Nollywood has long treated mental illness as a consequence rather than a condition. A man runs mad because a ritual backfired; a woman strips in the street and laughs because she cheated on her husband. The afflicted character is usually assigned a set of stock tics ��� an unsettling laugh, a public breakdown ��� and a single spiritual cause, with no room for treatment or interiority. It’s either a cautionary tale (“don’t do this or you will run mad”) or comic relief, and either way, the audience leaves with a worse understanding of mental illness than they came in with.

That same carelessness carries over into how the industry handles suicide, arguably its most delicate subject. Rather than sitting with the decision ��� the mind behind it, the weight of it ��� suicide is deployed as shock value, a twist that serves the plot rather than the character. You can see it in the short film Behind The Smile: the director takes a genuinely complex subject and strips it of depth, driving the character to an ending that feels less like a culmination than an afterthought. A beat dispatched with the same flatness as any other scene, rather than the film’s emotional center of gravity.

A few films manage to break from this. is the clearest example. It follows the aftermath of a woman’s complicated pregnancy and her struggle with postpartum depression, and it earns the difficulty of that subject rather than borrowing it for effect. The film gives its lead a full interior life: her isolation is shown in small, accumulating domestic details rather than a single dramatic outburst, and her husband’s failure to see what’s happening to her is treated as its own quiet indictment. It never tips into public-service-announcement territory because it trusts the character’s specific circumstances to carry the weight, instead of leaning on suicide as a narrative device.

As we close out Suicide Prevention Month, it’s worth remembering how much Nollywood’s stories shape public perception of mental illness and suicide. For a huge, non-specialist audience, these films may be the only sustained engagement they have with the subject at all. Movies don’t need to function as mental health advocates. But an industry with this much reach owes its subjects ��� and its audience ��� more care than a rope around the neck played for a laugh.

If you need support, someone to talk to, or immediate help, these Nigerian mental health resources may help.

Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) ��� Youth-focused mental health support

| Crisis support: +234 916 841 7413

She Writes Woman ��� Free teletherapy & crisis helpline

| +234 800 800 2000

SURPIN ��� Suicide prevention & crisis intervention

| 080 0078 7746

Asido Foundation ��� Emotional wellness assessments & 24/7 Helpline

| +234 902 808 0416

National Emergency Helpline: 112

Genoveva Umeh in

Release date: October 23rd 

We���ve seen Genoveva shine in many Nollywood movies recently. I mean, nobody can forget her star making performance in Blood Sisters. That���s why we���re thrilled to see her play Zikora in the young adult drama, Tele X Zikora. The movie is set on a university campus and follows two students from different backgrounds whose paths have crossed in university. Everyone has been begging for stories like this because we���ve been starved since Far From Home so we can���t wait to meet the new character Genoveva will play.油

Funke Akindele in  

Release date: December 16th 

The queen of the box office returns to our screens this December and she���s bringing a brand new story along with her. We���ve known her for her legend-making role as Jenifa but she���s consistently explored new narratives with her December releases. This time she���s playing Labake whose exact qualities are being kept under wraps but we���re sure that once December rolls around, there will be a new Funke character we���ll be obsessed with. 

Toyin Abraham in  

Release date: December 16th 

The December box office is always a battle between Funke and Toyin and this year won���t be any different. She���s bringing her intense energy in a new blockbuster, Bestie. There���s no official trailer or story reveal yet but one thing you can always count on is Toyin giving you a dramatic story filled with laughs and jaw dropping moments and for that, we���re waiting with baited breath.

Teniola Aladese in

Release date: October 1st 

If you weren���t part of the 51,000 people that broke the world record at Tafawa Balewa Square last weekend, worry not because you can watch Black Market when it comes to the cinemas and also witness Teniola give a rousing performance. The movie follows a group of women smugglers who must come together to save a child and when you watch it, you too can claim to be part of a Guinness World Record.油

Omowunmi Dada in  

Release Date: December 4th

Omowunmi���s rise in Nollywood has been the stuff of dreams. From roles in Yoruba language titles to supporting characters, she is always on our screens. After participating in the world record breaking Black Market she’s coming back in the anticipated The Secret Lives of Baba Segi���s Wives. Her role as Bolanle is the movie���s heart and from the trailer alone, we are in for another star-making performance.油

Uzoamaka Power in

Release date: October 30th 

After writing and starring in the biggest movie of the year so far, Call of My Life, Uzoamaka returns to our screens in Phoenix Fury. She plays Ifeatu in this movie that premiered at the African International Film Festival in 2024 winning the Best Film and Best Director awards. Uzoamaka���s ability to bring depth to every character will be the thing the audience will be looking out for and judging from the clips we���ve seen, we���re surely in good hands.油��

Sunshine Rosman in

Release date: October 9th 

There���s nothing we love more than a love story and we are getting one with the beautiful Sunshine Rosman, what���s not there to be excited about? East West Love is a cross country romance where Tito (Sunshine) is heartbroken in Kenya and has to begin the journey of healing. We can feel the giddiness this movie is going to bring already.油

Chioma Akpotha in

Release date: December 16th 

Everyone knows where they were when Chioma Akpotha gave that moving speech at the altar during Gangs of Lagos and if you weren���t there then you missed a history making performance. The good thing is you have the chance to see her again in The Four as Somto. Judging by her long history as one of the most consistent actors in Nollywood, there���s no arguing this one will be just as exciting as the rest.油

Onyinye Odokoro in

Release Date: October 24th 

We already got a taste of Onyinye���s talent this year in Before We Sleep from the 91心頭利嫋 Life Anthology and we get to witness her give another masterclass as Nnena in Phoenix Fury. The trailer teases a sisterhood with Uzoamaka���s character and that alone has sold us.油

Bimbo Ademoye in

Release Date: December 4th 

Bimbo has consistently entertained us on her YouTube channel and she���s taking those skills to the larger screen in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi���s Wives. This adaptation has been in the conversations of every Nigerian movie lover and one thing they���re all excited about is seeing Bimbo Ademoye eat up yet another role. We���re right there with them.

If you���re new to his work, first of all are you living under a rock? Or if you want to revisit some of his work, we���ve put together a list of movies where you can watch the icon flex his skills as one of the greatest Nigerian actors. Ranging from western productions to Nollywood ones, these are some of Olu Jacob���s best roles. 

(1980)

Running Time: 118 minutes 

Director: John Irvin

This 1980 movie directed by John Irvin follows a small unit of soldiers hired to overthrow an African leader. Olu Jacobs steals the show as a strict immigration officer who finds a balance between humour and seriousness. It���s a role that finds him opposite Christopher Walken and he holds his own with little to no effort.

(1979)

Running Time: 118 minutes 

Director: Richard Fleischer 

A young Michael Caine stars as Dr David, a man who goes on a perilous journey to save his lover from slavers. In this movie, Jacobs plays the no nonsense Commissioner Batak who assists him on this journey. It���s a role that gives a glimpse into the type of character he���d embody in many Nollywood productions. 

(2006)

Running Time: 120 minutes 

Director: Tchidi Chikere 

This role gave him the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at the 2007 African Movie Academy Awards. In this film he played a struggling writer who uses his wife���s flirting escapades as inspiration. With a balance of humour and emotional depth, he etched his name among the icons of the industry. 

(2015)

Running Time: 93 minutes 

Director: Curtis Graham 

He put forward a complex moving performance as Timipre in this movie that addressed the exploitative efforts of oil companies in the Niger Delta. In a movie packed with stars like Richard Mofe Damijo and Segun Arinze, he plays a man ridden with guilt as his community is destroyed.

(2004)

Running Time: 120 minutes 

Director: Andy Amenechi

In a rare, non-royal Nollywood role Jacobs plays Agumba, a man caught between duty to his village and a corrupt princess. It���s a role that showed his versatility as he brought a new side to his work. 

(2012)

Running Time: 120 minutes 

Director: Lancelot Imasuen

In this movie set in the ancient Benin kingdom, Olu Jacobs took on the role of Ezomo in a movie unlike any other of its time. Tackling themes of slavery and duty to tradition, the legendary actor brought new life to the movie helping it secure 10 nominations at the 2012 African Academy Movie Awards. 

(2013)

Running Time: 120 minutes 

Director: Shirley Frimpong-Manso

This time he takes his skills to Ghana in this crime thriller that follows a private investigator who tracks unfaithful partners of the men who hire him. His work leads him to a wealthy man played with menacing bravado by Olu Jacobs. 

(2017)

Running Time: 90 minutes 

Director: Ishaya Bako 

In his last onscreen role, he gives a small but mighty performance as Richard alongside his wife, Joke Silva. Written and Directed by Ishaya Bako, the movie was a fitting final appearance for our legend and icon. 

Here are 10 movies that prove that Omoni Oboli is the queen of YouTube Nollywood romance. 

Running Time: 2 hour 39 minutes 

Director: Mo Fakorede 

To save her family from embarrassment, Adanna (Toluwani George) takes her twin sister’s place and marries a man she has never met. An arrangement that is supposed to be temporary turns into a relationship of discovery and betrayal and a choice Adanna must make to tell the truth or continue living a lie. 

Running time: 1 hour 43 minutes 

Director: Uduak Obong Patrick 

Ijeoma (Teniola Aladese) finds herself at the destination wedding of her ex and as if that isn���t bad enough, she meets the bride���s ex who gets on her nerves. During the course of the wedding, their conflict morphs into curiosity. Will they let go of their past and find new love at this destination wedding?

Running time: 1 hour 28 minutes 

Director: Mo Fakorode 

 A lighthearted bet turns into a complicated situation for Bella (Bambam) when she gets entangled in a mess that tests her views on love and loyalty and she must make a decision that will affect not just her but others involved. 

Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes 

Director: Uduak Obong Patrick

A successful CEO (Chris Attoh) has his love life restricted by his family but then he meets a fiercely independent woman (Teniola Aladese) who he enters an arrangement with. Their pretense slowly starts to become real and now he must choose between family loyalty and the woman who might be the love of his life. 

Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes 

Director: Mike Fakorede 

Ufuoma (Bambam) is constantly unsatisfied with her life, making sure everyone in her life is aware of it. One day, she wakes up with her dream life but she soon discovers these desires come at a cost. Now will she continue living her dream life or go back to the life she���s always wanted to leave? 

Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes 

Director:

A bride (Uche Montana) wakes up on the morning of her wedding beside a man she doesn���t know. Both of them are confused and scared so they must retrace their steps together to find out how they ended up in this situation before it ruins her perfect day.

Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes 

Director: Mo Fakorede 

Akin has his life in control. Successful career, loving girlfriend and a bright future. All this is upended when his elaborate public proposal ends in humiliation and he turns into a recluse with a speech disorder. With the help of his best friend, Emem, he begins to discover that love and accountability must happen at the same time. 

Running Time: 2 hours 1 minute

Director: Mo Fakorede 

After a devastating heartbreak, Titi (Ekama Etim Inyang), a successful fashion entrepreneur must rebuild her life as a different person. She lives this new life and meets a man also suffering from heartbreak and they must find honesty and vulnerability if their love story must succeed. 

Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes 

Director: Uduak Obong Patrick

After a devastating tragedy, a man moves to a secluded village to restart his life. There, he meets an elderly man and his guarded daughter, this marks the beginning of his healing journey where he learns that he cannot outrun his past and hidden truths threaten his new life. 

Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes 

Director: Uduak Obong Patrick

A high profile proposal, a fancy Lagos restaurant, plenty of cameras, what could go wrong? Well, for Ramsey (Deyemi Okanlawan) everything goes wrong and his failed proposal goes viral. As the city takes sides, two hard headed lovers must quiet the noise and make the decision of their lives. 

So, what led to the downfall of the SheLLa ship (aside from the unfortunate nickname, of course)?

The Beginning 

The two former lovebirds first met each other in the Big Brother House and got close, forming an in-house relationship which some viewers loved, but others quickly saw the red flags. There were moments when he was verbally abusive to her, and he also threatened to break up with her a thousand times. He consistently hung marriage over her head and made her feel small, taking all their issues to other housemates when there was trouble in paradise (if you could even call the relationship paradise). If you don���t believe it, take this Twitter thread documenting their relationship in the house and make your judgment.

The Breakup Announcement 

Sometime last week, Sheggz took to Instagram to announce an end to their relationship in January of this year. His statement was diplomatic and amicable, so of course you know something was about to go down. He claimed that he was coming to the public with the news because he had heard false stories about himself that he needed to put to rest.

Bella soon released about the relationship. In it, she talked about how she had defended the relationship because she believed in it and how she had given Sheggz multiple chances during their time together.

It���s important to note that Bella had been seen a while ago, so the relationship seemed to be progressing towards marriage before this happened.

Shit Hitting The Fan

You could argue that shit hit the fan earlier on, but that was nothing compared to what came next. First, Bella���s sister commented on an old Instagram post from Sheggz where he was with Bella, asking him to delete it. That comment was like the opening of Pandora���s box because after that, WhatsApp texts between the couple were leaked and things were not looking good. For Sheggz, that is.

The texts revealed Sheggz was a man full of talk. He poured his heart out to Bella, asking her to come back after a breakup, saying that he missed hearing her sing Igbo songs around the house. I mean, he could have just put on some Chioma Jesus if it was that serious.

He also laid out a plan for their future, describing elaborate plans for their engagement, claiming that the buzz around them getting married would make Bella the first Nigerian influencer to break America���does Jackie Aina know about that? Bella called him a liar and said he���d been ring shopping for a while now with no headway (he might have been in the diamond mines just for her; she should hear him out).

Like that wasn���t enough, Bella���s mother also weighed in, saying that no man will string her daughter along without consequences, and honestly? I live.

Aside from the failed promises, the chats also revealed all the times Sheggz borrowed money from Bella in very ���interesting��� situations, and when she asked for her money back, he refused and called her names. Chats between Bella and Sheggz��� mother also revealed that he owed Bella 11 million naira. To add more shit to the fan, abuse allegations came into the mix, with the leaked chats showing pictures of Bella with a swollen face.

Sheggz, instead of addressing the allegations, posted pictures of himself flaunting a Rolex and a business class flight because the broke boy allegations meant more to him than the abuse ones.

The Lawsuits

The leaked chats weren���t the end of this debacle because Sheggz’s lawyers issued a cease and desist and a defamation notice, claiming that Bella���s statements were damaging his reputation���like his BBN run hadn���t done that job already.

Bella���s lawyers quickly clapped back, saying that Bella was just expressing her emotions and that Sheggz was owing her money totaling over 贈10,166 and ���19.8 million, and their relationship involved an alleged ���breach of promise to marry.��� They also added that one of Sheggz���s lawyers was contacting Bella at odd hours. If you ask me, I think that was Sheggz trying to make peace, but what do I know?

This is the most recent point of the debacle and hopefully, we get some more updates when they go to court but we know that these things rarely ever move beyond putting out statements on social media. It���s truly the law firms that are winning.

This story will continue to update as more details emerge.

The directors in this list made the audience pause and pay attention to the many genres and stories explored and many of them have gone on to have prolific careers making movies home and abroad. These are the 10 best directorial debuts in Nollywood. 

(2016)

Running Time: 1hour 42 minutes 

Director: Abba T Makama 

Genre: Coming of age 

Nigeria���s future is said to belong to the youth and in Green White Green, Abba T Makama satirizes and documents the ethnic tensions of a nation through the story of three friends from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. They are waiting to get into university and the film chronicles that anxious waiting period with sharp observation and heartfelt storytelling.

(2016)

Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes 

Director: Dare Olaitan 

Genre: Comedy

A debut film with many moving parts is a delicate endeavor and Olaitan embarks on it with the deftness of a veteran. Chronicling the robbery of a filling station through various contradicting accounts, the film takes the humour of the Nigerian condition and combines it with a suspense filled thriller that keeps you watching. 

(2014)

Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes 

Director:CJ ���Fiery��� Obasi 

Genre: Horror thriller 

CJ Obasi announced his arrival on the scene with this biting commentary on Nigeria’s failings disguised as a sort of zombie apocalypse tale. It���s a scrappy, tactile movie that deploys the genre���s tools to tell a familiar story of a community whose members start exhibiting a rabid illness after their water supply is contaminated. 

(2016)油

Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes 

Director: Kemi Adetiba 

Genre: Romantic comedy 

There are movies that redefine eras in an industry and for Nollywood, The Wedding Party is one of those. Chronicling the morning of Dunni and Dozie���s wedding and all the chaos that ensues, the romcom under Adetiba���s guiding hands taps into cultural familiarity and humorous performances to create a modern Nigerian classic. 

(2018)

Running Time: 1 hour 24 minutes 

Director: Ema Edosio

Genre: Comedy 

The Nigerian youth are always up to one adventure or the other and we don���t often get films documenting that. With the local grounding Kasala brings, we finally get that. Four friends take an uncle���s cars on a joyride, end up getting into an accident and must fix the car before he finds out. It���s a comedy of epic proportions with a kinetic camera and performances moulded by Edosio���s exciting new voice.油

(2017)

Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes 

Director: Jade Osiberu 

Genre: Romantic comedy 

Having a woman at the centre of a romcom in a way that asserts her choice and independence is a rarity even till now. Isoken occupies a special place in Nollywood canon because of this. Osiberu paints a mosaic of colours and feelings as the titular character navigates love that she wants for herself while family and society watches.油

(2026)

Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutes 

Director: Dammy Twitch

Genre: Romantic comedy 

For years, Nollywood has promised and failed with many romcoms that came out. They were often disconnected from the people they were documenting and unable to tug at the heart strings. Enter Call Of My Life. Written by Uzoamaka Power, it could have fallen into the pit of good writing not translating to a good film but Dammy Twitch is dedicated to the vision. Bringing colour and whimsy to the love story, we get a romcom revival in Soluchi and Eli���s love story.

(2006)

Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes 

Director: Mildred Okwo

Genre: Action thriller 

Mildred���s ambition has always been known and there���s no better place to see it than in her first feature. The movie follows a man who falls in love with a woman who happens to be an assassin. It���s a tense action thriller that never stops moving and a bold first feature for a woman who knew the exact kind of stories she wanted to tell.油

(2024)

Running Time: 1 hour 23 minutes 

Director: Olalekan Afolabi 

Genre: Drama

Making a first feature that attempts to comment on contemporary issues is a delicate balance and Olalekan performs the balancing act deftly. Following a group of friends who own a startup and the lives that intersect with them as a result of police brutality and corruption, Freedom Way addresses recent Nigerian problems with proselytizing and with characters that feel familiar.  

(2018)

Running Time: 1 hour 24 minutes 

Director:Genevieve Nnaji 

Genre: Drama 

Genevieve Nnaji was already a household name before Lionheart and the film���s arrival was a reintroduction to another side of the actress. In her debut feature, we meet Amaka who has to take charge of her sick father���s business while people watch waiting for her to fail. It���s a celebration of Igbo ingenuity and a show of a voice that has been sharpened by years in front of the camera. 

This edition was originally scheduled to hold last December as part of the Detty December celebrations but failed to happen. Now, the ceremony is slated to be held on the 23rd of October in Toronto, Canada. Here is the complete list of all the nominees for the 18th edition of The Headies.

BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG 

Luwa Mp4, Jeleel! – Cyk Baddie 

Sewa – Lagos Lovin

Wizard Chan – Oliver

Blnde – Omo to sexy 

Wave$tar – Prada Baby 

Obongjayar – Sweet Danger 

Chief Priest, Boypee, Zoro – Summer Adina

BEST ORIGINAL SONG FOR VISUAL MEDIA

All My Love ��� Osas Okonyon & Abbey Wonder, from Evi

Behind the Scenes ��� Funke Akindele & Tolu Obanro, from Behind the Scenes

Save Me ��� Oscar Heman-Ackah & 2Baba, from To Kill a Monkey

Only in Lagos ��� WurlD & Liya, from Christmas in Lagos 

AFRICAN DIASPORA CANADIAN ARTISTE

Debby Friday ��� Lipsync

T担me ��� CC ft Alpha P

Bolu Ajibade ��� Diana with Friyie

Nonso Amadi ��� Dive In

Rooky Kamiz ��� Deeper

Tobi ��� Out the Mud 

EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE 

Abigail Chams (Tanzania)

Bien (Kenya)

Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)

Harmonize (Tanzania)

Joshua Baraka (Uganda) 

WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE

Black Sherif (Ghana)

Himra (C担te d���Ivoire)

KiDi (Ghana)

King Promise (Ghana)

Moliy (Ghana)

Wally B. Seck (Senegal)

NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE

Balti (Tunisia)

Dystinct (Morocco)

Marwan Moussa (Egypt)

Soolking (Algeria)

Tul8te (Egypt) 

Stonebwoy (Ghana) 

CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE

Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)

Ferr辿 Gola (DR Congo)

H辿ritier Watanabe (DR Congo)

Hiro (DR Congo)

Innoss���B (DR Congo)

Locko (Cameroon) 

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE

Amioluwa ��� Sunmisola Agbebi ft Yinka Okeleye

Favour ��� Lawrence Oyor

Idinma (You Are Good) ��� Sinach

Korin Iyin (I Will Praise You) ��� EmmaOMG

No Turning Back 2 ��� Gaise Baba ft Lawrence Oyor

We Move ��� Mercy Chinwo 

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR 

10 Kilo (Davido) ��� Director Pink 

Afroculture (Flavour, Baaba Maal) ��� TG Omori 

Bundle by Bundle (Burna Boy) ��� DK

Kai (Olamide, Wizkid) ��� Jyde Ajala

Whos Dat Girl (Ayra Starr, Rema) ��� Meji Alabi

With You (Davido, Omah Lay) ��� Dammy Twitch

BEST RAP ALBUM 

Tuff King – Black Sheepizen 

AQ- GE3

Erigga – G.O.A.T 

Jeriq – King 

Blaqbonez – No excuses

Odumodublvck – The machine is coming

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

LAYEFA – 6:35 

AMAEYA – How do you? 

Sewa – Lagos Lovin

Qing Madi – Scumbag 

Liya – Skin to Skin

Tiwa Savage – You4me

BEST COLLABORATION 

CKay & Mavo ��� Body (Danz)

Mavo & Wave$tar ��� Escaladizzy

Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago ��� Hey Jago

Fola, Kizz Daniel – Lost 

Odumodublvck & Victony ��� Pity This Boy

Davido & Omah Lay ��� With You

Mr Eazi & King Promise ��� See What We���ve Done

Chief Priest & Spyki ��� Finally

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

Adekunle Gold – Im not done

Flavour – Orente 

Magixx – Winter & Summer 

Odeal – Patience 

Syemca – Love Egbugomo 

Tay Iwar – Bad Belle

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR 

Ciara

Dave

赫顎稼稼温油

Jazmine Sullivan 

Shenseea

Tiakola

BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTIST 

Ciza

DJ Maphorisa

JAZZWRLD 

Kabza De Small��

Tyla

Uncle Waffles

AFROBEATS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 

Davido – 5ive

Bnxn – Captain 

Omah Lay – Clarity of Mind

Adekunle Gold – Fuji 

Wizkid – Morayo 

Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness

BEST RAP SINGLE

2:02PM in London ��� ODUMODUBLVCK

ACL ��� Blaqbonez

Man2Man ��� Dremo

PDSTRN ��� Moshood

Nkemakonam ��� Tuff King

Wuse Tu ��� Zaylevelten, Mavo

John Wick ��� Zhus Jdo

BEST FEMALE ARTISTE 

Ayra Starr

Qing Madi��

Sewa

Tems

Teni

Tiwa Savage 

BEST MALE ARTISTE 

Adekunle Gold 

Asake

FOLA

Mavo ��

Rema

Wizkid

Burna Boy 

SONG WRITER OF THE YEAR 

Adekunle Gold 

Victony  

Wizard Chan

FOLA

Kunmie

Amaeya

BEST STREET HOP ARTISTE

Famous Pluto��

悪温壊鞄界看馨庄稼乙油

Poco Lee

Seyi Vibez

皆鞄温鉛鉛庄沿看沿沿庄油

TUFF KING

Rybeena

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 

Amma

Danpapa GTA

Firstklaz

Kidd Carder��

NO11

永姻庄艶壊壊岳油

OG Abbah

ALBUM OF THE YEAR  

Fola – Catharsis 

Omah Lay – Clarity of Mind 

Erigga – G.O.A.T

Wizkid – Morayo 

Odumodublvck – The Machine is Coming��

Tiwa Savage – This One is Personal��

Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness

NEXT RATED 

Fido

FOLA

Llona

Mavo

Shoday

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 

Magicsticks

P. Priime

Ragee

Sarz

Tempoe

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Kunmie ��� Arike

Amaeya ��� How Do You?

Rema ��� Baby (Is It A Crime)

OMAH LAY ft. ELMAH ��� Coping Mechanism

Davido ft. OMAH LAY ��� With You

FOLA ��� you

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM 

Showdemcamp – Afrika Magik

Sewa – Detox

Boj – Duplicity 

Wizard Chan – Healers Chapel 

Scottyolorin – Olorin Pack 

Zaylevelten – Then 1t Got Crazy

HEADIES VIEWERS CHOICE 

Ayra Starr ��� Hot Body

Mavo ��� Escaladizzy ft. WAVE$TAR

Davido ��� With You ft. OMAH LAY

Rema ��� Baby (Is It A Crime)

FOLA ��� you

Wizkid ��� Jogodo with Asake

Kunmie ��� Arike

BEST R&B ALBUM 

Kunmie – Before We Became Strangers

Fola – Catharsis 

Qing Madi – I am the Blueprint 

Tems – Love is a kingdom 

Tay Iwar – Reflection Station 

Tiwa Savage – This one is personal

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL 

Blaqbonez – ACL

Dremo – Man2Man

Modenine – If you like Gym w/ Odumodublvck 

Pdstrn – Moshood 

Ycee – Man2man Remix w/ Dremo

SONG OF THE YEAR 

Kunmie – Arike

Poco lee, Shoday, Rahman Jago – Hey Jago

Ayra Starr – Hot Body 

Fido – Joy is Coming 

Asake, Wizkid – MMS

Davido, Omah Lay – With You

BEST PERFORMER (LIVE)

Adekunle Gold – Live at National Theatre, Lagos

Asake – Red Bull Symphonic

Ayra Starr – Global Citizen Festival 2025

Johnny Drille – Johnny���s Room Live 6

Ruger – Live at Indigo at The O2, 2025

DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR 

Asake

Ayra Starr

BNXN

Chella

FOLA

MAVO 

Seyi Vibez

Wizkid 

AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Rema – Fun

Wizkid, Asake – Jogodo 

Fido – Joy is Coming 

Davido, Omah Lay – With You 

Fola – You 

Burna Boy – Bundle by Bundle

Some of these characters will die for you. Some will get you arrested. A few will do both in the same week. We calculated the odds of you making it out alive (or at least out of debt) if any of these Nollywood icons became your roommate.

Efe from :油

He will keep on borrowing 500 naira from you until one day he shows up to the house with a new iPhone, home appliances and a huge cash gift for you. You���ll never know what he does for a living but your life will be consistently bankrolled until one night EFCC raids your apartment and you find yourself on their twitter page holding a whiteboard trying to explain yourself. 

Akin Cole from :油

This will be the strictest roommate you will have. Everything will be split 50-50, even if it���s a pack of biscuits and you will be forced to speak proper English in the house, no pidgin. He will also refuse to eat eba with his hands, a fork only. 

Saro from :油

He will be running a very suspicious business from your room where people bring their dead friends and relatives to him to resurrect. You won���t question it because at least it brings money until one day you find out he���s been secretly getting with your girlfriend. 

Clara Ikemba from :油

Clara will bring you all the gist from the minister”s office. But she’ll collect bribes from all your visitors before she’ll let them into the room and when you complain she will lock the kitchen until you bribe her and apologize. 

Soluchi from :

��She���ll spend half of the time swooning over Eli, they���ll be on the phone doing ���you hang up, no you hang up��� while you���re trying to sleep. The other half of her time will be spent picking the most outrageous outfits while singing iconic Igbo songs. Three nights a week you���ll have to leave the house so she and Eli can celebrate one new anniversary or the other.油

Jenifa from :油

She will be a loyal roommate but will always bring one problem or another to the room because of the lies she likes telling. One day you���ll stumble on her diary and read it out of curiosity, in it you���ll find out her plans to leave Shege and travel abroad. 

Isoken from :油

She will be the most put together roommate you���ll have and her organization skills might make you jealous but you���ll be at peace because her love life is a mess. Everyday she���ll be gisting you about a man she doesn���t want to marry. Then one day she���ll show up with a white man who doesn���t play about jollof rice and Davido. 

Adire from:

 Adire will rarely be around but she will always make you the sexiest fits and invite you to the club. One day you���ll complain about how bad sex is with your sneaky link and she���ll buy you your first sex toy that will change your life. 

Kemi from :油

Kemi is ready to die for you as your roommate. No matter the problem you bring to her, she will never say you���re the one at fault and will always come up with a solution for you. Her loyalty might scare you sometimes but you know she���s always on your side no matter what���even if you bring a dead body. 

Ishaya Bello from :油

Some days Ishaya will be the best roommate ever, other days he���ll bring trouble to your doorstep and you���ll find yourself running from gang members by 12am one random day. He���ll try to appease you by gifting you a beautiful portrait that you���ll grudgingly accept until another problem rolls around.

The ensemble cast is packed with big names like Richard Mofe Damijo, Ali Nuhu and Waje. Also, there are a host of other actors not new to Funke Akindele films and TV shows. So, we decided to highlight the actors who have worked with her before and their past projects in anticipation of The Four hitting screens around the world.油

Timini Egbuson

He earned an AMVCA nomination for playing Pere Judah, the lover boy son of Jedidah Judah (played by Funke Akindele) in

Lateef Adedimeji

He played Bayo, the problematic brother of SHE in . A Funke Akindele TV show on Prime Video.油

Uzor Arukwe 

He played the stingy Igbo business owner Chigozie in A Tribe Called Judah. And also, Victor, Ronke���s lawyer and best friend, in .

Waje 

She tapped into her musicality to play X-Cite. The rival to SHE in She Must Be Obeyed on Prime Video.

Chioma Akpotha

She played Chummy Choko in Omo Ghetto: The Saga. This earned her a nomination for an African Viewers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.油

Bisola Ayeola

She played the women���s rights activist, Madam Bassey in Everybody Loves Jenifa.油The third installment in Funke Akindele’s iconic Jenifa series.

Who are you most excited to see in the cinemas on December 11th?

So, what led to our favourite sibling hitmakers, P-Square fighting publicly?

I���ll be breaking down the details of their split, the accusations against each other and the recent revelations from Peter Okoye who has dropped a . This story will be updated as Peter Okoye puts out more videos so stay tuned. 

The Beginning 

The first P-Square split happened in 2016, when they went their separate ways because of their elder brother, Jude, who worked as the duo���s manager. Peter, the dancer of the group, felt sidelined because Jude was giving preferential treatment to Paul who was the more musical part of the duo. During that period they both released personal projects that showed that their best work was when they were together. Peter���s work lacked the addictive musicality of the duo while Paul���s releases were rough around the edges with no finesse; proving that, apart, there really was no one like the other.  

They patched things up by March of the same year, but they soon told each other to pack up and leave cause the game was over again. 

The Accusations 

By September of 2017, Peter had laid a number of accusations against Paul. He said Paul cancelled their US tour out of the blue and threatened his wife and children. This came after Paul had shared a post on Instagram saying that ���blood is thicker than water.��� A leaked video showed the brothers in a physical brawl in an office after exchanging words in a shouting match. This seemed like the final end of their collabo. 

The Reunion

For four years the brothers were mostly silent, away from each other and working on their solo projects which were, honestly, mid. Then late in 2021, they were seen publicly embracing and apologizing. It seemed like the duo missed each other so much, and the fights of the past were behind them forever. Well, that didn���t last long because they split again in 2024. 

Peter Okoye, now operating as Mr P, filed a petition to the EFCC asking them to investigate the financial dealings of his brothers Jude and Paul. He accused them of operating an offshore entity to divert funds that were supposed to be shared by the trio. It seems they took the song ���Chop My Money��� a bit too seriously. 

The Present

The current issue started when Paul, now known as Rudeboy, released a music video talking about how much he appreciates his language and culture while shading his brother, Peter. This led Peter to release a six-part video series that I will be breaking down for you so you don���t go through the stress of watching the P Square streaming show. Before you dive in, let���s establish some characters and companies. 

• Peter Okoye, AKA Mr P, the man with the camera spilling all the tea. 
• Paul Okoye, AKA Rudeboy, the twin brother accused of scheming with Jude.
• Jude Okoye, their elder brother who managed their career till their first split in 2017.
• Lola, Peter���s wife
• Ifeoma, Jude���s wife
• Northside Entertainment, a holding company for P-Square���s royalties that had the twins and Jude as signatories.
• Northside Music, another holding company Peter said Jude created in 2017 without Peter as a signatory. 

Now that you know all the players, let���s get into it. 

Peter started off strong by sharing all the previous times his brother had shaded him in public, almost like he was tempting Peter to speak and he had finally taken the bait.油

He shared that the highly publicised 2021 reunion was fake. He claimed that Paul, his twin brother, showed up in his house by 4am to beg his wife, Lola, for forgiveness. Later that day, Jude showed up in his house for the first time in five years as part of the P-Square reconciliation committee. All seemed rosy till Paul said that he was ready to get the band back on the road but Peter said no. He was happy to reconcile as brothers, but he wasn’t returning to P-Square the musical duo anytime soon. 

In , Peter shared how Jude invited him and his twin brother over and asked them to be joint signatories on a bank account where funds for their future performances would be deposited. Since their reconciliation, people had been reaching out to book them for events and the pending bank alerts needed an account. Peter refused, still standing by his decision. Jude offered their individual managers jobs under him while he continued his role as P-Square���s manager. Peter again rejected this arrangement.油

He even invoked Beyonce in the video, telling us how she fired her father as her manager (when is Peter dropping his ���Formation��� cover?) and how Jude must not manage them. Long story short, he finally agreed to get back to performing with his brother but only if they split their pay fifty-fifty. Everything was fine until Peter discovered that their reconciliation was because Paul and Jude had a falling out, which prompted Paul���s early morning apology. To complicate matters more, they received an offer to buy their catalogue, but Jude continued to stall, refusing to share the royalties split with the people trying to purchase it. 

Peter had enough of the shady business, so he reached out to the account managers of all their bank accounts, but he found out he was blocked on strict instructions from Jude.

After much persuasion, Peter finally got access to one of the accounts where he saw a $25,000 deposit that was later withdrawn in two transactions to Jude and Paul. It seemed like they were robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

That year, the Lagos government was hounding the trio for tax payment, and during the fiasco, he discovered that Jude had created Northside Music, a holding company where all of P Square���s royalties had been going since 2017. This was different from Northside Entertainment where all three brothers held positions as directors and had access. 

Hope you���re keeping up because it seems the brothers really love the name Northside. 

Peter went on to talk about the potential buyers who kept asking for details that Jude continued to hide. During a meeting with the duo and the potential buyers, Paul told Peter to bring it on and do his worst after it became obvious that all the scamming efforts had come to light. 

In , Peter went into the details of how law enforcement involvement escalated their issues. He claimed with documents that Jude���s wife, Ifeoma, owned 80 percent of Northside Music, where P Square���s royalties had been going since 2017. He responded to claims Paul made in a radio interview with City FM where he shared that he wrote 99 percent of the duo���s catalogue. Peter then asked why his brother wasn���t selling out stadiums with his 99 percent talent. I think Rudeboy has to go on his own Eras tour after this shade.油

Peter shared how he wrote a petition against Northside Music, which led to Jude���s arrest and a meeting where Paul claimed that Jude was P Square and he and Peter were just the face of the brand. If that���s true, I need Jude Okoye on stage giving an iconic performance of Roll It immediately. 

started with shaky footage of Paul and Jude in an office yelling at Peter, with Paul calling him a shame and reaching out to hit him with danger circling Peter and his lawyers. It immediately cut to present-day Peter continuing his story (that���s how you know that Peter went to the Kunle Afolayan school of filmmaking with this brilliant use of flashback).油

He gave context to the fight, sharing how they split all their properties in three only for Jude and Paul to try and sell the house he owned in America and try to force him to give up his role in Northside Entertainment for Jude��� wife, Ifeoma (of TikTok fame). Peter then shared his theory: that Northside Music was formed excluding him after he refused this offer to replace him with Ifeoma. He also gave context to a 2017 Instagram post from Jude Okoye where he was loading a gun, captioned ���fuck with me cos u know I got ���em.��� This was apparently a threat to Peter after the altercation he shared earlier on. Like I said, we were seeing a masterclass in real cinema in this particular video: flashback, narration, mystery and payoff. 

Before Peter could release part 6 of his series, Jude gave a response. 

In, he first of all shared that the $25,000 payment was split between him and Paul because Peter���s share had already been sent to him. He also claimed that he never delayed sending Peter the details of the royalty split when they were trying to sell the catalogue. Jude called him a liar and a manipulative person, and questioned his sanity. He even gave him an Oscar for being the chief manipulator. I wonder what they���ll be wearing to the award show.油

Jude went on to accuse Peter of baiting him so as to sway public opinion since he wasn���t winning in court. Their next court appearance is on the 21st of September, and according to tour dates shared by Jude in his video, Peter is planning a show in Germany for that day instead of coming to court. I hope the Germans are practicing their ���Bizzy Body��� choreography. 

This is without doubt the . Here, Peter responded to Jude���s video about his Northside Entertainment/Music debacle, accusing his brother of using Ifeoma���s address for the company that excludes him and even adding her as co-director of the new company where he had no say. He also shared that he was changing his birthday from November 18th to November 30th and, honestly, I get it. I share a birthday with Fergie, and since that rendition of the American national anthem, I’ve wanted to change my birthday.油

He also revealed that Jude and Paul took him to court to stop him from performing P-Square songs, and he shared excerpts from a court document from their ongoing EFCC case. In the excerpts, his brother���s testimony claimed that he was the one that formed the group P-Square and that Peter contributed nothing but some sick dance moves. 

At the time of writing this, Peter promised a seventh part of this series but for now, this is a breakdown of all the troubles and accusations surrounding the messy breakup of Nigeria���s most famous twin brothers. 

I know I claimed Part 6 was the most emotional part but takes the cake. Peter continued his response to Jude, saying that Cynthia Morgan (of ������), was also being scammed by Jude Okoye, based on the Northside Music/Northside Entertainment fiasco. On his way to Turkey for his hair transplant (get those bundles, king), he discovered an account where money was being sent to Jude and Paul while he was cut out.油

He also shared the details of an EFFC investigation into three of their bank accounts where Jude and Paul received the highest remittance while he got the least.One bank statement showed Jude being paid $150,000 while Paul got $50,000 and Peter got way less than that or nothing at all. 

His final reveal in this part was that the 90 million naira issue between Paul and Jude was over unpaid royalties and that���s what spurred Paul���s push for reconciliation that morning in 2021. 

Here, Peter into the family dynamics between his brothers and his wife Lola Omotayo-Okoye. He told a story about how the former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, tried to reconcile the brothers and upon hearing their story asked Peter and Paul to fire Jude if they wanted peace to reign.油

He shared that when he found out Lola was pregnant, he dedicated an award at the 2008 Sound City Music Awards show to his unborn child and his brothers said he was derailing P-Square���s career. They also told him that Lola had to abort the child, going as far as forging an email claiming she was using the child to trap him. 

He went on to reveal that years back, his mum came to visit from Jos and called a family meeting with Lola present. During the meeting Mama P-Square asked Lola to leave Peter alone, and Jude called the son she shared with Peter a bastard.

At this point he was in tears recalling the 5 months he was away from his wife and son after the fiasco until his mother returned to Lagos and apologized to him for her treatment of Lola. Jude and Paul never apologized despite their mum asking them too. 

He then went on to share all the ways his brothers had maligned him and deceived the public. Jude booking a show the day before his son���s birth, Paul insulting Lola on social media while Jude concurs, and a May D situation with Jude that still has no clarity. He even shared how Jude booked a show in Ghana the day before Peter���s wedding and didn���t attend the wedding. While all this was happening Jude Okoye was pretending to be Temu Don Jazzy, adding his name to music videos he didn’t direct and asking artists to hype him up. 

The final reveal of this part was a heartbreaking one. As children, he and Paul had agreed to name their first sons each other���s Igbo names. When Peter had his first son, he named him Nonso after Paul. Much later, when Paul had his own son, he didn���t return the favour, breaking their childhood pact.油

P.S. If you caught all the P Square song references in this story, you are allowed to be part of the P Square reconciliation committee.