Connect with us

Entertainment

Tinubu Commends Rema, Burna Boy, Shallipopi, Other Nigerian Stars as Nigeria Dominates 9th AFRIMA

Published

on

275 Views

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigerian artistes who shone brightly at the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), hailing their outstanding achievements as a testament to the growing global influence, creativity, and resilience of Nigeria’s vibrant music industry and youth.

The President described the successes as a proud moment for the nation, showcasing the depth of talent and hard work that continue to elevate Nigerian music across Africa and the world. He noted that the victories reflect years of dedication and consistency, positioning Nigerian sounds as a powerful cultural voice on the continental and international stage.

The 9th AFRIMA, held from January 7 to 11, 2026, in Lagos — the official host city designated by the African Union Commission on April 9, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — delivered a stellar outing for Nigerian talents.

The event attracted over 1,200 artistes, delegates, and industry stakeholders from at least 48 African countries, underscoring its pan-African significance.

Key Nigerian winners included:

– Rema, who dominated with three major awards: Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African RnB & Soul.

– Burna Boy, who claimed Album of the Year for his project No Sign of Weakness, and shared Best African Collaboration with Shallipopi for their hit track “Laho” (or its remix).

– Shallipopi, who secured Song of the Year for his viral hit “Laho”, alongside the collaboration award.

– Other notable Nigerian honorees: Phyno (Best African Hip-Hop), Qing Madi (Most Promising Artiste), Yemi Alade (Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for “You Are” from the animated series Iyanu), and Chella (African Fans’ Favourite).

– Veterans Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye (D1) received the prestigious AFRIMA Legendary Award.

President Tinubu extended special commendation to Lagos State for its exceptional hosting of the event, which featured a Welcome Soiree, the Africa Music Business Summit, a vibrant Music Village concert at Ikeja City Mall with over 25 top artistes performing for thousands of fans, and a sold-out grand finale at the Eko Convention Centre.

“I commend Lagos State for once again proving its capacity as Africa’s creative and entertainment capital. I congratulate the Lagos State Government and His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for delivering a successful, world-class, safe, and welcoming environment for delegates, artistes, and guests from across the continent,” the President stated.

Reflecting on his own recognition in 2015 with the Pillar of Art and Culture in Africa Award by the African Union Commission and AFRIMA, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritizing youth empowerment and the creative economy.

“Culture is the soul of a people, and music remains one of Africa’s strongest voices. I remain deeply committed to supporting initiatives that promote our culture and empower our creative talents.

Our government is fully committed to empowering young Nigerians and strengthening the creative economy through music, film, fashion, and other sectors that drive jobs, tourism, and national development,” he added.

The President urged the award-winning artistes to continue using their platforms to inspire hope, unity, and pride while contributing to Nigeria’s growth.

The 9th AFRIMA, founded in 2014 by the International Committee of AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union Commission, culminated in the presentation of the iconic 23.9-carat gold-plated trophies to outstanding creatives.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

‘God Took Him’ — Singer Niniola Announces Death of Husband Michael Ndika

Published

on

49 Views

Nigerian Afro-house star Niniola Apata has announced the heartbreaking death of her husband, Michael Ndika, after 13 years of marriage.

The Grammy-nominated artist shared the sad news in a series of emotional Instagram Stories posted in the early hours of Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

“God took him,” Niniola wrote in one post. “My husband died,” she added in another, while expressing deep grief in a third: “God took him. 13 years. 13 f***ing years.”

Michael Ndika, also known as Big Mike or X.O, served as Niniola’s manager and was the Chief Executive Officer of NaijaReview, a multimedia platform promoting Afro-house and contemporary African music. The couple had kept their marriage largely private, surprising many fans who were unaware of the union.

No details have been released about the cause of Ndika’s death. Tributes and messages of condolence have poured in from fans, fellow artists, and the music community, including her sister, singer Teni.

Niniola, celebrated for hits like “Maradona” and her contributions to the Afro-house genre, is now receiving an outpouring of support as she mourns the loss of her longtime partner.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Wizkid Becomes First African Artist to Surpass 11 Billion Spotify Streams

Published

on

48 Views

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Wizkid (Ayodeji Balogun) has etched his name deeper into music history, becoming the first African artist to surpass 11 billion total streams on Spotify across all credits.

The milestone was announced on Tuesday by music data platform Charts Africa, which noted that Wizkid has now claimed every major Spotify streaming benchmark for African artists—from 1 billion to 11 billion streams.

This latest achievement underscores Wizkid’s unparalleled dominance as the most-streamed African act on the platform. His catalog, boosted by global hits like “Essence” with Tems and his feature on Drake’s “One Dance,” continues to drive massive numbers. He also leads other top African acts, with Burna Boy at around 9.8 billion and Davido trailing further behind.

The timing coincides with the recent release of his collaboration “State of Mind” with DJ Tunez, which quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of streams. Industry observers project that Wizkid’s consistent daily streaming velocity will keep pushing his totals higher.

Fans and industry figures have flooded social media with congratulations, hailing the feat as a proud moment for Afrobeats and Nigerian music on the global stage. Wizkid’s previous breakthroughs, including becoming the first African artist to hit 10 billion streams earlier in 2026, had already positioned him as a continental trailblazer.

This 11 billion milestone further solidifies his status among the world’s streaming heavyweights and highlights the growing international commercial power of Afrobeats.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

NFVCB Approves 304 Nollywood’s New Films

English-language productions dominated the industry with 201 films classified within the period under review. Igbo-language productions accounted for 44 films, while Yoruba recorded 42. Hindi films stood at nine, Hausa productions accounted for five, while Bini-language films recorded three classifications.

Published

on

By

80 Views

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) declared that it approved and classified 304 films between January and April 2026.

In a statement, Director of Film Censorship and Classification at the board, Deborah Malgwi, said that the figure represented an increase from the 267 films classified during the same period in 2025.

Classification data released by the board shows that January 2026 recorded the highest number of approvals with 102 films, followed by 83 in February, 77 in March and 42 in April.

In comparison, the board classified 25 films in January 2025, 58 in February, 114 in March and 70 in April of the same year.

The statistics also showed that English-language productions dominated the industry with 201 films classified within the period under review. Igbo-language productions accounted for 44 films, while Yoruba recorded 42. Hindi films stood at nine, Hausa productions accounted for five, while Bini-language films recorded three classifications.

Further analysis indicated that most productions fell within the “15” and “18” age categories, reflecting prevailing themes in contemporary film productions.

Continue Reading

Trending