In 2016, Feyikemi Abudu rose into the spotlight on Nigerian Twitter as a sharp-witted, wine-loving, feminist. Today, as the #EndSARS agitations in Nigeria reach a peak, FK Abudu, as she is more popularly known on social media, is synonymous with the very spirit of the protest. 

Feyikemi is one-half of the most popular podcasts in Nigeria, ‘I Said What I Said’, which she hosts with her friend Jola Ayeye. She schooled in the University College of London, between 2011 to 2015, where she studied Chemical Engineering. In 2015, she attended the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she obtained a certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies.

In 2016, she spent four months with the She Leads Africa team, a community-centered business that provides the means for African entrepreneurs to access tools and products to achieve their business potentials as VP Business Development and Programmes.  

These days, after spending a couple of months in a few other companies in the position of Business Development Consultant, she shuffles her time between producing ISWIS podcasts and running Caya house, her consultancy firm. 

Feyikemi is also passionate about women’s rights and deconstructing the barriers that have been entrenched to limit the social and economic powers of women. 

As the rumblings of the #EndSARS protest got louder, the needs arose for a few people to organize and facilitate the smooth running of the protests. Protesters wanted to send money to cater for those out on the streets. These funds have been used to sort out hospital bills of injured protesters, as well as securing the means of bailing out detailed protesters. Refreshment and feeding of the protesters were also sorted with these funds. 

Feyikemi, in collaboration with feminist_co, a coalition group of feminists and several individuals on social media has orchestrated the release of several arrested protesters from detention, disbursing funds for the treatment of injured protesters, mobilizing, engaging, and encouraging protesters. 

While the protest structure is largely leaderless, there are foot soldiers dispatched to ensure the smooth flow of things, and Feyikemi is one of them. Though FK is a proponent of the ‘live your best life’ mantra encouraging a life of enjoyment and luxury, especially for women who are traditionally expected to persevere in hard times, she has shown that she can also roll up her sleeves and get to work when the need arises. 

She is daughter to lawyer, educator, interior decorator, and all-around businesswoman, Ekua Abudu, who is the proprietress of Greenwood House School, Ikoyi, one of the foremost preparatory schools in Lagos, which she established with her aunt, Mrs. Iyabo Margaret Durand. Ekua is the first child of lawyer and businessman Taiwo Sagoe, and Modupe Sagoe, a successful textile material entrepreneur in Lagos. 

Modupe Sagoe, Feyikemi’s grandmother, is a very popular textile merchant in Lagos. Sisi Modupe as she is fondly called, is blessed with three children, Ekua Abudu (nee Sagoe), Koffi Sagoe, who was married to Deola Sagoe, and Araba Morakinyo (nee Sagoe), the cake genius.  Sisi Modupe was the face of the HOH Swiss headgear, Gele Sagoe. 

Ekua Abudu was married to Wale Abudu, the two eventually split. And in a quiet ceremony, in 2018, she tied the knot to Finance and Accounting guru as well as famed art collector, Femi Akinsanya.  

FK’s father, Wale Abudu, a lawyer, is the son of legal luminary and astute businessman from Abeokuta, Chief Ayinla Olatunde Abudu, who is the The Mayegun of Egbaland, and brother to Tokunbo Abudu, Lawyer and businessman, who was married at one time, to Mo’ Abudu. 

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Nickelodeon is expanding the world of the number-one kids’ series, Henry Danger, with the launch of Danger Force, a brand-new original live-action spinoff, set to premiere to viewers across Africa on Sunday, October 18  at 19:00CAT/18:00WAT.

Created and executive produced by Christopher J. Nowak the new series stars two of the most beloved characters from Henry Danger, Captain Man played by (Cooper Barnes) and Schwoz (Michael D. Cohen) and will introduce four new superheroes-in-training as they team up to fight crime in their town of Swellview.

Tasania Parsadh, Nickelodeon Africa Channel Director at ViacomCBS Networks Africa (VCNA), commented “We’re spinning off our Henry Danger mega-hit into Danger Force, where a new set of kids discover their superpowers, vanquish villains and have to deal with growing up at the same time. Kids and their parents can look forward to new adventures and lots of laughter as Captain Man and Schwoz return with a host of new characters ”.

In Danger Force, four kids–Chapa (Havan Flores), Miles (Terrence Little Gardenhigh), Mika (Dana Heath) and Bose (Luca Luhan)–are recruited to attend Swellview Academy for the Gifted (SW.A.G. for short), a school conceived by Captain Man and brought to life by Schwoz, after having been accidentally mutated in the fight to save Swellview. While there, the kids must learn to harness their frequently troublesome and sometimes uncontrollable superpowers as they begin to fight crime. Despite the dangerous circumstances of their new lives, the superheroes must keep their real identities a secret from both their families and the villains who are out to destroy them.

Danger Force’s four brand-new superheroes-in-training were introduced in the final episodes of Henry Danger, which is Nickelodeon’s longest-running live-action sitcom, with 128 episodes across five seasons.

Catch the funny action-packed Danger Force starting from Sunday, 18 October at 6 PM on Nickelodeon DStv channel 305.

The post NICKELODEON EXPANDS THE WORLD OF HENRY DANGER WITH NEW SPINOFF appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

MTV has announced a set of superstars leading the “2020 MTV EMAs” performance lineup. Sam Smith, Maluma, Doja Cat, YUNGBLUD, and Zara Larsson are the first performers announced for the global music celebration airing on Sunday, November 8th.

The 2020 MTV EMAs will premiere exclusively on MTV (DStv Channel 130) & MTV Base (DStv channel 322) at 20:00 WAT on November 8.

African nominees were recently announced in the Best African Act category with Nigeria’s Burna Boy, who recently released his landmark album “Twice as Tall”, and rising Afrobeats star Rema securing nominations. South Africa’s Master KG and “Scorpion Kings” Kabza de Small and Maphorisa are also nominated in the category. Rounding up the list of African nominees is Uganda’s songstress Sheebah and Gaz Mawete from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Multi-award-winning Sam Smith is performing at the “2020 MTV EMAs” after the launch of his brand-new record Love Goes, out October 30th. Smith is also nominated for a “2020 MTV EMA” for “Best Collaboration.”

Global Latin artist Maluma is performing on the EMA stage for the first time, following the release of his new album Papi Juancho. Maluma is nominated for three EMA awards this year for “Best Latin,” “Best Virtual Live” and “Best Lat Am Central Act.”

Multi-platinum selling rapper and singer Doja Cat, nominated for “Best Push” and “Best New,” is making her MTV EMA debut after a big year of single releases.

International singer, songwriter and all-round pop phenomenon Zara Larsson, who boasts a catalogue with billions of streams, is returning to the EMA stage on November 8th.

British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist YUNGBLUD is performing at the EMAs after announcing his sophomore album WEIRD!, coming November 13th. He is also nominated in the “Best Push” and “Best New” EMA categories this year.

Show host and additional performers and presenters to be announced.

Shot from multiple locations around the world, this year’s global music celebration will be unlike any other.

The full “2020 MTV EMA” nominee list is available here.

Voting is open at mtvema.com until November 2nd at 11:59 pm CET.

To stay in tune with all things EMA, follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat (@MTVEMA) and Facebook and follow the social conversation using #MTVEMA @MTVEMA.

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They say opposites attract, but Peter and Halima are two opposite people whose difference tore them apart. Now Peter is trying to bridge the gap.

In episode 12 of Africa Magic’s Love Come Back, we meet Peter, a civil servant who is very introverted and prefers to be indoors spending time alone. His former girlfriend, Halima on the other hand, prefers the great outdoors. She loves having fun and going on adventures. This difference in likes caused a rift between them resulting in them being apart for over 6 months.

With the help of the Love Come Back team, Peter tries to win Halima back.

To do this, the team created an amusement park-themed game course because Halima loves those and proceeded on the journey to win her back. Peter, who was confident when speaking to Ibrahim earlier grew nervous when it was finally time to meet with Halima. But he quickly conquered it and went ahead to ask her out on a date. Thankfully, she said yes.

They had fun shooting hoops, riding the ‘bull of terror’ and Halima felt like they were bonding through all the games. She loved seeing him have fun and Peter also admitted to enjoying himself.

The highlight of the night was the questions round when the host, Ibrahim Suleiman, asked them a series of questions and then dropped the final question “Which one of you is ready to propose right now?”. Peter dropped to his knees and popped the question “will you marry me?”. Halima said yes! She was impressed that he made the effort to try and change to see things from her side.

Tune in to DStv Channel 151 on Sunday at 6:30 PM to catch the next episode of Love Come Back.

DStv Channel 151 is available to Premium and Compact Plus customers.

The post Love Come Back Episode 12: Even Couch Potatoes Deserve Love appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

If you’re ever asked what’s the slowest animal on earth, chances are you’ll say tortoise. Well, we are here to let you know you’re wrong. The slowest animal on earth is the sloth. 

Chances also are that you may never have heard about sloths. So, here’s a quick read about these incredibly fascinating animals.

1 – They are so slow it may take them a whole month to digest a leaf. Yeah, you read right. This is also due to the fact that the sloth has a very low metabolic rate which means it doesn’t need a lot of food to survive. 

2 – They are surprisingly good swimmers. While sloths aren’t really the fastest walkers – actually they are the slowest, with the average sloth barely covering 41 yards per day – they do really well in water and can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes under water.

3 – Sloths love a good nap! I mean, who doesn’t, right? But the difference between us and sloths is that while we dream it, sloths actually live it. These animals can spend up to 15 hours a day just sleeping. That’s GOALS right there! 

4 – Bad times, good times, sloths smile through it all. Okay, that isn’t entirely true. Here is what’s true – sloths have a “smiling” face. This doesn’t mean that they are smiling. It’s just that their face is structured in a way that makes it look like they are constantly smiling. They are not.

5 – Today, October 20, is International Sloth Day, and to celebrate, DStv’s new kiddies’ channel ZooMoo will be showing really fun and educative content around the interesting animal and if you’re looking for how to keep your kids busy and entertained today, this is just perfect.

ZooMoo (DStv channel 314) is available to DStv customers on DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact packages.

The post Showing On ZooMoo: Everything Your Kids Need To Know About Sloths appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

As you fight for your nation, Nigeria, during these protests, it may be possible to also win the fight for the heart. We have put together seven ways you may be able to find the love of your life at an End SARS protest below.

But remember above all, to not lose focus. The goal remains to end Police brutality.

The post End SARS: Seven Tips To Help You Find The Love Of Your Life At The Protest appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

Part of going out to protest includes being comfortable and being safe in clothing that allows you to run to safety easily. It doesn’t also hurt if you look fresh too. Here are five fashion items that will tick all of these boxes.

Remember to wear a face mask and keep fighting for the end of SARS and police brutality, and for a better Nigeria.

The post End SARS: Five Fashion Items You Need For The Protests appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

2020 has been a historic year in many ways. Only a few days after Nigeria celebrated its 60th independence anniversary from colonial rule, a spate of protests erupted across the country, which has crossed international borders, as Nigerians home and abroad call for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the police force and an end to police brutality.

The #EndSARS protest is the largest revolution the country has seen, but it is also just an unpleasant addition to an already odd year. Below are ten things that happened before the #EndSARS protest, and 2020 at a glimpse.

Keke/Okada Ban – the Lagos state government in February, announced the ban of commercial operation of okada and keke along several major roads in Lagos. His announcement left several thousand cyclists jobless, and the majority of the Lagos state population stranded. Okadas and kekes being the major and cheapest means of transportation within the state. 

Coronavirus – the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise and by February 27, Nigeria recorded its first Coronavirus case. There have been over 60,000 confirmed cases of the virus in Nigeria and over one thousand deaths recorded.  

Abule Ado Explosions – on an early Sunday morning in March, residents of Abule Ado, in Festac, woke up to noise from an explosion as a tanker crashed into a building housing gas cylinders. The explosion took the lives of over 20 people and destroyed over 130 buildings.

Lockdown – as the spread of the Coronavirus reached pandemic status, countries began locking down their borders and cities to curb the spread even as scientists worked round the clock to understand the virus and create a vaccine. On Tuesday, March 31st, President Buhari announced a 14 day lockdown of Lagos and Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory. 

Don’t Rush Challenge – out of the despair that 2020 has brought, the Don’t Rush challenge was a positive time in the lockdown. It was a moment of genuine relaxation and joy, as social media users put their spin on the fun viral challenge. 

Black Lives Matter – in May, the video of George Floyd, pressed on the floor, calling out for his mother, while a police officer kneeled on his neck till he died went viral on social media. The video signalled the Black Lives Matter protests that spread through cities in the United States of America calling for an end to systemic racism and police brutality against Black people in America. 

Justice For Uwa – in June, a rash of rape and gender-based violence hit the news. The repeated cases finally hit breaking point with the Nigerian masses especially women and soon the #JusticeForUwa hashtag spread across social media calling for these rape cases to be addressed. 

Hush Puppi’s Arrest – in June, news of the arrest of Hush Puppi and his associates by the Dubai police force on charges of fraud hit the airwaves. The arrest made for sensational news as Hush Puppi is a high profile personality in Nigeria, popular for constantly flaunting his lavish lifestyle on social media. 

Big Brother Naija Lockdown– in August, what would be the biggest season of Big Brother Naija yet began airing. The lockdown led to the largest audience tune in the reality show had ever recorded. While it aired, Nigerian youths, particularly on social media, banded, collaborated and showed support for their favourite housemates. 

EndSARS– On Saturday 3 October 2020, a video showing a SARS official shooting a young man at Ughelli, Delta State went viral on social media. The video sparked outrage against the common practice of police brutality in Nigeria, and only a week after, the #EndSARS protest began.

The post Ten Things That Happened Before The EndSARS Protest And Why They Matter appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

The events of the last two weeks in Nigeria shows clearly that no one is insulated from the activities of the rogue unit of the police, Special Anti Robbery Squad -SARS.

From celebrities to religious leaders, everyone seems to have an unpleasant tale to tell of their SARS experiences. The #EndSARS protest’s call for the disbandment of this rogue police unit, released an avalanche of these SARS stories.

The sight and sound of SARS, leaves a bad taste in the mouth of many Nigerians. Read some of these experiences below. #EndSARS.

The post EndSARS: Nigerians Share Their SARS Experience appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

A LETTER,

Dear Fellow Nigerians, 

The incidents of the last few days have left several youths of Nigeria, shattered and hurt. 

The incidents taking place in Nigeria and Africa at large has been disheartening and ultimately disgusting. 

It only shows the extent to which we still have to go concerning insecurity and good governance. Nevertheless, I would like to praise the youths who stood up for this great cause. The unity and bravery we all invested during this period are exactly what we need in our dear country, Nigeria. 

However, I am so sad and almost depressed, young HEROES lost their lives for this movement. 

Why does it seem that we have lost our humanity? We need to recoil and introspect on the happenings of the past few days and take note so that such will never repeat itself in the history of Nigeria, and Africa in general. 

With a heavy heart and my deepest sympathy, I offer my condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost someone in this struggle for a better Nigeria. 

They died as HEROES, and we would never FORGET their COURAGE, their bravery and the tenacity put in to advocate for a better Nigeria.

I was so invested in this good cause, never knowing that it had the proclivity to turn out so disastrous in such a dastardly manner.

My heart goes out to all entrepreneurs whose stores have been vandalized and looted, It’s draining and sickening watching one’s sweat go down the drain.

In that regard, can we map out a plan in cleaning up some of these stores, I’m open to ideas (with a plan) and suggestions, please mail Hellotacha888@gmail.com let’s put smiles on their FACES.

However it is not finished, the struggle doesn’t end, we would continue to advocate for a  BETTER Nigeria.

I find it hard to have hope as it is, so it would be ironic for me to tell you to be hopeful. Is there hope? Yes, where there is life, there is hope. Should we give up? No, we shouldn’t!! we live to fight another day. We would come out stronger and wiser from this situation Together as ONE. One Nigeria.

Rather than act in driven emotions, anger, stoking the embers of violence and anarchy, it would be in our best interest to STRATEGIZE on the way forward.

Guys, go get your PVC’s and fulfil your RIGHTS as a Citizen to vote when the time comes. We PIN!

To the rest of Africa, i.e. Congo, Namibia, South Africa, Cameroon, Liberia, Ghana, Ivory Coast and every other country undergoing tough times, I want to say that We understand your struggle and stand with you.

It remains in our prayers and supplications that Africa becomes a better place for us all. Our hearts are with you, Stay Strong!!!

Sending Everyone Cyber Hugs.

The post ‘Get Your PVCs’ Tacha Tells Young Nigerians appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

Just in case you are getting tired of fighting against Police brutality, here are nine reasons to remind you that you need to stay focused.

Refuse to be silent, speak up, let them know that they will not win and scream End SARS!

The post End SARS: Nine Reasons You Should Continue To Lend Your Voice To The Movement appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

There’s been a lot of information moving around the internet about the End SARS movement, the protests and the Lekki Toll Gate massacre. Some are real, some are false.

Spreading false information doesn’t help anyone and here are five reasons why YOU shouldn’t be doing it.

The post Five Reasons Why Spreading False Information Right Now is Terrible appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

These past few days have been tough, draining, stressful, frustrating, and sad. All of the emotions you are feeling are very real and valid but they could also hurt your mental health.

While you must remember that the fight is far from over, you must also learn to take care of yourself. If you are not okay, you can’t fight for the comrades you’ve lost, but you need to be able to. 

Here are five tips that can help you stay mentally healthy in these tough times.

1. Take regular breaks from social media: Don’t feel guilty to log off when you feel like it’s all getting too much. It’s okay to take a break. It will only make you feel stronger.

2. Allow yourself to deal with the emotions: You have a right to feel everything you are feeling. Allow yourself to deal with the pain, anger, and frustration. Cry if you have to, yell if it will help, and even punch something if it will make you feel better. Whatever you do, just make sure you are not bottling everything up.

3. Have long calls with friends: Since most people are stuck at home and probably alone, escape your thoughts by calling friends. Don’t be afraid to share your fears with them. And at the very least, you will be sure that those you love are fine and that will help keep you calm.

4. Revisit old and fun memories: This is the time to reminisce on the good times. Watch old videos, re-read messages, look at pictures, go through your older social media posts. Just make sure when you need a break from all of the madness happening around, you go to your happy place.

5. Sleep: If all else fails, sleep. Switch of all gadgets, drink some tea, put off all the lights, and sleep. You are bound to feel refreshed when you wake up, and you can fight another day. 

The post #EndSARS: Five Things You Need To Do To Keep Your Mental Health Safe appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

Future Africa founder Iyin Aboyeji is on the cover for Forbes Africa’s ‘The New Tycoons’ edition, as part of the magazine’s latest cover story featuring a trio of change-makers creating value in Nigeria’s new digital economy. Aboyeji, alongside Fara Ashiru Jituboh and Obi Ozor, are three young innovators who are turning challenges into opportunities and growing Africa’s tech scene at a phenomenal pace.

 

In the interview, he speaks with Peace Hyde about his entrepreneurial journey—with Bookneto, Fora, Andela and more recently, Flutterwave, the last two being remarkable success stories of African-led innovation. Iyin also discussed his latest venture, Future Africa, a platform which allows investors to co-invest with Future Africa on a deal-by-deal basis through investment syndicates.

“Nigeria could be the greatest black nation on earth if it could be focused on leveraging technology and innovation to ensure everyone access to opportunity regardless of who they are or where they are from,” he noted.

Iyin Aboyeji has recently appointed as a non-executive director of Learn Africa a 50-year-old leading educational publishing business to help contribute to the company’s digital transformation efforts across Africa, to ensure everyone has access to opportunity regardless of who they are and where they are from.

At 29, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji is the co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave, two of Africa’s most innovative and disruptive companies collectively valued at over a billion dollars. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Iyin first got into technology with the launch of his first venture, Bookneto.

Iyin has now set his sights on building the Fund for Africa’s Future (Future Africa), a people-powered innovation fund that provides capital, coaching, and community to mission-driven innovators turning Africa’s biggest challenges into business opportunities.

Over the last five years, Future Africa has backed over 32 companies who have gone on to raise $300m, with annual revenues of $120m, and have created 12,000 high-quality jobs across the continent.

The post Future Africa Founder, Iyin Aboyeji On ‘The New Tycoons’ Forbes Africa Cover appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

It’s heartwarming to discover that your favourite celebrities are best friends and they have good people to lean on in times of need.

No one can ever do wrong with having great friends around and these 15 celebrity best friends are lucky that they have each other.

Tell us if we missed out any other celebrity besties and who your favourite pair is in the comment section below.

The post 15 Nigerian Celebrities Who Are Best Friends appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

Regardless of what anyone thinks, the lifeblood of every long-lasting celebrity or public figure is a fanbase. A dedicated, influential fanbase consistently delivering free publicity, unsolicited advocacy and sales. 

Behind every celebrity is a powerful support system composed of their most loyal, active fans. But only a few celebrities have amassed such a huge fanbase that they leave a mark that can’t be ignored.

The thing with large fandoms is, there are positives and negatives. One of the positives for the celebrity is the support system. Even as a fan, knowing there are other people who love someone as much as you do can be comforting. It’s like having an automatic friend because you have a strong uniting force – the celebrity in particular.

The flip side is the sheep mentality. In the eyes of the fandom, the celebrity can do no wrong. Even when they make glaring mistakes, the fandom attempts to quiet the opposing opinion through sheer dominance in numbers. Whether it be a stranger or even one of their own, fandoms don’t hesitate in delivering justice to anyone speaking ill of their celebrity.

That being said, here are some of the most visible and influential fanbases in the Nigerian Entertainment Scene.

The Titans

These are the loyal fans of an ex-BBNaija housemate, Tacha. Even before Tacha Akide went for Big Brother Naija, she was already a small-time influencer who had acquired a certain amount of regular followers, who also patronized her business. When she ventured into the Big Brother Naija House, Tacha was always a source of controversy and endless headlines.

She was known for being straightforward and this endeared to many people. Tacha led the voting polls until she was disqualified from the reality show after a fight with another housemate. If anything, her disqualification sparked a fire that hasn’t died down till now.

The Titans never hesitate to support Tacha, taking on traits of their leader in their outspoken approach to interactions on social media. They have proven their might consistently as no day goes by without a Tacha-related hashtag trending on Twitter. They also defend her staunchly and never let anyone disrespect their alpha. Clearly one of the most powerful fanbases in Nigeria in the 21st Century.

Wizkid FC

Wizkid hit the music scene hard with his debut single ‘Holla At Your Boy’. After that, nothing was the same again. From the release of his debut album Superstar in 2011 till date, Wizkid’s listening audience grew from just Nigeria to people all over the world. And as his music spread, so did his fanbase.

Just like their leader, Wizkid FC are very calm and lowkey. Wizkid is known for his constant social media silence and his fandom, Wizkid FC, takes after him. But in voting, or defending their king, Wizkid FC is a force to reckon with. You dare not speak ill of Wizkid, except you don’t mind the barrage of messages that will definitely come your way.

They also have significant streaming power, evident as his song ‘Smile’ ft H.E.R, which he dropped just a month ago, surpassed two million organic streams on Spotify. Added to that, Wizkid has broken several streaming records and he recently became the first African artiste to surpass two billion streams on streaming platforms. No doubt that they are a powerful fanbase.

The Mercenaries

As their name implies, they act as guards for Mercy, who is the winner of BBNaija Season 4. Mercy Eke stunned the nation when she became the first woman to win the reality TV Show, Big Brother Naija.

While in the house, Mercy won the hearts of many Nigerians with her fun, competitive personality. Her relationship with fellow housemate Ike, which continued even after the end of the show, also stirred a few romantic hearts.

Mercenaries take no prisoner when it comes to protecting the image of their queen. Provoking them is a sure social media death. They also do a pretty good job of keeping her in the spotlight with constant trends. If Mercy were to ever venture into music, we can almost be guaranteed she would have sold-out concerts.

Marlians

Known for the slogan ‘no manners’, Marlians have only one president, artiste Naira Marley. Although Naira Marley had some buzz in the UK as far back as 2015, what pushed the buzz here in Nigeria was his 2017 hit song ‘Issa Goal’ which featured Olamide and Lil Kesh. His blatant support for ‘Yahoo Boys’ and his raunchy videos only made that buzz soar through the roof.

Spurred on by his music and his rebellious image, Marlians are ready to take the world by storm. They thrive off controversies which their leader provides for them in droves. We cannot say that it is accidental as we can see an almost calculative effort on Naira Marley’s part to keep the controversy going. Even to the extent of taunting government officials who have condemned his music.

Just like him, his fans do not have an issue engaging in almost insulting conversations with people who they feel have disrespected their president. Even when the case of plagiarism rose against Lyta – one of the artistes signed to his label, once Naira Marley showed nonchalance towards the case and supported the artiste, Marlians came out in full force to attack anyone who said otherwise.

There are other fandoms who are worthy of honourable mentions like artiste Davido’s fans known as 30B Gang, Burna Boy’s fans and fans of the late great Fela Kuti. Fela’s fans are special, seeing as they cross generations and are not limited to social media. But you know they are there, because pre-COVID-19, The Shrine was always the place to be.

If you think your fav’s fans didn’t get a mention, feel free to shoot us a message on our socials @thenetng and we’ll start up our mega clout generator to assess the fandom’s worth.

The post Meet the Most Influential Fanbases in the Nigeria Entertainment Scene appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

The Nigerian entertainment industry will be incomplete without dancers, some of them have excelled more than others and deserve to be celebrated.

Here are five Nigerian dancers breaking records and leading a movement:

1. Kaffy: Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau-Ameh has broken world records and single-handedly brought the dance industry into the 21st century, helping to kickstart some of the first reality dance shows in Nigeria. She is a CEO and choreographer, teaching and helping other dancers through her company, The Imagneto Dance company.

Apart from helping to teach the next generation of Nigerian dancers and fighting for their place in entertainment, she also uses her voice to bring to fore real social issues. Since she broke the Guinness World Record for ‘Longest Dance Party’, she has worked with several artistes including Ciara, Tiwa Savage, P-Square, D’banj and more.

2. Stephen Papi Ojo: Papi Ojo, as he prefers to be called, is a 22-year-old self-taught dancer whose mission is taking African dances to a global audience. He was one of the most prominent characters (The Blue Man) on Beyonce’s ‘Black is King’ visual album. His goal is to teach as many people as possible different African dances.

He taught Beyonce and her crew the “Network” dance from Ghana and Nigeria’s “Kpakujemu”. He also taught Rihanna how to “Gwara Gwara” (a South African dance) for her 2018 Grammys performance of ‘Wild Thoughts’ and Janet Jackson how to “Kupe” (a Ghanian dance) for her music video ‘Made For Now’. Over the course of his six-year dance career with his group, Africa’s Very Own (A.V.O Boyz) which he started with his late older brother, Emmanuel and his friend, Caleb, he has performed with stars like Wizkid, Chris Brown, Big Sean, Davido, Teyana Taylor, and more.

3. Poco Lee: Iweh Pascal Odinaka, his real name, is more than just a dancer, he is also a hypeman. The 24-year-old got his big break after popular Nigerian artiste, Zlatan featured him in his ‘Zanku’ video. He had seen a video of Poco Lee dancing on the streets.

Since his big break in January 2019, the dancer has created his signature dance called “The Poco” and performed with the biggest acts of the country like Grammy-nominated acts, Burna Boy and Wizkid. He has also performed with Davido, Naira Marley, Tiwa Savage, Niniola and more.

4. Girls Got Bold: The GGB Dance Crew is made up of three highly talented girls, each act with a unique style that complements the others. Odiley Emmanuella, Afije Rose Omokhoa and Ifeoma Efiokwu met at the award-winning producer, Clarence Peters’ studio in 2014. After jealously admiring each other and their skills, they came together to create a group.

They have a mandate to inspire and encourage young women and to create progressive platforms for the dance industry. Over the course of their careers as a group, they’ve worked with several brands and artistes to showcase their talents. The group has performed alongside D’Banj. P-Square, Olamide, Wande Coal, 2Baba, Davido, and more.

5. Pinki Debbie: Pinki, whose real name is Debbie Sunmisola Odumegwu broke the Guinness World Record for ‘longest dance by an individual’ in 2017. She danced for 137 hours straight to set a new world record and beat the previous record of 123 hours and 15 minutes, set by an Indian woman, Kalamandalam Hemaletha. Since her big moment in November 2017, she has worked with brands like Pepsi and Tecno Mobile. She has also performed alongside Mayorkun, Naira Marley, Zlatan, Small Doctor and more.

The post Top Five Nigerian Dancers Leading A Movement appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

With all of the stories shared from the End SARS movement, one thing is sure, police brutality is a real menace in Nigeria. That is why it is important to be adequately prepared to face the men of the Nigerian Police Force at every point you may have to interact with them. These are six things you must do if you run into a police checkpoint, may the force be with you.

1. Stop when you are asked to: Don’t give them any reason to assume that you have something to hide by not immediately obeying their request to stop. It could put you at a disadvantage and give them more reasons to be suspicious of you.

2. Speak gently to the Police officers: Nigerian police officers can be aggravating and slightly condescending in their approach. But even if you are irritated or you don’t like them, you must do everything to hide your disdain. Pretend like the police are your friend even if you know it’s a load of crap.

3. Provide all documents requested: The police are most likely to ask for license and registration. Give it to them immediately, without any argument. It goes without saying, that you shouldn’t be driving if you don’t have your papers and without any form of identification.

4. Obey all instructions: They can sometimes go overboard with their instructions like asking you to step out of your car and searching you. Just obey, to ensure your own safety and give them little reason to be violent.

5. Try not to panic: With everything that has been happening in Nigeria right now, it is possible to be afraid of the Police. Some may even say it’s wise to approach the Police with a certain level of fear, and they will be right. But you must make sure you don’t react according to the fear because that could get you killed.

6. Pray: Just because some of the men in the Nigerian Police Force have deep-seated issues, I’ll advise that you pray as soon as you see a police checkpoint. And also, because all of the above may not save you from their blood-thirsty hands, you may need some divine intervention. God help you!

The post Six Things You Must Do At A Nigerian Police Checkpoint appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

Long before Big Brother Naija had Nigerians glued to their TV screens, there were other reality competition shows that were loved – Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Idols West Africa, MTN Project Fame, Maltina Dance All and others. Nigerians were hooked on other reality shows. 

And just as Big Brother Naija creates stars out of its contestants every season, music competition shows like Idols West Africa and MTN Project Fame gave Nigeria some of the stars in the entertainment industry today.

Idols West Africa (popularly known as Nigerian Idols) was the West African franchise of the international Idols series created by Simon Fuller, following the success of the series in other parts of the world. The singing competition debuted in 2007 with ten contestants, but it unfortunately was short lived with only two seasons.

MTN Project Fame had a successful run for nine seasons. The music reality show launched in 2008, and was hosted by Joseph Benjamin and Adaora Oleh. Winners of the competition were entitled to cash prizes, vehicles, and production deals. And also end up becoming ambassadors for the telecommunications company MTN. 

These shows have produced some big names in the Nigerian music industry. 

Omawumi – Omawumi was a contestant on Idols West Africa in 2007. She contested alongside Timi Dakolo and was the first runner up in the competition. Omawumi impressed the audience and the judges with her powerful vocals and has since the competition become a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

She has since released three albums and won the 2009 Headies Best Vocal Performance award for her hit single ‘In The Music’.

Timi Dakolo – The ‘Iyawo mi’ singer appeared on Idols West Africa in 2007 and emerged winner of the competition. While in the competition, Timi was consistently in the lead and it came as almost no surprise when he finally emerged victorious in the competition. Dakolo released his debut album Beautiful Noise in 2011 and has continued to build a successful career for himself since.

In 2019, the singer signed a Virgin EMI record deal and released his first album under the label, Merry Christmas Darling. The album featured collaborations with British singer-songwriter Emeli Sande and Grammy awards winner Kenny G. Some of Dakolo’s famous hits include Iyawo Mi, The Vow, Wish Me Well, among others. 

Chidinma – Chidinma Ekile first appeared on the third season of MTN Project Fame in 2010. She won the competition as well as a cash prize of N2.5 million naira and a production deal. She released Chidinma, her debut studio album in 2011 that featured producers including Cobhams Asuquo, Tee-Y Mix, WazBeat and Oscar Heman Ackah.

Later that same year, Clarence Peters directed the visuals to Jankoliko, her single that featured Sound Sultan. In 2012, she released Emi ni Baller with Illbliss and Tha Suspect under CAPital Hill Records, which won the 2013 Headies award for Best Pop Extra Video.

In 2012, she won the Best Female West African Act at the Kora Award. She has appeared on several stages and performed in numerous countries across the world – Republic of Benin, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Niger and Ghana.

Iyanya – Iyanya won the first edition of the MTN Project Fame competition in 2008 and started out his career. He released My Story in 2009 after the competition, but it was in 2013, after the release of Kukure which was accompanied by the Etighi dance, a cultural Calabar dance that Iyanya hit national recognition. 

In 2014, he won the Headies Artist of the year award. His album Desire and his hit single Ur Waist were also nominated in the same year. In 2016, Iyanya became one of the artists signed to the Mavin record deal. In 2018, he announced that he was now signed to Temple Music. 

Niniola – The Maradona singer started off as a contestant on the sixth edition of MTN Project Fame in 2013. In 2014, she released Ibadi, her hit single produced by Sarz. It wasn’t until 2017 that she received wide acclaim for the release of Maradona. The single earned Nini nominations at the 2018 BET Awards and SAMAs.

In 2019, Niniola’s Maradona was sampled in Beyoncé’s ‘Find Your Way Back’, a song off her soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift. Nini is also credited as one of the track’s songwriters and composers.

In April 2020, she received her Grammy nomination certificate for her work as a composer on The Lion King: The Gift. The singer known for her energetic live performances has released hits like, Designer, Boda Sodiq, Omo Rapala and others. 

Praiz –  in 2008, Praiz came close to winning the first edition of MTN Project Fame against Iyanya, coming second place. Since the competition, the R&B singer has released ‘Rich and Famous’ ‘Sisi’ and ‘I Love You’.

He combined forces with Bez on his 2011 single, ‘That Silly Song’, which made a world premiere on BET’s 106&Park.

In 2014, Praiz released his Rich & Famous album and in 2015, he won the Nigerian Entertainment Award for Best Pop/RnB Artist of the Year. 

Praiz has been associated with acts like Wizkid, Chidinma, Seyi Shay, Cobhams and others.

Ayoola Ayolola – in 2012, Ayoola won the fifth edition of MTN Project Fame. He has transitioned from music into acting, since 2015, he has been appearing as Mide in the Ndani web series Skinny Girl in Transit. He has also featured in drama series The Men’s Club and landed roles in movies like – The Bling Lagosians, Isoken, If I Were President and others.

The post Chidinma, Timi Dakolo, Niniola and other Nigerian artists that have competed in music reality shows appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.

Some of the most popular Nollywood actors like Genevieve Nnaji started their acting career as children in the 90s and early 2000s. This video below lists five Nigerian actors who started acting before they were eighteen in movies and TV series.

1. Genevieve Nnaji

Genevieve started acting at the age of 8 in the TV soap opera, “Ripples” in 1998. She then featured in a few TV commercials including one for ‘Omo’ detergent and ‘Pronto’ beverage.

2. Regina Daniels

She starred in her first movie, “Marriage of Sorrow”, at the age of 7 but became more popular after appearing in the 2010 movie, “Miracle Child”.

3. Olumide Oworu

The funny actor, most famous for his role as Tari on the Johnsons first started acting when he was only 6 years old on the TV series, “Everyday People”. He appeared in the series for eight years before moving on to another TV series. 

4. Sharon Ezeamaka

She started acting at the age of 5 in the 1997 movie, “Narrow Escape”. She became more popular for her role in ‘Dear Mother’.

5. Williams Uchemba

He has never disclosed his age but he started acting as a child in 2000 and became popular after acting alongside Pete Edochie, Olu Jacobs and Ramsey Nouah in “The Journey of the Dead”. 

The post Nollywood Actors Who Started Acting As Children and Teenagers appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.