Entertainment
Movie Business, Most Thriving Sector
Funke Akindele
The movie business has
become one of the most thriving ventures in Nigeria with huge sums of money being invested in the industry with maximum profits earned virtually on weekly basis by the movie practitioners themselves, the producers and majorly the marketers.
A recent survey of the activities in the make believe industry has it that movie business now moves as fast and profitable as drug business with the millions they make each week.. Some movie stars earn over a million naira just for a role in a movie with the evident result of their luxury life style.
It is no gain saying the fact that not less than 10 new movies every week especially from Asaba in Delta State and in all of such movies.
There are some actresses that their faces always grace the movie jacket. Research has also proved that without their faces in these movies, Marketers reject the movies because they will record bad sales.
Leading the pack is star actress, Mercy Johnson who is tagged the queen of movies is Asaba and its environs and she is one actress marketers do not joke with.
With Mercy playing any role in a movie be it lead, sub lead or even a minor role. The movie makes a hit and sells fast.
It was gathered that the actress who now earns as high as N2 million per role in any movie is said to have affirmed such height because she is well loved by her teaming fans who always eagerly await her new movies each week. It was also learnt that marketers struggle to have her in their movies which star actress Queen Nwokoye who resides in Asaba, Delta State also makes this list since her Stella performance in the hilarious movie ‘Adaure’ she has been soaring higher. The last on the list is the duo of Yoruba actresses Eniola Badmus and Funke Akinjide Akindele. They have successfully garnered a good fan base in the Eastern part of Nigeria and are currently making a fortune from Asaba unlike what they earn in Yoruba movies.
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.”