Entertainment
Afrobeats Is Redefining Global Music
From Lagos to London, and from New York to Tokyo, Afrobeats has moved from being a local sound to one of Nigeria’s most successful cultural exports. What was once driven mainly by local radio, street parties, and African concerts is now commanding global playlists, award stages, and stadium tours.
The numbers prove it. In 2024, Nigerian artists received more than ₦58 billion in royalties from Spotify, more than double the figure from the previous year. Streaming exports of Nigerian music also grew by 49% in three years, confirming that the sound is no longer confined to Africa.

Photo: @heisrema-Instagram
Artists at the forefront of this movement have matched the hype with measurable results. Wizkid became the first African artist to cross 20 billion global streams in 2025. Rema’s “Calm Down” remix with Selena Gomez was the first African-led track to hit one billion Spotify streams. Davido’s album 5ive recorded 15 million global streams in its first day, while both Asake and Burna Boy have also seen their albums debut with multi-million streams worldwide.

Photo: @burnaboygram-Instagram
The awards stage tells the same story. Burna Boy won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album in 2021, while Tems broke new ground in 2025 by winning Best African Music Performance with “Love Me JeJe”. She became the first Nigerian performer with two Grammy wins, a milestone that underlines the reach of Nigerian talent.

Photo: @omega-Instagram
Beyond music, Afrobeats has shaped cultural trends in fashion, language, and lifestyle. Nigerian slang has entered global conversations, African prints appear on international runways, and Afrobeats-inspired dance routines dominate TikTok and Instagram. What was once niche has become part of the global mainstream.
The growth of Afrobeats is not accidental. Nigerian artists built their careers at home, perfected their sound, and used streaming platforms to reach the world. Today, they headline festivals, sell out arenas across Europe and America, and collaborate with some of the biggest international names in music.

Photo:@asakefp-Instagram
For Nigerians, the rise of Afrobeats is a source of pride. The same songs played in Lagos traffic are being cheered by thousands in arenas abroad. More importantly, the industry is generating revenue and opportunities for young creatives, proving that music is not just entertainment. It is a thriving export.
Afrobeats is no longer chasing global recognition. It has achieved it. And with every milestone, Nigerian artists are not just sharing their sound. They are carrying the country’s cultural identity to the world stage.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele’s ‘The Four’ Sets December 11 Release Date
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele is set to return to cinemas with her latest feature film, “The Four: No One Fights Alone”, which will be released on December 11, 2026. The film is being produced by Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV) and distributed exclusively by FilmOne Entertainment.

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele
Akindele announced the project on Monday, August 10, unveiling both the title and the ensemble cast ahead of its December cinema release. The film tells the story of Esosa and three women whose lives become tied to the future of a young man they care about. Their loyalty to him puts their friendship and personal convictions under pressure as they navigate challenges between the Odu community and the city.
The film also draws on Nigerian cultural elements, with music, fashion, language and traditional settings incorporated into the production. Rather than focusing solely on the four central women, the story places their relationships and the choices they make at the heart of the film.

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele
Akindele takes on multiple responsibilities on the production, serving as the writer, director and producer of “The Four”.
The cast features Akindele alongside Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu, Uzor Arukwe, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Antar Laniyan and Wunmi Toriola. Singer Waje and Afrobeats artist Shoday are also part of the cast, alongside entertainment personalities Samuel Banks, Kolapo Omotosho and Ayomide Iwasokun.

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele
The December release comes after a series of commercially successful cinema releases for Akindele. Her recent films include “Battle on Buka Street”, “A Tribe Called Judah” and “Behind The Scenes”. In January 2026, the National Film and Video Censors Board said “Behind The Scenes” had surpassed ₦2.4 billion at the Nigerian box office.
Entertainment
Tems to Executive Produce Children of Blood and Bone Soundtrack
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has added another major international credit to her career after being named the Executive Music Producer and Curator for the soundtrack of Paramount Pictures’ upcoming fantasy film “Children of Blood and Bone”.
The announcement was made by director Gina Prince-Bythewood during the trailer launch event in New York and was confirmed on social media by Tems’ manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi.

Photo: x.com
As Executive Music Producer and Curator, Tems will help shape the soundtrack’s creative direction, overseeing the selection and development of music that supports the film’s story. The role marks one of her most significant behind-the-scenes contributions to a major Hollywood production, extending her work beyond performing and songwriting.
Speaking at the event, Prince-Bythewood explained that Tems had been part of her creative process long before production began. She recalled listening to the singer’s music while writing the film and said songs such as “Try Me” influenced the emotional tone she hoped to achieve. According to the director, she listened to Tems’ “Try Me” while writing the film and had long envisioned her curating and executive producing the soundtrack.
The soundtrack will also feature contributions from several Nigerian artists. Burna Boy has joined the project as Executive Music Consultant, while Fireboy DML, BNXN and Ayra Starr are expected to appear on the soundtrack alongside Tems’ new material. Their involvement shows the growing presence of Nigerian artists in major international film projects.

Photo: Instagram
Although the latest announcement centres on the soundtrack, it also represents another milestone for Tems, whose career has continued to expand across music, film and international collaborations. In recent years, the singer has earned global recognition through award-winning releases and high-profile partnerships, and this latest role places her at the centre of the musical identity of a major studio film.
The first official trailer for “Children of Blood and Bone” was released on 28 July, giving audiences their first full look at the fantasy adaptation. With Tems leading the soundtrack and contributing three original songs, anticipation is expected to grow ahead of the film’s theatrical release on 15 January 2027.
Entertainment
2Baba Reacts to Viral Romantic Video With Ex-Wife Annie Idibia
Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has responded after a romantic video of him and his ex-wife, Annie Macaulay, resurfaced online and sparked fresh speculation that the former couple had reconciled.
The clip, which circulated widely across social media over the weekend, showed the former couple sharing affectionate moments as they hugged, kissed and danced to 2Baba’s hit song “Amaka” in a night club. Comedian Nasboi was also seen in the video as the trio enjoyed the moment, leading many social media users to believe the footage was recent and that the pair had reconciled.

Photo: Instagram/@Official2Baba
Reacting to the rumours, 2Baba dismissed the claims with a brief message on his Instagram page.
“Abeg na old video o”, he wrote, adding laughing emojis.
His response came shortly after Annie also addressed the speculation on her Instagram Stories. The actress cautioned people against believing every post they come across online, explaining that the circulating clips were not new.
“Old videos circulating everywhere, false news everywhere!!! Believe everything u see on SM at ur expense! Wishing everyone a great, fruitful week ahead”, she wrote.

Photo: Instagram
The resurfaced footage quickly attracted attention because of the history between the pair. 2Baba announced in January 2025 that he and Annie had separated after years of marriage. The announcement marked the end of one of Nigeria’s most closely followed celebrity relationships.
Months after the separation became public, 2Baba began a relationship with Edo State lawmaker Natasha Osawaru. The couple later held a traditional marriage ceremony in July 2025, making the recent circulation of the old nightclub video even more surprising to many followers who assumed it reflected current events.
The viral clip drew renewed attention to 2Baba and Annie’s past relationship, but both parties have since clarified that the footage is old and does not represent a recent development between them.
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