Singer Bloody Civilian has retracted her earlier statement which she claimed to be a lesbian in a tweet.
In a recent update, she revealed that she was participating in a game show when she commented.
Bloody Civilian tweeted, “I’m not a lesbian. I was on a game show. But still hold your woman tight sha.”
Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has refused to apologise for a controversial remark he made about Islamic clerics (Alfas) during his late mother’s Fidau prayer.
The statement, which sparked widespread criticism, was perceived by many as implying that some Alfas attend religious events for financial gain.
Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa, who delivered a sermon at the event, addressed K1’s comments, offering corrections and urging him to apologise to the clerics.
However, K1 De Ultimate remains adamant, stating that he has done nothing wrong and that apologising would mean admitting to an offence he did not commit.
“To admit guilt means saying, ‘Okay, don’t be angry.’ But there’s no reason for that because I have done nothing wrong. If you admit guilt, you are saying the accusations are true, which they are not,” he said.
Global music management consultancy, MAE has extended its stellar expertise beyond music artists and labels to cater to all types of entertainers.
Renowned as a powerhouse in talent management services, MAE successfully led campaigns for notable artists and labels including AWAL, Bella Shmurda, Bien, Bob Marley, Island Records, Oxlade, Sony Music, Universal Music, YouTube Music and more. With this new venture, the consultancy now provides tailored services to established and rising talent in the entertainment industry.
The statement reads, “MAE commemorates its expansion with flagship campaigns for veteran actress Osas Ighodaro; kicking off with her first appearance at Milan and Paris Fashion Week; spearheading a strategic European publicity campaign for celebrated actress and producer Kemi “Lala” Akindoju to amplify her global influence; whilst leading media promotional tours for Africa’s most prolific travel content curator Tayo Aina and Nigeria’s brightest comedian Layi Wasabi.
“With a proven track record and innovative strategies, MAE delivers exceptional services across Artist Development, A&R, Branding, Consultancy, Data Insight and Analytics, Product Management, Project Activation, Project Management, and Tour Management. These label services offer entertainers more creative freedom and ownership of their work, while still providing the essential resources and support typically associated with traditional labels.”
What are your expectations for the ‘Lisabi’ sequel?
I know people will love it and this second part is an answer to a lot of questions that popped out when part one came out because a lot of people don’t know the story of Lisabi, they don’t even know that it has a second part so this will answer a lot of questions and people will love it.
You chose a streaming platform for ‘Lisabi;’ how do you measure the success on the platform compared to cinema?
According to Netflix, part 1 was about the most viewed and it was the most searched film of 2024 which is a good thing for me. It’s my first big screen job. I’ve never produced anything that is this big in my entire career and receiving all of these attractions is a big deal for me and this is a story that resonates with love. It’s an original story, it’s not fiction.
What were your fears when you started this project?
I was scared because I had never done one before. There were questions like can he do it? Would he be able to do it and all of that? I am stubborn when I’m being told I can’t do something, I don’t mind if I fail. At a point even if this flops I know that I’ve taken a bold step which will give me another edge to want to take another step. If you don’t try, you don’t know what risk there is and I tried it, it was tough but I’m happy with the result.
I know you have a supportive wife in Mo Bimpe, who is also an actress, what was her role in helping you achieve this feat?
She’s the engine room, she’s the ginger; even when we were filming and sometimes I felt like it was getting tiring, she’s always the one to say you can’t get tired, you are a star, you must do it, you will do it don’t worry, look at me, I am here, we will go together. When she says that to me, I will bounce back. She produced the film because I had to take care of being an executive producer. The joy is that we are both growing and doing well. Most of the time people will be like since we got married his wife’s career has gone down but I’m not a fan of that. We support each other equally.
Did she deliberately step down a bit in her acting career for you?
She didn’t step down, she just stopped being in every film. Being in every film and being in strategic films are two different things. I used to be like that too but we both decided that we should be selective of films we will be. Look at the story if it’s challenging enough, would it stretch you as an actor to get better? If that is it, take it. I don’t want to be comfortable in my comfort zone. I need something that will stretch me, so that’s why she would always pick scripts that she knows will stretch her.
What informed that decision for you, you wouldn’t do that when you were up and coming.
As of 2020, I sat and saw a lot of my films and I took a break sometime which was when I did my stage play. I was like what have you not done? What is the next thing you can do that will stretch you? That was why I did that one-man twelve-character stage play at Radisson Blu on my birthday in 2020 and it was a deliberate effort because I invited thespians, I invited brands because I didn’t want to be the one running after brands anymore and they all came. I think immediately after the play they started lockdown and that year was my best year ever because all of the brands that came for the stage play started reaching out to me to do one-minute promo and when they asked how much, I said three million naira, they would be like we don’t have but we have two million naira, I said me? I just thank God that the deliberate effort brought something to me. Ever since then, I thought being scarce does not mean you’re not being called. It only means you’re giving yourself time to evolve and do one or two that will stretch you like you’ve done ten.
Does it mean you don’t do the regular home videos anymore?
No, I still do but I think people are just scared to call me these days, maybe they think my money has skyrocketed. I still get a lot of calls for jobs but it’s such a busy time for me but I pick some that I feel is quite challenging for me. If I feel it’s something I just want to go and play then there’s no need to collect the money.
How would you describe your life journey?
It’s been amazing, I’m glad that I learned every way till this very minute and it’s beautiful. Lisabi gave me another strength. I’ve always been a fan of “I don’t want to produce any small film.”
When Lisabi came my budget was two hundred million but I hit over three hundred million plus when we got to the location, I didn’t break but bent on finishing it. At that time I didn’t know if Netflix would accept it or if it would go to the cinema but I was just certain in myself that I’ll do a good job and there would be a market for it.
‘Lisabi’ showcased a lot of juju which, according to the movie, played a significant role. In your perspective, will you confirm that voodoo truly exists?
Only a mad person will say it doesn’t exist, it does. The truth about it is that Christianity and Islam were brought to us, what were we doing before then? In the true essence of it, these people that fought that battle, what did they use? It was word of mouth.
Toronto International Film Festival and Rogers have signed a three-year agreement that will see Rogers as the official Presenting Partner of the Festival, and the TIFF People’s Choice Award through 2027.
The expanded partnership builds on the success of TIFF ’24, which welcomed a record-breaking 700,000 attendees and hundreds of the world’s biggest filmmakers and stars.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place from September 4 to 14, 2025.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Rogers through 2027, building on the terrific momentum we’ve created together,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF.
“We share a vision of celebrating Canadian storytelling and commitment to excellence on a global stage, and we look forward to working together to create a truly remarkable 50th edition of our Festival in September.
“We are committed to supporting world-class film and cinema and bringing the best in entertainment to Canadians.
“We look forward to celebrating TIFF’s 50th edition this year and to continuing a successful multi-year partnership,” said Tony Staffieri, CEO, Rogers.
TIFF and Rogers will create a new original content series in partnership with TIFF’s in-house Studio 9 production team.
Veteran disc jockey, DJ Jimmy Jatt has revealed that his recent kidney failure was not a result of smoking and drinking alcohol as it was presumed.
The celebrity DJ who has been in the industry for 40 years disclosed that he does not smoke, but only takes a little alcohol occasionally.
“I’ve never smoked in my life; smoking has nothing to do with your kidney though. I stopped drinking a long time ago and even when I was drinking it was just to socialize. Mine was as a result of diabetes which is hereditary and I’ve been managing that since I was in my 30s which led to high blood pressure and then kidney failure,” he said.
Speaking on the present situation of Nigeria’s music industry, Jimmy Jatt said he feels proud like a father because he’s been there when the industry was in shambles.
“I feel like a proud dad because truly I got into it when it wasn’t anything and when people frown at it. I know the battles I fought personally to be able to do what I do now and then the people that were very negative about it and then they see you now they roll out the red carpet or want to have dinner with you, so it’s a good time, I’m excited about what the entertainment space is right now.”
Rapper Odumodu Blvck has weighed in on record label and artist feuds citing human character to such problems.
The artist, who was a guest on HipTv recently, noted that while some labels have issues with their artist, some artiste- label relationships continue to grow smoother, and better.
He discussed that people change with time, comparing it with football.
He said “Once two humans get into business things can get compromised. So it’s not a record label thing. For me and my friends at Anti World Gangsters, there’s no contract between us. God forbid, we can fight tomorrow or stay together to build something great with or without a contract.
“We can get in contact now and everything scatters. At the end of the day it is human beings, not a record label issue. What of the record labels that work with artists and things are going well?”
Fast-Rising Nigerian singer-songwriter Uchechi Emelonye has officially announced ‘Chechii’ as her new professional name.
Known for her soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, the artist revealed that the name change reflects her artistic evolution and personal growth as an artist.
“This new chapter represents my journey toward embracing who I am creatively and personally. Chechii feels authentic and reflects the artist I’m evolving into: bold, fresh, and confident.,” she explained.
Chechii, whose music has captivated audiences with hits like ‘Underwater,’ and ‘Foolish,’ shared that the name change is part of her vision to create a unique and memorable identity in the music industry.
She further stated that the name change comes at a pivotal moment in her career as she plans to release a series of new projects that highlight her versatility and artistry.
As Chechii, the singer aims to forge deeper connections with her audience, injecting vibrant and distinctive flair into the Afro-soul and contemporary music scene.
The artist assures that this transition will not affect the authenticity and emotional depth that fans have come to love in her music. Instead, it marks the beginning of a more dynamic phase of her career, poised to expand her reach and impact in the global music space.
Chechii, who just released her ‘Mixed Emotions: EP in late 2024,’ is set to make waves as a name to watch in 2025
The Nigerian creative and media space is currently buzzing with many young Nigerians showcasing their skills and talents in photography, content creation, social media marketing among others.
One of such creative minds is Olamilekan Olakunle Caston-Dada, the CEO, Creative Director of iKrea8 Creative Studios and Lead Photographer of HolarmilekanShotz.
Sharing his thoughts on the current wave among Nigerian Youths, he said, “Despite the myriad of problems Nigeria is going through, there are still opportunities that abound in the country for those who can look deeper into the chaos. Many young Nigerians are making it legally especially in the Creative and Tech Space against all the odds. Though there are several challenges faced by young entrepreneurs in the country, especially when it comes to infrastructures and funding, one can still find his ways around it.
“For me, you can Japa to gain more knowledge and experience but Nigeria is where the money is, this is why you see many people who have gone but are back and are now cashing out in the country. The land is not always greener on the other side, so before you Japa, have concrete plans. The Nigerian entertainment industry is growing rapidly and any smart young creative mind needs to exploit all the opportunities it presents.”
Within his short entry into the industry, he has covered the prestigious Ojude Oba Festival, Trace TV Live, Greenland Carnival, Lagos Mainland Block Party, the behind-the-scenes of Adekunle Gold ft Falz ‘Who Go Pay’ music video production among many others.
Multichoice Nigeria has opened auditions for the highly anticipated 10th season of Nigerian Idol.
The audition began on Friday, January 17, 2025, and is expected to close on Sunday, February 2, 2025. Organisers encourage young Nigerians aged 16 to 30 to take a bold step towards realising their dreams.
According to a statement by the organisers, the 10th season is themed: ‘Your Voice, Your Victory.’
To audition, participants must record a 30-second video of themselves singing a song of their choice and upload it to the Africa Magic website.
Speaking about the announcement, Dr Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels West Africa at MultiChoice, said: “Nigerian Idol is not just about discovering talent; it’s about giving everyday Nigerians the chance to share their voice and inspire others. Over the past decade, the show has touched lives, built careers, and entertained audiences across Africa. This year’s theme, ‘Your Voice, Your Victory,’ speaks directly to the heart of Nigerian Idol. It’s a reminder of the power of music in changing lives.”