Entertainment
‘Nigeria’s Cultural Diversity, Blessing To Nollywood’
Nigeria is a multi-ethnic
country. This status has brought the country different chaos at different times of its history, but for the entertainment industry, the diversity for the ethnicity in the giant of Africa nation, is a colossal blessing. The Nigerians move industry is endowed with talents from all the geo-cultural regions of the country. The beauty of this assortment has not only made our entertainment industry unique, but it has also made Nollywood movies more interesting than it’d have been if Nigeria had no cultural differences. Sitting down to watch a Bishop Okon with his ‘calabarness’ can make one temporarily forget the recession rocking the country.
An ‘Akpos’ character often played by comedian, Ayo Makun could relieve stress. That is not a talk of the local Yoruba girl character (Jenifa), played by Funke Akindele in her Jenifa’s Diary. A doctor won’t lose his medical licence if he/she prescribes a dose of Jenifa’s Diary every evening, to a patient about to lose his/her life to depression. Away from the prophylactic effect that the infusion of the different Nigerian cultures in Nollywood movies has on consumers, this same factor is also the reason why the industry can attain the height of being the third largest movie industry in the world. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also confirmed that Nollywood is the second biggest employer in Nigeria.
According to a post in the social media on the 24th of May 2016, “Theindustry currently accounts for N853.9 billion ($7.2 billion), or 1.42 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. It employs more than a million people directly or indirectly.
It is being touted as the country’s second biggest source of jobs after agriculture”. All these exciting news can be said of the Nigerian film industry because of Nigeria’s multi-ethnicity amongst other factors. Well, it’s often said that ‘variety is the spice of life’, the variety in the cultural background of Nigerians could be that spice that has made Nollywood films more acceptable across the globe and thereby, making it grow in leaps and bounds.
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.”