Entertainment
Ebenezer Obey: Celebrating a legend at 79
I grew up in a neighborhood where music from loudspeakers was some kind of competition
On our street was a record store which attracted customers by how loud the music was. Adjacent to our house was a palm wine shop that sold its product by playing the rave of the moment in the music industry on a loop.
In the neighborhood were also other residents who regaled everyone with their rich collection of music albums.
It was a permanent cacophony.
There was one artist in this confusion that stood out, Chief Ebenezar Obey, the Juju maestro. I did not start off liking his music. As a young boy with latent adrenalin, I was drawn to faster paced music played by the likes of King Sunny Ade and Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Except for such classics as The Horseman and Board Members, Obey’s music hardly appealed to me.
As the years have passed,I have learned to appreciate why the older generation chose Obey as their favorite musician. His music tempers the tumult of daily pressure. It is a soothing balm for a society that is in turmoil.
But most importantly, his music and message have transcended generations.
Obey has consistently been a musician of conscience. His compositions speak to all social ills and offer succour to the bereaved, the aggrieved and the frustrated. In political circles, he has demonstrated an attribute not common in our climes. On a number of occasions,he turned down generous offers to play live at functions set up by politicians against those whom he had publicly identified with.
His legacy as a musician will be remembered with gratitude and affection by future generations. If you are in doubt, consider how his classics like the special tracks on Christmas, Board members, Marriage etc are still in popular demand, decades after their initial release.
Happy 79th Birthday to the Chief Commander, Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi, MFR.
Long may the good times roll.
Professor Adeolu Akande, a Journalist, Author, Scholar, Political Scientist and Chairman, NCC wrote from Ibadan
Popular Nigerian singer, Adekunle Kosoko, better known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simisola Kosoko, also known as Simi, have welcomed a set of twin babies.
The singer announced the good news via his Snapchat story on Wednesday.
“Asked God for another child and He blessed me double,” Simi wrote.
Although the gender of the babies has not been disclosed, the announcement has since attracted congratulatory messages from fans, colleagues and well-wishers across the entertainment industry.
The development comes months after Simi had hinted at her pregnancy. In December, she shared a video on Instagram, captioned, “From my baby, for my babies,” with the clip showing her baby bump.
The arrival of the twins also comes weeks after Simi featured in a snippet from Adekunle Gold’s recently released music video titled My Love Is the Same.
Adekunle Gold and Simi got married in 2019 after years of friendship and musical collaboration. Both artistes were formerly signed to X3M Music early in their careers and have since remained one of Nigeria’s most celebrated celebrity couples.
The couple welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.
Renowned Tungba gospel musician, Dr Yinka Ayefele, has released a new studio album titled Reflections, adding another chapter to his long-standing influence in Nigeria’s gospel music scene.
The album, which was released on Monday, December 22, 2025, blends introspection with praise, as Ayefele reflects on life, faith and gratitude to God, drawing from personal experiences marked by trials, near-tragedies and triumphs.
Announcing the release in a statement, the Group Head of Corporate Affairs, Fresh Nigeria and Yinka Ayefele Limited, Samson Akindele, said the album captures the musician’s deep reflections on life and his renewed commitment to thanksgiving and praise through music.
Musically, Reflections is rooted in Ayefele’s signature Tungba style, featuring energetic drum percussions, rich string arrangements and call-and-response patterns, supported by harmonious backup vocals from the Merry Makers Band.
The album also incorporates diverse elements, including Tungba hymnals and an Arabic praise chant rendered by a budding female talent, Harike Jesu, who additionally delivers a danceable Fuji-inspired track.
According to details of the project, the opening track focuses on Ayefele’s life journey and lessons drawn from past experiences, while subsequent tracks express appreciation to fans and sustain a flow of upbeat, dance-friendly rhythms.
Reflections is available on major digital streaming and download platforms, including Spotify, Boomplay, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Audiomack, YouTube Music, Deezer and Tidal.
The compact disc version is expected to be released in the coming days under the Yinka Ayefele Music label.
Jamaican reggae icon, Jimmy Cliff, is dead. He died on Monday at the age of 81.
His wife, Latifa Chambers, announced the singer’s passing in a statement posted on his official Instagram page.
Chambers said Cliff “crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” describing the loss as “profoundly saddening.”
She wrote, “I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists, and coworkers who have shared his journey with him. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career.”
Cliff, revered as one of reggae’s defining figures and widely regarded as the genre’s most influential artiste after the late Bob Marley, enjoyed a stellar career that spanned more than four decades.
A multi-instrumentalist known for classics such as You Can Get It If You Really Want and The Harder They Come, Cliff blended reggae with folk, soul, ska and rock. His music frequently tackled themes of politics, poverty, injustice and social resistance.
He shot to global prominence following the release of the 1972 film The Harder They Come, in which he starred. The movie, partly inspired by his tough upbringing, played a pivotal role in pushing Jamaican reggae onto the world stage.
Reacting to his death, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, described Cliff as “a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world.”
“His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today,” Holness said.
“Walk good, Jimmy Cliff. Your legacy lives on in every corner of our island and in the hearts of the Jamaican people,” he added.
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