Author: Yewande Fasan

  • Ayra Starr, Mofe Damijo join cast of ‘Children of Blood and Bone’

    Ayra Starr, Mofe Damijo join cast of ‘Children of Blood and Bone’

    The highly anticipated film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling novel, “Children of Blood and Bone,” has announced additional cast members.

    Ayra Starr, an Afrobeats star, and seasoned actor Richard Mofe-Damijo are among the latest additions to the production.

    The film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, Tosin Cole as Tzain, Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari, and Damson Idris as Prince Inan.

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    Other notable cast members include Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, and Lashana Lynch.

    Set in the mythical kingdom of Orïsha, the story follows Zélie’s journey to restore magic to her people after King Saran’s brutal suppression.

    Filming is scheduled to begin in South Africa, with a planned release in early 2027.

  • Portable slams VDM over Mercy Chinwo alleged diss track collab request

    Portable slams VDM over Mercy Chinwo alleged diss track collab request

    Controversial singer Portable has publicly denounced social media critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), for asking him to collaborate on a diss track targeting gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

    The drama unfolded after Chinwo filed a N1.1 billion defamation lawsuit against VDM, who had accused her of misappropriating funds from her shows without paying her former record label.

    On his Instagram, Portable expressed his displeasure with VDM’s request, warning him to stop mentioning his name.

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    He questioned VDM’s credibility, asking if he had N100 million to collaborate with him.

    Portable said: “You are already overstepping your boundaries, VDM or whatever you are called, you are overstepping. Stop talking about me, do not mention my name.

    “You just come from nowhere… You said that we should sing, do you have N100 million in your account to feature me?”

  • Do not sell your salvation, Adeboye urges Christians

    Do not sell your salvation, Adeboye urges Christians

    General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has advised Christians to prioritise their salvation and maintain a consistent faith.

    Speaking at the Special Holy Ghost Service, Adeboye cautioned against living a double life, where individuals present themselves differently in church and outside.

    He emphasised the importance of abiding in God’s presence, dressing modestly and avoiding the temptation to blend in with the world. 

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    Adeboye also stressed the significance of soul-winning and prayer, highlighting these as essential components of experiencing “joy unspeakable” and God’s continuous presence.

    He said: “This is my advice to you, and I urge you to take it seriously: do not sell your salvation. Abide in God’s presence. Stop living a double life—being one person in church and another outside. 

    “Some of you dress one way for church and another way in public, blending in with the world. Be consistent in your faith.”

  • No mercy abroad, Dele Momodu cautions against Japa

    No mercy abroad, Dele Momodu cautions against Japa

    Media expert Dele Momodu has urged Nigerians living abroad to reconsider their priorities.

    Momodu emphasised that having N30-40 million in Nigeria can provide a comfortable life and enable entrepreneurship.

    He argued that perfect security does not exist anywhere, citing the example of 3,000 people allegedly being killed in New York on a single day.

    Momodu encouraged Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities in their home country, where they can set up their own businesses, ranches, or farms.

    Momodu also highlighted the harsh realities of living abroad, where one must pay bills and face financial struggles without mercy.

    He cautioned that the glamour of living abroad often wears off when one has to rent their own house and pay bills without support.

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    He said in an interview with Teju Babyface: “If you had 30/40 million in Nigeria and you think you’re a poor man, I beg you, you’re a m@d man. You have 30/40 million and you can’t set up a proper business in Nigeria. I beg you think again. There’s nowhere where there’s perfect security. 

    “On a single day 3000 people got killed in New York. The people of New York have not abandoned their country because of that. In fact you can set up your own security in Nigeria. 

    “If food is the matter, if you want to start your own ranch in Nigeria with cows and everything, you can start with N30million.

    “The attraction of staying abroad is that when you go on vacation, everyone welcomes you. You’re staying with your family in a free house. The day you carry all  your children to another man’s house and he knows you’re not leaving in a hurry, you’re going to see the difference. 

    “And the day you rent your own house, that is the trauma you’re going to carry for almost all the rest of your life. Because you now have to face the reality of paying your own bills abroad. And there’s no mercy, once your money finishes, your life goes. No mercy. Just remember that Dele Momodu said ‘No mercy abroad’”.

  • Destiny Etiko petitions Queeneth Hilbert over alleged defamation

    Destiny Etiko petitions Queeneth Hilbert over alleged defamation

    Actress Destiny Etiko has filed a petition against colleague, Queeneth Hilbert, over allegations of “snatching” wealthy boyfriends.

    According to a series of videos, Queeneth Hilbert had accused Destiny Etiko of taking her colleagues’ “Odogwu” including one of her ex-partners from Benin who drove a Mercedes-Benz.

    In response, Destiny Etiko’s legal team has petitioned Queeneth Hilbert, demanding a retraction of the alleged defamatory statements on all social media platforms.

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    Etiko claims the allegations are false and aimed at tarnishing her reputation.

    The petition seeks to halt further publication of defamatory statements and demands a formal retraction of the derogatory publication.

  • I’m raising men who respect women, says Chimamanda Adichie

    I’m raising men who respect women, says Chimamanda Adichie

    Celebrated author Chimamanda Adichie has reaffirmed her commitment to raising her sons with values that promote gender equality and respect for women.

    In a recent interview with BBC’s Emma Barnett, Adichie emphasised the importance of shaping future generations and combating toxic masculinity.

    “I’m determined to raise good men. I’m thinking about how to make them never feel entitled to women’s bodies,” Adichie stated.

    Adichie stressed the need for boys to have positive role models, highlighting the disparity between the availability of strong female figures for young girls and the lack for boys.

    She expressed her desire for good men to stand up and serve as role models.

    “In general, little girls now have women in public life they can admire. But I don’t think boys have that in the same way. That space is instead occupied by noxious characters and ideas. I wish the good men would stand up,” she said.

    The acclaimed author, known for her feminist advocacy through works like “We Should All Be Feminists,” believes that masculinity can evolve to align with equality.

    Read Also: Chimamanda Adichie releases another novel Dream Count today

    “Culture doesn’t make us, we make culture. We can remake masculinity in a way that is compatible with equality. It can be done,” she asserted.

    Adichie also reflected on the impact of motherhood on her life and creativity, admitting that becoming a mother influenced her writing process and led to a creative block.

    “I don’t like to use the expression ‘writer’s block’ because I’m superstitious, but it happened when I became pregnant. Something changed, and I don’t think it was just physiological,” she said.

    Her latest novel, “Dream Count,” marks her return to fiction after over a decade, tackling themes such as gender, race, and health with “radical honesty.”

  • Nigerian men are not ready for self-made women – Bukky Wright

    Nigerian men are not ready for self-made women – Bukky Wright

    Movie star Bukky Wright has opened up about the difficulties actresses encounter in their relationships, particularly with Nigerian men. 

    In an interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Channels TV, Wright revealed that many actresses struggle to find suitable partners due to the nature of their profession.

    She explained that some men who pursue actresses often have ulterior motives, such as seeking fame or clout, rather than genuine love. 

    She further noted that when the “right” men do come along, they often lack the emotional maturity to handle a relationship with a strong, independent woman.

    According to Wright, Nigerian men are generally unprepared to embrace the independence and self-sufficiency of a self-made woman.

    She said: “To be very honest, it affects homes, it affects your marriage but at the same time do you get the right men to come to you? Most of the time it’s a no, because the men who feel they’re right for you, I had someone ask, where do I start from, I’ll be like seriously? Start from wherever, start from the beginning, you’re a man, and I’m a woman. But unfortunately, you get to find out that the men that have the guts to talk to you as an actress are probably, I don’t want to say, clout chasers.

    “But you won’t blame the women in the Industry because these are the men that come up to them, and for somebody that has that kind of intention, what do you expect out of that marriage? And at times when the right men come, a lot of them don’t have what it takes to be with a self-made woman or a popular actress, sometimes they get jealous on what they’re not supposed to get jealous on forgetting that you met this woman doing this job, you saw her on the screen as an actress, you saw her as a self-made woman before you approached her, so what is it you’re jealous of, is it the fame or what?

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    “Because I’ve seen a lot of things, I’m going to say this has happened to me, I’ll just say that Nigerian men are not ready for a self-made woman. I’m sorry if this comes as an insult, but are you ready for a self-made woman? Are you ready for an independent woman? because if you want an independent woman or if you want a strong woman, trust me there are some things that you can’t get”.

    She concluded that men who desire a submissive partner should consider seeking someone who is not ambitious or driven, as a strong-willed woman will inevitably rebel against attempts to suppress her aspirations.

    “But if you want a woman that will always succumb to you, I’ll say go to your village, and get somebody that is not aspiring to be anything in life because if a woman is aspiring to be something and you marry her, and you’re now trying to pull her down, she’ll rebel”, she added.

  • D’Banj once supported ‘Jenifa’ brand financially – Funke Akindele

    D’Banj once supported ‘Jenifa’ brand financially – Funke Akindele

    Actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele recently shared insights into her career journey and the significant influence of singer D’banj during a talk at the 2025 Media Sales Conference of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in Lagos. 

    While expressing her gratitude to God for her success, Akindele emphasized the pivotal role D’banj played in shaping her trajectory in the entertainment industry.

    Recounting her experiences, Akindele noted that her journey began with dedication and hard work, culminating in the release of her breakthrough project, “Jenifa,” in 2009, which she described as a turning point for her career. 

    During this period, the actress was approached by a club owner to host her at an event, where she first met D’banj.

    In their conversation, Akindele said D’banj recognized the potential of the “Jenifa” brand and advised her against moving on too quickly to new projects.

    Read Also: Funke Akindele: “Nobody made me a star, only God” 

    He encouraged her to capitalize on her success and continue developing the brand. D’banj also generously provided her with financial support to further her creative endeavors.

    She said, “Nobody made me a star, only God. I wrote my script, and that was it. The first ‘Jenifa’ was released in 2009, which was the turning point.

    “Amidst the buzz, a club owner reached out to host me at his club, and I met D’banj there.

    “He asked what I was doing with the ‘Jenifa’ brand. I said, ‘I have moved on. I will do another thing.’ He said, ‘No. You have to milk it. It should not go like that. That’s a brand. Go and write another script.’ He gave me some money, and I went back and continued writing”.

  • I didn’t know I was a privileged child, says DJ Cuppy

    I didn’t know I was a privileged child, says DJ Cuppy

    Media personality Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has opened up about her background and the realities of privilege. 

    As the daughter of Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola, DJ Cuppy admitted that she grew up in a financially secure environment and, at the time, didn’t fully grasp the extent of her privilege. 

    In a post on her X handle, she shared her newfound awareness of life’s disparities, stating, “Growing up, I didn’t fully realise just how privileged I was. I never had to worry about anything.” 

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    She acknowledged that what she once considered normal—living without financial concerns—was a reality many people only dream of and pray for.

    On her X handle, Cuppy wrote, “Thank God I see it now. What felt normal to me is something someone else is praying for? Gratitude changes everything.”

  • JUST IN: Singer Angie Stone dies at 63

    JUST IN: Singer Angie Stone dies at 63

    Angie Stone, the legendary singer and pivotal member of the pioneering hip hop trio The Sequence, has tragically passed away at the age of 63.

    Her representative, Deborah R. Champagne, confirmed that Angie was involved in a fatal car accident early Saturday morning, shortly after performing in Montgomery, Alabama.

    When the incident occurred, she was on her way to another gig at the CIAA basketball tournament in Baltimore.

    Specific details surrounding the crash remain unclear, and authorities have been contacted for further information.

    Deborah expressed her heartbreak over the loss, noting that she had spoken with Angie just the night before. She highlighted the shock and devastation felt by her family and friends.

    Angie Stone gained recognition as part of The Sequence, the first all-female group ever signed to the iconic Sugar Hill Records.

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    From 1979 to 1985, the trio released three albums, best known for their hit “Funk You Up,” which has been sampled by numerous prominent artists, most notably Bruno Mars in “Uptown Funk” and Dr. Dre in “Keep Their Heads Ringin’.”

    In the late 1990s, Angie embarked on a successful solo career. Her debut album, Black Diamond, achieved gold status in the United States.

    The 2001 hit “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” became one of her signature songs and showcased her ability to connect deeply with audiences.

    Beyond music, Angie Stone also explored acting, appearing in films such as The Hot Chick and the Kevin Hart comedy Ride Along.

    In a 2018 interview, she emphasised the importance of younger artists honoring those who laid the groundwork for their success, reinforcing her commitment to the music industry’s legacy.

    Angie is survived by her son Michael, daughter Diamond, and two grandchildren.