The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • AMAN: Why we are celebrating at 30, by Enebeli

    AMAN: Why we are celebrating at 30, by Enebeli

    President of Artiste Managers Association in Nigeria, AMAN, Collins Ifeanyi Onwuneme Ajereh Enebeli a.k.a. Mavin Grandpa Worldwide (MGW) has given reasons why the association is rolling out the drums to celebrate its 30th anniversary of existence in grand style.

    The show tagged ‘AMAN @ 30 Awards’ is billed for the Grand Ballroom of Eko Hotels and suites on Wednesday November 26, 2025.

    “We can’t afford to keep quiet about this milestone” Mavin Grandpa noted with a tinge of pride in a recent encounter.

    “An association that has lasted through three decades in Nigeria is not a baby” he continues.

    A quick pointer to the fact that AMAN is serious about its 30th anniversary is that in 2023, the first edition of the AMAN awards held at the Fantasia Hall, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria while this year, 2025, the Artiste Managers Association In Nigeria (AMAN) award will hold at the Grand Ball room of Eko Hotels. This is no doubt an upgrade. We see this as a milestone worth celebrating. And heavily too according to our limits.

    READ ALSO: Five apps that’ll get your life together before the year ends

    “As part of our celebration, a careful meritorious selection of credible, influential, distinguished and impactful  Nigerians have been listed for the prestigious AMAN awards which is a major highlight of the event of the evening.

    “The AMAN awards is designed to recognize, appreciate, and reward hard work and excellence within the creative industries in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.”

    Mavin Grandpa Worldwide hinted excitedly, “the beauty of AMAN awards 2025 event is that it is a double barrel celebration of AMAN@30 and the 2nd edition of the AMAN awards. What is more, we have surprises for our guests..including a longer award list made possible by the board of Governors for the AMAN Awards.

  • Bella Shmurda says producing my album cost over $100K

    Bella Shmurda says producing my album cost over $100K

    Popular singer, Bella Shmurda, has opened up about the huge financial investment that goes into creating and promoting quality music, saying that producing his last album alone cost over $100,000.

    Speaking passionately from the standpoint of a creative, the ‘Cash App’ singer shed light on the real cost of artistry, stressing that musicians are not overcharging but rather investing heavily to meet global standards.

    “I will say this from the perspective of a creative person,” Bella began. “Producing my album alone cost over $100,000. Then there are still expenses for promotion, which also run into millions. So, we are not overcharging.”

    READ ALSO: Five apps that’ll get your life together before the year ends

    He further explained that the high standards in today’s entertainment world extend beyond studio production to lifestyle and image management.

    “The cloth I’m putting on here now, I can’t wear it again after now because the people have already seen it on me,” he said, hinting at the pressure to constantly reinvent and maintain a fresh public image.

    Bella, who leads the Dagbana Republik movement, also spoke glowingly about his new signee, Fola, who is currently gaining attention in the music scene.

    “Fola is signed under Dagbana Republik,” he said. “I have known him for over four years now, and I just woke up one day and told my team it is time to support this guy fully in our own little way. We are happy with his success so far.”

  • Countdown begins to 3rd Wale Olomu Memorial awards and roundtable

    Countdown begins to 3rd Wale Olomu Memorial awards and roundtable

    Preparations are in full swing for the third edition of the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards and Roundtable (WOMA-R) – the annual celebration honouring the life and legacy of the late Wale Olomu, veteran journalist and pioneering entertainment editor.

    At a recent meeting of the WOMA-R Steering Committee chaired by Tokunbo Ojekunle, members reaffirmed their dedication to sustaining the Awards’ founding mission of recognising 

    excellence in entertainment journalism and celebrating creative trailblazers whose works have defined Nigeria’s modern entertainment industry.

    The Committee announced the 2025 Awards theme: “Unsung Legends Who Shaped Today’s Glory.” 

    Complementing the awards, this year’s Roundtable will focus on the theme: “The Impact of Entertainment Reporting on Musical Careers: Our Views.” Both events will hold on Saturdays, 13 and 20 December, 2025, as a live two-hour broadcast on TopRadio 90.9 FM.

    Read Also: The Companion condemns alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria

    As in previous editions, the Roundtable will bring together respected voices bridging generations of entertainers and journalists. Those being considered for the discussion include Sunny Neji, Paul Play Dairo, Wunmi Obe, Olumide Iyanda, and The Jide Taiwo.

    The Chairman also confirmed the appointment of two new advisers to the Steering Committee – Akinwale Oluwaleimu as Technical Adviser and Yinka Agboola as Public Affairs Adviser.

     Past recipients of WOMA honours include Salawa Abeni, Bayo Adepetun, and Gloria Rhodes (Lifetime Achievement Awards); and Collins Enebeli, Femi Ojetunde, Nelson Brown, Oluwaleimu, Amos McRoy, Edi Lawani, Tunde Kolawole, Olisa Adibua, Femi “Kwame” Aderibigbe, among others (Special Recognition Awards).

  • Skit making saved, changed my life, says Patience Yisa (Pepe)

    Skit making saved, changed my life, says Patience Yisa (Pepe)

    With over 1.4 million followers on Facebook, almost a million on Tiktok and Instagram and close to 100,000 subscribers on Youtube, popular actress and skit maker, Patience Yisa aka Pepe has opened up why she took a break from acting and concentrated her talent on skit making.

    She said: “Nothing really has been happening apart from me trying to diversify. I started as an actress and fell in love with skit making. Who doesn’t want to shoot skit for less than 30 minutes and make money from it? As you know, skit making makes faster money than movies. Apart from the passion, you would also like to make money. Nobody wants to follow passion and be broke at the end of the day.

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    “When I saw an opportunity in skit making, I decided to take it up. I am back into the industry. As a matter of fact, I have shot two movies back to back. One which is ‘Lost Blood’ is currently enjoying rave reviews on Youtube. From now on expect to see more from me. I only took a break to do skit making.

    “To be honest it is one of the most lucrative ventures to do as an entertainer. Skit making saved and changed my life. Almost everybody does skits now; Mercy Johnson, Destiny Etiko, Don Jazzy, etc. As you are making money from artist fees, you are also making money from your social media platforms.

    “The platform is big for everybody. Gone are the days when before you make it in Nollywood you have to go through executive producers, producers and all that. The industry has grown so big and with the invention of these new platforms, nobody wants to depend on anyone to promote them anymore. Youtube at the end of the day is our retirement plan.”

  • Asake changes Instagram handle to ‘Mr Money’

    Asake changes Instagram handle to ‘Mr Money’

    Afrobeats singer Asake has sparked speculation by quietly switching his Instagram handle from ‘asakemusic’ to ‘MrMoney’, a move fans interpret as the first signal of his upcoming fourth studio album.

    Asake, who has five million followers, updated his handle name without any prior announcement or explanation.

    “Mr. Money” is a nickname deeply associated with Asake’s rise to fame, stemming from his 2020 breakout single of the same name.

    The moniker became a cultural tag after the success of his record-breaking 2022 debut album, Mr. Money With The Vibe.

    The handle change appears to nod back to his roots while ushering in a new creative phase.

    Fans suggest the move aligns with Asake’s upcoming album, Money, which he first hinted at in mid-2025. 

    The project is reportedly set to be his first full-length release under his independent label, Giran Republic, following his departure from Olamide’s YBNL earlier this year.

  • Grammy winner Ciara applauds Lagos’s progress on ‘clean’ roads

    Grammy winner Ciara applauds Lagos’s progress on ‘clean’ roads

    American singer Ciara has commended the visible progress in Lagos, noting cleaner and better-paved roads compared to her previous visit.

    Speaking during her latest trip to Nigeria, the R&B star expressed delight at the changes.

    “I’m so happy to be here and I’m really glad,” she said.

    When asked if this was her first time in the city, Ciara clarified: “No, this is not my first time, I know about Lagos”.

    Read Also: American singer Ciara attends Lagos Fashion Week

    Having toured several African countries, she highlighted the urban improvements: “When I used to land, I used to see dirty roads, now it’s all clean and it has changed.”

    The Grammy winner arrived Lagos to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Lagos Fashion Week.

    Her comments come amid ongoing infrastructure upgrades under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, including road rehabilitation and drainage enhancements across the state.

  • Six eye-opening documentaries on Netflix

    Six eye-opening documentaries on Netflix

    There  are films you watch, and then there are stories that haunt you long after the screen fades to black. 

    These five Netflix documentaries from 2025 are your perfect watch list. From gripping true-crime tales to powerful stories of survival and redemption, these documentaries offer a mix of thrills, insight, and emotion that will keep you glued to your screen this weekend.

    1. The Perfect Neighbor

    This chilling documentary uses unfiltered police body-camera footage to reveal how a long-running dispute between neighbours in Florida turned fatal. With no dramatization, the film forces you to ask: What happens when fear, prejudice and laws collide in our own backyard?

    2. My Father, the BTK Killer

    Here is a story of betrayal, identity and trauma: the daughter of the notorious serial killer Dennis Rader confronts what she and her community lost. It’s intimate, disturbing, and a reminder that evil can hide behind the mask of normalcy.

    Read Also: Top 10 most watched African Netflix movies right now

    3. Surviving Black Hawk Down

    A gritty three-part look at the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, told from both the U.S. soldiers’ and Somali fighters’ perspectives. It’s war stripped down: chaotic, human and deeply reflective. You’ll see how one mission spiralled and how assumptions about heroes, villains and victims blur in conflict.

    4. Beauty and the Bester

    This one flips what you expect: not your typical crime doc, but a story of power, obsession and the strange interplay between fame and deception. It asks how far people will go to be seen – and what they become in the process.

    5. Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey

    This beautiful yet urgent documentary tells how a conservationist rescues a baby pangolin trafficked in South Africa. It’s a tale of nature, redemption and our role in the world’s most silent crises.

  • American singer Ciara attends Lagos Fashion Week

    American singer Ciara attends Lagos Fashion Week

    Grammy-winning American artist Ciara has arrived Lagos to participate in the 15th anniversary of Lagos Fashion Week and a cultural tour.

    The Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos Governor Jubril Gawat confirmed this in a statement.

    According to the statement, she was received byCommissioner for Tourism, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka.

    He wrote: “International Superstar, Grammy Award Winner, CIARA Princess Wilson @ciara is in Lagos, accompanied by the Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, She will be joining us in Lagos to celebrate our, Tourism, our Art, and our culture”.

    Read Also: Lagos Fashion Week, The Bicester collection convene roundtable with designers, global platforms

    Ciara plans to immerse herself in the city’s vibrant arts, culture, and fashion scenes, visiting key cultural sites and interacting with local designers and artists.

    Her visit is seen as a “homecoming” for the global artist, highlighting Lagos as a hub for creativity and innovation.

    Ciara’s itinerary includes appearances at Lagos Fashion Week, where she’ll celebrate African fashion and creativity.

    He added: “It’s a homecoming for her and other Creatives who see Lagos as HOME, she would visit different cultural sites in Lagos and also celebrate the successful hosting of the 15th anniversary of the Lagos Fashion Week in collaboration with Lagos State Government”.

    The event, organised in partnership with the Lagos State Government, has showcased African fashion on the international stage for 15 years.

    Ciara’s visit aims to promote Lagos as Africa’s creative and cultural capital, emphasising the city’s influence on the continent’s fashion and entertainment industries.

  • Nigerians revive ‘Justice For Ochanya’ seven years after teen’s death

    Nigerians revive ‘Justice For Ochanya’ seven years after teen’s death

    Seven years after the death of 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje from complications linked to years of alleged s3xual abuse, Nigerians have reignited the #JusticeForOchanya campaign across social media.

    They are demanding that authorities reopen the case and prosecute the suspects who remain free.

    Ochanya, from Benue State, had moved to Makurdi in 2013 to live with her aunt and pursue her education while aspiring to become a doctor.

    Instead, reports detailed that she reportedly endured repeated rape over five years by a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, and son.

    The abuse led to severe health issues, including Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), forcing multiple hospitalisations.

    She died on October 18, 2018 at General Hospital in Otukpo.

    An autopsy confirmed the serial abuse, sparking nationwide protests and the original #JusticeForOchanya movement in 2018.

    Dr. Andrew Ogbuja was arraigned on charges including rape and child defilement under the Child Rights Act but acquitted by a Benue State High Court in 2021, citing insufficient evidence.

    His wife, Felicia, received a five-month sentence for negligence.

    Read Also: Hilda Baci pledges N2 million to #JusticeForOchanya

    Victor Ogbuja was never tried despite an arrest warrant and is said to be pursuing a music career in Lagos.

    The resurgence began late last week after activists highlighted the lack of accountability.

    Child rights advocate Betty Abah questioned the release of Dr. Ogbuja from custody without bail or family notification and urged the Benue State Government, police and Justice Ministry to act.

    On X, the hashtag exploded with over 10,000 posts in 48 hours, blending outrage, survivor testimonies, and calls for Victor’s arrest.

    Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) pledged to champion the cause in the National Assembly, vowing to “pursue justice” amid reports the Benue High Court has reopened proceedings.

    “7 years ago the heart wrenching story of little Ochanya devastated me. I thought the perpetrators were in jail. Alas, they were discharged and acquitted.

    “The family of late Ochanya Ogbanje should write a petition to me: Senator Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan, Room 2:05 Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex , Abuja.

    “For our children, I stand for Justice for Ochanya,” she wrote on Instagram.

    The movement ties into broader fights against child marriage and gender-based violence, with users linking it to #EndChildMarriage.

  • Hilda Baci pledges N2 million to #JusticeForOchanya

    Hilda Baci pledges N2 million to #JusticeForOchanya

    Chef and Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci has pledged N2 million to support organisations working with survivors of s3xual abuse and the legal fight for justice in the case of 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje.

    Ogbanje died in 2018 after years of alleged rape by her guardians.

    She described Ochanya as a girl who should have been safe and protected but was failed by those meant to care for her, emphasising the need to support living survivors still healing from similar trauma.

    Baci stressed that honoring Ochanya’s memory requires more than social media hashtags, calling for funding, accountability, and community action to ensure no one feels alone in their pain.

    “A 13-year-old girl who should have been safe, loved, and protected was instead failed by the very people meant to guard her.

    “As I read through her story, I couldn’t stop thinking about how many girls carry wounds like hers and are still here today, trying to find their way back to wholeness”, she wrote on Instagram.

    Read Also: Nigerians revive ‘Justice For Ochanya’ seven years after teen’s death

    Baci announced the pledge would be split between two credible NGOs working with rape and abuse survivors, selected with public input.

    “To support that cause, I’m pledging N2,000,000 to organisations working with rape and s3xual abuse survivors

    “I’d love for you to help me choose two trusted NGOs to receive this donation. Drop your nominations in the comments or tag them below so my team and I can review and reach out directly,” she said.

    She also encouraged contributions to an ongoing GoFundMe campaign advancing the legal process and urged those unable to donate financially to amplify the cause with their voices.

    “Every contribution helps move the legal process forward and strengthens the fight for justice. And if you can’t give financially, that’s okay you can still lend your voice”, she added.

    She framed the effort as a collective stand for justice and compassion, noting that securing justice for Ochanya strengthens others enduring similar pain.

    “Honoring her memory means doing more than posting hashtags. It means showing up for those who are still here—making sure no one ever feels alone in their pain again,” she added.

    The move has drawn widespread praise online, with users hailing Baci’s transparency and calling for tangible support amid the resurgent #JusticeForOchanya campaign.