sources said the actress was at home when the incident occurred.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been released by her family or representatives, while members of the Nollywood community continued to express shock over the sudden loss.

Allwell Ademola was a prominent figure in Nollywood, known for her work both in front of and behind the camera.

Over the years, she featured in several films and produced a number of notable projects, contributing significantly to the growth of the industry.

She was also recognised for mentoring and supporting younger actors, including Rotimi Salami, whose career she reportedly helped to nurture.

Beyond her contributions to film, Ademola was also known for her distinguished family background.

She was one of the granddaughters of the late Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, the highly respected Nigerian jurist who served as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Her death marks another major loss to the Nigerian film industry, as colleagues and admirers remember her for her talent, generosity and commitment to Nollywood.