Entertainment
Intimidating Profile Of Genevieve Nnaji, Africa’s Most Revered Actress
Genevieve Nnaji has
frequently been hailed as Africa’s own answer to the likes of Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and the rest of Feminine Hollywood Stars, this is according to Forbes who has ranked her as number 19 of the 40 most powerful celebrities in Africa.
She started out in her acting career over 24 years ago at the age of 8 playing a supporting role in a Nigerian TV series. Today she is arguably Africa’s most revered actress and the poster girl in Nollywood, Nigeria’s burgeoning movie industry. She has featured in over 80 successful blockbuster movies.
Genevieve Nnaji was born in Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria, but grew up in Lagos. She is the fourth of eight children and was brought up in a middle class environment. Her father worked as an engineer and her mother as a nursery teacher.
She attended Methodist Girls College Yaba Lagos before transferring into University Lagos, while, at the University, Genevieve began auditioning for acting jobs amongst the many Nollywood projects. She started her acting career as a child actress at the age of 8 in the then popular television soap opera, ‘RIPPLES.’
In 1998, at the age of 19, she was introduced into the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “MOST WANTED.’ Her subsequent movies include “LAST PARTY,” “MARK OF THE BEAST” and “IJELE,” in 2010, she starred in the award winning film “IJE,” the journey, Gene as she is popularly called by fans and admirers is considered to be one of the best paid actress in Nollywood.
In 2004, she signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record bale and released her debut album one Logologo line, a mix of R&B, Hip-Hop and urban music Nnaji has featured in several commercials some of which include pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 2004, she became the “Face of Lux” in Nigeria in a highly lucrative sponsorship deal. Also 2008 said Nnaji launching a clothing lines St Genevieve which donates its proceeds to charity.
In May 2010, Nnaji was appointed to be the official face of MUD in Nigeria, in June 2012, she was unveiled as the brand ambassador of Range Rover Evogue. Genevieve has received several awards and nominations for her works, including the best actress of the year award at the 2001 city people awards and the best actress in a leading role award at the 2005 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The super Nollywood actress has also sealed a corporate deal with Amstel Malta as ambassador, alongside international football star Michel Obi. She is also one of the ambassadors of Airtle, a deal that fetched her multi millions of naira.
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”