Entertainment
Behind The Curtain | By Tunde Busari
In Yoruba parlance, especially when elders want to guide a promising youth against early fall, they tell him or her that palm oil always goes after white fabrics on destructive mission. This metaphor is a warning to the youth not to lose his head while the flame of his or her fame is burning.
A childhood friend of the late Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, at a public gathering in memory of Barrister in 2013, revealed that his friend had and maintained a split image divided between Sikiru and Barrister.
He told the very, very attentive audience that Sikiru was not Barrister and vice versa. The man, Alhaji Mojeed Kareem, unfortunately also late now, explained that the moment Barrister, coming from functions, stepped the entrance of his Fuji Chamber, he dropped Barrister and put on Sikiru, the no non-sense, fast-talking Mushin-born who was as human as any other person.
But when he was back to town and on stage, he transformed again to Barrister who must watch what he did, how he did it and particularly his endurance level. Why? He was tutored that he was that white fabrics while the people he met in the public could be that palm oil.
That’s what must have informed the gentleman treatment he accorded that woman who sneaked into his living room in Isolo and told him that she was his biological mother, not Alhaja Sifawu Odee whom he was advertising to the world in his albums. That was 1986.
If the evidently provoked Barrister had given in to the burning fire in him and reacted as such, he would have found himself at the wrong side of the law and possibly had his goodwill injured and his music career burnt to ashes.
The wisdom here is that celebrities should always be in charge of themselves, regardless of situations they find themselves. They shouldn’t be carried away by smiles or hard look of the public to fall cheaply and stupidly too into veiled traps by which they are surrounded.
Alhaja Waka Queen Salawa Abeni is a happy woman today because she treated her latest story well. Her prompt release, in which she alerted the world about a danger hovering on her roof, killed the matter, for it is timely. The sincerity, contained in the content of the release, won her sympathy which she couldn’t have got had she reacted differently and denied that aspect of her past. She has, thus, won the war which would have somehow affected her improving health again.
Assuredly, however, hers is not going to mark the end of such scandal as our celebrities appear to be unmindful of their status, thereby engaging in series of unholy acts behind the curtain and sometimes in the public.
They should be reminded that lens of phones is watching everyone, everwhere and everything. So they should watch their back so that they don’t receive Salawa message.
Popular Nollywood actress, lyabo Ojo, has opened up about her traumatic experiences with sexual assault, revealing that she was a victim of rape on five separate occasions.
The emotional disclosure came during an interview with fellow actress, Biola Bayo on the talk show Talk to B.
In the heartfelt conversation, lyabo explained her staunch stance against sexual violence and her zero tolerance for rape apologists. She stressed that she would not hesitate to confront anyone guilty of the crime, even if it were her own son.
“I was raped five times in my life,” she said. “I discovered we have a lot of rape apologists. I don’t care who the person is; if that person is my son, I am going to come for him unapologetically.”
The actress also shared details of her challenging upbringing, revealing that she was raised by her grandmother and only met her mother at the age of seven.
“I grew up with my grandmother, who is half Delta and half Igbo. I think I was seven before I knew my mother,” she recounted.
lyabo further revealed the strained relationship she had with her father, who disowned her when she chose to marry her ex-husband against his wishes. Tragically, her father’s struggles with alcohol and drug addiction cut his life short at the age of 49.
“My dad did everything- alcohol and drugs -so it messed him up at a young age. He died at 49,” she said.
The actress also addressed rumours about her relationship with controversial singer, Naira Marley, clarifying that despite public perception, she has never met him in person.
Nigerian music sensation Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has achieved a monumental milestone, becoming the first African artist to amass over eight billion streams on Spotify.
This feat solidifies his reputation as a global music phenomenon and a trailblazer in the Afrobeats genre.
Leading this historic achievement is One Dance, his chart-topping collaboration with Canadian superstar Drake, which has garnered over 2 billion streams, making it his most-streamed track on the platform.
Also, Wizkid’s Made in Lagos (Deluxe Edition) album has racked up close to 1 billion streams, marking it as his most successful body of work to date.
In comparison, fellow Afrobeats heavyweight Burna Boy follows closely with 7.2 billion streams, placing him as the second most-streamed African artist on Spotify. Wizkid also reigns as the most-followed Afrobeats artist on the platform, a testament to his ever-expanding fanbase and global influence.
This remarkable achievement underscores the growing global appeal of Afrobeats and highlights Wizkid’s pivotal role in bringing African music to the forefront of the international stage. It is an inspiration for emerging artists across the continent, proving that African music has the power to break barriers and set new records on a global scale.
Wizkid’s groundbreaking success is not just a personal victory but also a significant moment for African music, which continues to captivate audiences around the world.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele Breaks Records Again! ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ Hits N500M in Just 12 Days
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has once again redefined box office success with her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa.
The film has made history as the fastest Nollywood production to gross N500 million, achieving the milestone in just 12 days.
The blockbuster had earlier set another record for the highest-grossing one-day performance of all time, raking in N87.8 million on its best day.
Announcing the milestone through her Instagram account, Akindele expressed heartfelt gratitude to her fans for their unwavering support.
Sharing a celebratory graphic highlighting the movie’s N511 million earnings, she wrote, “Thank you, Lord!! Thank you everyone!!! I couldn’t have done this without your love and support!!!! God bless you all!!”
Everybody Loves Jenifa is the latest installment in the popular Jenifa series, chronicling the comedic yet relatable escapades of the titular character, Jenifa, played by Akindele.
The movie features a star-studded cast, including Falz, Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, and Layi, who bring depth and charm to the production.
Akindele’s achievements in the film industry continue to set new standards. Her 2023 movie, A Tribe Called Judah, still holds the title of the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time.
Fans and critics alike have hailed Everybody Loves Jenifa for its humor, relatability, and stellar performances, making it a must-watch in Nigerian cinemas. With this latest feat, Funke Akindele reaffirms her position as a trailblazer in Nollywood.
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