Afrobeats singer and songwriter, Adekunle Gold, has opined that getting older is not a setback but an advantage.
The singer made the remarks while reflecting on 39th birthday celebration recently.
In a chat with The Nation, Gold revealed that while birthdays once filled him with pressure, it now brings a sense of calm and gratitude.
“There was a time when birthdays used to scare me, I used to feel like time was tapping me on the shoulder, asking what I had to show for myself,” he began.
The Lagos State-born performer added that, “I thought progress had a deadline, though there was a point where you either arrived or you didn’t. But this year felt calm.”
Following the release of his sixth studio album, ‘Fuji’, which many critics described as his most impactful body of work, Adekunle Gold disputes the notion.
“I smiled when I heard and saw the tweets, not because they’re wrong, but because I see something else. One thing I know for sure is that I don’t have a peak. I feel like I’ve unlocked something, a new person, a new purpose,” he enthused.
Gold, who hit the limelight over a decade ago, with his hit single, ‘Sade,’ said he built his current confidence from lessons learned over the years.
He noted that society often places unnecessary deadlines on personal growth and success.
“There’s no such thing as being late to becoming who you’re meant to be, to achieving your dreams, to starting again. You’re not late, you’re informed,” he said.
Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has opened up on his deliberate choice of prioritising peace over trouble and conflict in his daily life.
In a recent video, the ‘Orente’ crooner emphasised his preference for a tranquil lifestyle, stating, “Some of us, we just don’t like trouble. In fact, I don’t want to be near it, I just want to live.”
Adekunle Gold attributed his avoidance of conflict to self-awareness about his temperament, confessing, “Me, I know myself. My mouth is not good at all. Anybody who knows me knows my mouth is not good. So, I don’t even want to say anything out of regret, so I’d rather just step away.”
The singer clarified that walking away from conflict doesn’t equate to weakness or an inability to defend himself when necessary.
He further questioned the mindset of those who actively pursue conflict, asking, “What is your mind like? Why do you not like peace? Why do you not like peace of mind? Why don’t you just walk away?”
Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has made history as the first musician to sell out the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, Lagos.
The feat was achieved on December 26, 2025, when the singer staged a star-studded concert at the venue, featuring performances by Olamide, Yinka Ayefele and Adewale Ayuba.
Adekunle Gold filled the 3,560-capacity hall and was subsequently presented with two plaques on January 1, 2026, in recognition of the achievement and the efforts of the management and record label that organised the event.
Reacting in a post on his Instagram page, the singer expressed appreciation to his fans, saying: “Thank you all for a great end to 2025. North America is up next. Where should I bring the Fuji experience to?”
Adekunle Gold, Nigerian afrobeats superstar, opened a new chapter for Nigerian live music on Friday, December 26, 2025, as he became the first artist to headline a concert at the newly renovated National Theatre, now known as the Wole Soyinka Centre, Lagos. The sold-out concert, titled Fuji and supported by The Macallan, marked the return of large-scale performances to the historic venue and drew a full house of fans, creatives, and industry figures.
From the moment guests arrived, it was clear the night would be different. With a black-tie dress code in place, attendees showed up in elegant tuxedos, flowing gowns, and carefully styled looks, setting a refined tone that matched the grandeur of the venue and the evening’s orchestral theme.
The night began with a memorable opening from Olamide, Nigerian afrobeats superstar and Founder, YBNL Nation, who took on the role of host with humour and flair. In a theatrical introduction that immediately set the tone.
The cheers that followed reflected not just excitement for the performance ahead, but the long-standing bond between both artists.
Backed by a 55-piece orchestra and his band, The 79th Element, Adekunle Gold delivered a carefully arranged set that reimagined his music on a grand scale. The orchestral arrangements added depth and texture to familiar songs, giving the audience a different way to experience his catalogue.
The highlights of the night unfolded effortlessly as Davido joined him on stage to perform their hit songs “Only God Can Save Me” and “High”, sending the crowd into a frenzy. In another defining moment, music legends Adewale Ayuba and Yinka Ayefele joined him on stage to perform Many People, a performance that drew loud applause and stood out as one of the evening’s most memorable scenes.
Between performances, Adekunle Gold paused to speak directly to the audience, sharing a message that reflected both his journey and the spirit of the night. “Don’t stop dreaming, keep daring to be different, do everything on your own terms,” he said, drawing a strong response from the crowd.
Following the concert, the celebration continued at an after-party supported by The Macallan. Popular hypeman Big Bimi kept the energy high as the DJ carried the night forward, while cocktails were served and guests savoured The Macallan. Notable personalities including Falz, Do2dtun, SwitOpe, VeeIye, and other creatives, were in attendance, rounding off the evening in a relaxed yet stylish setting.
In 2025, a mix of established veterans and rapidly rising talents dominated the Nigerian entertainment scene, driven by major film and music releases, significant awards recognition, and scandals. These stars dominated the entertainment scene with chart-topping anthems, held sold-out concerts and featured in various viral moments. As always, the Nigerian entertainment scene was nothing short of electric in 2025. Commanding global attention and pushing creative boundaries, The Nation spotlights the standout Nigerian stars who defined 2025 across the various spheres of entertainment.
Regina Daniel
Regina Daniel’s influence in 2025 is one that can’t be ignored for many reasons. Though she didn’t release a new film neither did she feature in the biggest blockbusters of the year but her home and marriage were constant stories in the media almost all through the year. Earlier reported cracks in her marriage finally opened and gave way for separation between her beautiful self and her husband, Ned Nwoko. Her separation from Nwoko still remains one of the nastiest scandals that rocked 2025.
Adekunle Gold
For 2025, Adekunle Kosoko aka Adekunle Gold enjoyed a steady and impactful year. All year round, Adekunle Gold had one musical performance or song to keep the public and listening audiences reminded of his presence on the music front. His projects and collaborations earned deep listener loyalty and his music continued to be featured on key playlists and curated lists throughout the year. His latest album ‘Fuji’ was released to rave reviews, and drove social media trends across platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. His daughter’s appearance and introduction ahead of his performance with an orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London, United Kingdom, was also well received by fans.
Omoni Oboli
A year after hosting her son’s wedding and welcoming her first grandchild, Nollywood star, Omoni Oboli returned to make a statement on the Nigerian film scene. Shuttling between Canada and Nigeria, Oboli took a backseat from acting to focus on producing some of the big films that rocked 2025. She focused on YouTube as the streaming platform and earned herself several success stripes. This year marked a significant boost in her visibility and influence within the industry, even as an established veteran, largely through her masterful maximisation of the Omoni Oboli TV YouTube channel. By focusing more on production than acting, she released over 30 movies on the platform, regularly uploading new content and driving subscriber growth while amassing millions of views. Her consistent strategy—blending full-length films, teasers, trailers, and live premieres—catapulted the channel to Nigeria’s number one spot.
Her creation, ‘Love in Every Word’, and its sequel, ‘Love in Every Word: The Wedding’ became viral sensations, with the original alone surpassing 30 million views, and becoming the most searched Nollywood movie of the year on Google. The two romantic dramas explored love, culture and personal growth and created memes, and slangs like ‘Achalugo’ and ‘Odogwu.’
Davido
In 2025, David Adeleke aka Davido released his fifth studio album, ‘5ive’ to a highly anticipating fan and audience that thronged streaming platforms to make the album one of the most streamed Nigerian projects of the year, with over 320 million streams on Spotify alone. With this, Davido’s unmistakable influence became obvious. The success of the album overtook major contemporaries and confirmed his enduring commercial clout. The project earned a record-breaking opening day, having about 15 million global Spotify streams within 24 hours of its release.
Funke Akindele
In 2025, Funke Akindele further pushed herself to remain Nollywood’s most bankable creative force. Rising from her previous success, Akindele entered 2025 raking in millions of Nigerian Naira and smiling to the bank. All through the year, Akindele featured in some of the biggest Nollywood blockbusters and kept raking in volumes of awards for her success and record breaking feats. She further consolidated her dominance with the movie, ‘Behind the Scenes’, which was released in December 2025. The movie is already a massive opener with over N200m in its first weekend, making it the biggest opening of 2025 in Nollywood.
Beyond acting, her influence showed in how her movies shaped conversations around women, class mobility, marriage, and modern Nigerian family life.
Asake
Asake began 2025 on a slow pact after which he refused to sign another deal with Olamide’s YBNL after the expiry of his previous deal. Soon after, he was enmeshed in a family scandal after his father took ill and called him out for neglecting him. Some of his managers also took swipes at him at different points but despite all these, Asake remained focused on making a deep and sustained impact in 2025. Soon, he became a feature in several international fashion events and featured on several records – both locally and internationally. With this feat, he remained consistent among the most streamed artists on Nigerian Spotify and secured multiple albums inside the platform’s Top 10.
His catalog enjoyed heavy rotation all year round and he kept performing at live shows and festivals.
In rounding off his year, he collaborated with energy drink manufacturer, Red Bull, to stage an iconic performance at the Red Bull Symphonic in New York, United States. The performance remains not only his major highlight of the year but also a historic feat as he emerged the first African to grace the Symphonic stage.
Priscilla Ojo-Mkambala
Priscilla Ojo, now Priscilla Mkambala is the beloved daughter of Nollywood actress and producer, Iyabo Ojo. Making her name as a social media influencer and a trendsetter, Priscilla further heightened her leverage as a powerhouse in lifestyle, beauty, and fashion influence on social media in 2025. 2025 is incomplete without the mention of Priscilla, whose lavish wedding to Tanzanian singer Juma Jux was remains the year’s biggest social media wedding. Priscilla’s influence was recognised continentally when she was crowned Top Beauty Influencer at the 2025 African Golden Awards. Her voice in fashion and lifestyle spaces helped shape consumer trends and opened doors to major brand partnerships. She also signed a number of brand ambassador deals and earned her little tot an endorsement, all in the course of the year.
Wizkid
For many of his fans and cult-followers on social media, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid, reclaimed the top spot as Nigeria’s most-streamed artiste on Spotify in 2025. He reclaimed the spot without many seeing him coming. He also topped the Spotify Wrapped list for Nigeria while his album, ‘Morayo,’ was named the most-streamed album of the year in Nigeria.
Wizkid’s dominance extended beyond local borders. His album was also cited as among the most-streamed in Sub-Saharan Africa on Apple Music’s year-end chart. It’s no doubt that in 2025, Wizkid collaborated with more artists than he has done in previous years, hence, earning him more influence and dominance on the music space globally.
Burna Boy
Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, continued in his trademark footsteps of cementing his heavyweight status on the music scene and creating fuss and scene in his private and celebrated lifestyle. His album ‘No Sign of Weakness’ surpassed 250 million streams on Spotify, making it one of the year’s top-performing Nigerian releases.
Burna Boy cemented his growth on the international scene as he was highlighted as Nigeria’s most-exported artist globally, reflecting his strong international appeal and wide Diaspora reach. As a Grammy-winning figure and global ambassador of afrobeats, his tours, festival appearances, and cross-continental collaborations kept him at the frontlines of African music.
However, as expected by many, Burna Boy grabbed the headlines in 2025 for some wrong reasons. Despite becoming a constant feature and appeal to the international audience, he punctured the growth when he embarrassed and sent a couple out of his show for sleeping and in another space, kicking a fan trying to get a hug.
Rema
Divine Ikubor, aka Rema, began 2025 strong coming off his huge success in 2024. He emerged as the most streamed Nigerian artist globally on YouTube Music in the first quarter of 2025 with over 220 million streams, led by enduring hits such as ‘Calm Down’ and new releases like ‘Baby (Is It a Crime)’. Throughout the year, his blend of afrobeats and global pop sensibilities kept him visible on international charts and playlists. Rema also made headlines purchasing mansions and expensive cars in the course of the year.
Uzor Arukwe
In 2025, the career Uzor Arukwe has been building for over a decade reached an impressive height. Arukwe earned widespread acclaim for his commanding screen presence and ability to fully embody complex, layered characters. Arukwe’s performances in 2025 releases like ‘Love in Every Word: The Wedding’, where he portrayed the confident, affectionate ‘Odogwu,’ and Chief Odogwu in ‘Asa and Odogwu’, and ‘Behind the Scenes’ cemented his reign in Nollywood.
Bambam
Bamike ‘Bambam’ Olawunmi-Adenibuyan, who first gained recognition for her participation in the 2018 Big Brother Naija Season 3, has masterfully transitioned from reality TV stardom to established acting credibility in Nollywood. 2025 will go down in her memory as the year she earned widespread respect for her authentic, emotionally resonant acting performances.
In 2025, her big break came early with her lead role as Chioma in Omoni Oboli’s ‘Love in Every Word’, opposite Uzor Arukwe. Throughout 2025, she appeared in other notable projects including ‘Meadowbrook Hearts’, ‘Trap of Temptation’, ‘My Christmas Love Story’, ‘Dappa’, ‘Wild Fire’, and ‘The Virgin Bride,’ which showcases her growing range.
Gaise Baba
For 2025, Gospel artiste, Akinade Ibuoye, aka Gaise Baba achieved mainstream digital dominance in an unexpected twist to the Nigerian music narrative. His viral anthem, ‘No Turning Back II’ became Nigeria’s most-viewed music video on YouTube in 2025, accumulating over 41 million views and placed Gaise Baba ahead of many of his contemporaries. The song soon became a regular tune at parties and churches.
Peller
Habeeb Hamzat aka Peller, had a good year as a TikToker in Nigeria. Aside from the obvious fact that he had a breakthrough year on TikTok where he has over 13 million followers, he raked in so much funds and got featured on various gigs including films and cameo appearances in music videos. His on and off relationship with another social media personality, Jarvis, also propped up his influence, especially when he proposed marriage. Towards the end of 2025, Peller got himself in trouble for a viral video where he engaged in reckless driving and crashed his multimillion naira car. Shortly before the crash, he had threatened to kill himself over his latest breakup with Jarvis.
Tems
Like many of her male counterparts, Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems, continued to extend her global footprint in 2025. In February 2025, she won herself a Grammy in the Best Music Performance category with her song, ‘Love Me Jeje’. She remained one of the most-streamed female artistes in Nigeria and a consistent presence in global playlists. She also focused on championing girl-child issues and providing solutions in her own corner.
Timini Egbuson
In 2025, Timini Egbuson came gun blazing and prepared to not only make a mark but leave his footprints on the sands of time in the year in focus. He appeared in multiple cinema and streaming releases, and his performances consistently sparked debate and admiration.
In February 2025, he donned the hat of a producer to release his own movie, ‘Reel Love’, on Valentine’s Day. The move marked his debut as an executive producer, while also starring as the lead. The feat achieved a record-breaking box office success, grossing over N40m on its opening day, making it the second-highest Nollywood debut ever, and over N99m across the opening weekend. The film eventually surpassed N300m.
Ayra Starr
Mavins recording artist, Ayra Starr attained one of her desired heights in music by emerging the most-streamed female artiste in Nigeria in 2025 according to Spotify’s Wrapped data. Her music and style continued to resonate widely, and her 2025 singles, such as ‘Hot Body’, ‘All the Love’, and ‘Who’s Dat Girl’ (featuring Rema) enjoyed heavy rotation both domestically and abroad.
William Benson
Calling 2025 the year of William Benson would not be out of place. The Nollywood actor sealed his name and made his mark in the Kemi Adetiba produced Netflix series, ‘To Kill A Monkey.’ With the release of the film, Benson’s popularity rose through the roof with many roles begging for his attention.
Bimbo Ademoye
Bimbo Ademoye’s 2025 run was defined by hard work and versatility. Having made a mark and found her voice in film production on YouTube, Ademoye featured in a prolific mix of romantic comedies, dramas, and feel-good films, many of which premiered on her YouTube channel – Bimbo Ademoye TV. Her stories resonated strongly with online audiences and she kept amassing views to her channel and her films.
Daniel Etim-Effiong
In 2025, Daniel Etim-Effiong maintained a strong presence across both cinema and streaming platforms, featuring in several romantic titles and other genres of films. Towards the end of 2025, Daniel starred in and made his feature directorial debut with ‘The Herd,’ The film premiered in cinemas in October before landing on Netflix in November. Throughout the year, Etim-Effiong’s roles often positioned him as the emotional anchor until ‘The Herd’ was released.
Toyin Abraham
Like 2023 and 2024, Toyin Abraham’s 2025 was marked by cinematic success. Her historical epic ‘Iyalode’, which premiered in June, became an instant box-office hit, grossing nearly N300m in its first five weeks. Her influence also extended into social media. Her latest movie, ‘Oversabi Aunty’ has also been getting a lot of buzz.
Hilda Baci
Chef and lifestyle influencer, Hilda Baci had a good year round in 2025 with loads of endorsement deals and another attempt at a Guinness World Record.
The 2023 GWR holder returned in 2025 to dominate digital discourse with the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, cooking 8,780kg in Lagos and feeding over 20,000 people. Her campaign for the feat trended across platforms, becoming one of the most discussed Nigerian social media topics of the year. Announcing her new record some days after, the Guinness World Record wrote on X, “New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. She successfully emerged as the only Nigerian that has achieved a double GWR within the space of two years.
Afrobeats singer Simi has made a heartwarming appearance in her husband Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love Is The Same”, revealing a baby bump.
The pregnant singer shared intimate family moments with Adekunle Gold and their daughter, Deja, in the emotional visuals.
The video celebrates love, growth, and family, with fans praising Adekunle Gold’s artistry and musical journey.
Simi’s baby bump reveal has sparked massive reactions online, with fans describing the video as beautifully put together.
Simi and Adekunle Gold, who welcomed their first child in 2020, continue to win admiration for blending their personal lives seamlessly into their art.
The couple is preparing to welcome another addition to their family, with congratulations pouring in from fans and well-wishers.
Afrobeats sensation Adekunle Gold has announced the cancellation of his highly anticipated performance at Music City Central.
In a statement released on his official page, Gold cited the event organisers’ failure to meet key agreed-upon obligations and the venue’s unpreparedness as reasons for the cancellation.
The singer expressed regret that the event wasn’t ready for his team to deliver the high-quality show that fans have come to expect from him.
“I won’t be performing at Music City Central today. Unfortunately, due to the organisers not meeting key agreed obligations and the event not being in a state that allows us deliver the kind of show you deserve, we can’t proceed,” Gold stated.
Gold apologised to fans who had made plans to attend the performance, acknowledging their loyalty and enthusiasm.
“I know many of you made plans to see me, and I don’t take that for granted,” he said, thanking them for their love and understanding.
The singer promised to provide updates on future performances and appearances through his official channels, assuring fans that he remains committed to delivering exceptional music and experiences.
“Thank you for your love and understanding. Please rely on my official pages for any further updates”, he concluded.
Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has revealed that his five-year-old daughter, Adejare’s proud words motivated him to deliver an outstanding performance at his just concluded London concert.
Recall that Adejare opened the show by introducing her father to the audience.
The singer expressed that the nights of sacrifice and hard work were worthwhile when he felt truly loved by his daughter.
According to him, this experience has inspired him to take his performance on the road, with his upcoming show in Lagos being the first stop.
Adekunle Gold wrote: “Hearing my little girl’s voice from backstage, confident, proud, bragging about her daddy and calling me onto that stage, I knew I had no choice but to give everything I had. I couldn’t let her down. I couldn’t let you down.
“All the nights leading to this show without sleep, dreaming, working, believing, hoping, worrying. But on this night, more than anything else, I felt LOVED. Truly loved. And it made every sacrifice worth it. You are worth it all. Thank you.
“I can’t wait to take this experience on the road, starting with my amazing BFF in Lagos. You don’t have to wait long because we go in 4, 3, 2, 1…”
Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about his ongoing battle with sickle cell disease, revealing that he still experiences painful crises..
The ‘Coco Money’ crooner, in an interview on RealTalk podcast, said that he was diagnosed with the condition around 5 or 7 after his mother rushed him to the hospital following a severe episode of pain.
“The first time I noticed that I had it was the night I fell sick and my dad wasn’t home and my mum put me on her back and we walked miles to the hospital. I don’t remember how old I was, maybe like 5 or 7,” he said.
According to him, his parents, both carriers of the sickle cell trait, unknowingly passed it on to him.
“Unfortunately for me, my parents are sickle cell and they brought me to the world. The first time I ever heard of sickle cell was I would fall sick every time with my joints paining me. So when we talk about crisis, it is pains on your joints, my legs and sometimes stomach. It’s really crazy,” he continued.
Adekunle added that he has been managing the condition with lifelong medication, specifically folic acid and B complex, since his diagnosis.
He said: “That was when the doctor told me about it, and they told me that I will be taking folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life. And that’s my life for a very long time even till now”.
Although he still experiences occasional crises, he noted that they are less severe than in his childhood due to better self-care and access to quality healthcare.
“I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as I had it when I was a child, you know maybe because I have found a way to take care of myself more properly. And I’m grateful to God for the resources to be able to do that,” he stated.
The musician stressed on the importance of genotype testing, particularly for couples planning to have children, to prevent the transmission of the condition.
“Where sickle cell is more popular or where people know it most is my country Nigeria. And it happens when an SS matches an SS. And that’s why knowing your genotype is very important because the point is you should not bring many more kids that have sickle cell”, he said.
He expressed concerns that many Nigerians remain uninformed about sickle cell disease and urges health organisations to intensify awareness campaigns and education.
“My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it, and the important organisations are not making so much moves regarding it,” he concluded.
Imisi, who was declared the winner of BBNaija season 10 on October 5, 2025, took to her Snapchat to share the news with fans, showing gratitude for the luxurious gift.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a high-end device with advanced features, and its value ranges from N2,750,000 to N3,795,000, depending on the storage capacity.
