Entertainment
Rivers Fans Celebrate Easter Without Fanfare
Easter period is the most important festival in the Christian calendar to mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It starts on Friday which is the day Jesus was crucified on the cross and Christians refer to the day as Good Friday, while Easter Sunday is celebrated as the day Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion.
This great event in Christaindom is usually celebrated annually with fun fare and a lot of spiritual activities. During this period, churches organize a lot of spiritual activities, businesses boom as families shop to ensure they celebrate in grand style. Tourists seize the opportunity to visit choice destinations even as people travel far and wide to meet loved ones and individuals, hold social events, visit cinema houses, eateries and clubs among others.
This year’s Easter celebration was devoid of the usual boisterous celebration which Easter has come to be associated with over the years. The Good Friday procession in most churches that traditionally mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by devout Christians was not observed, even the entertainment enclave was shut down due to the novel coronavirus pandemic which put the entire world on pulse.
The impact of March 29, 2020 nationwide broadcast by President Mohammadu Buhari ordering a lockdown on Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was also adopted by some state governors including the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike who in a state wide broadcast on March 23rd ordered the closure of churches, markets, public parks Night clubs, drinking parlours and observance of social distancing among other measures to check the spread of the deadly virus in the state.
The Governor explained that the lockdown and restriction of movement was in good faith to checkmate the spread of the virus in the state. This led to the cancellation of many events and plans scheduled for the Easter. Most of the entertainment joints were shut down, while the churches witnessed a low turnout of worshippers during the Easter Sunday as most of their members observed the Easter service online and Via social media plat forms.
Despite the restrictive measures the spirit of Easter was high among some of the devoted Christians who discovered alternative ways of worshiping God in their various houses, while some of the fun lovers who spoke with The Tide wore long faces as they lamented that the lock down had spoilt their Easter plans.
Jacob Obinna
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.”