Entertainment
Behold, Showmax’s 10 Most-Watched Nigerian Movies Of 2020
The yeare 2020 proved to be a year like no other but somehow we made it through with considerable help from television.
From reality shows to comedy and drama, here are 10 Nigerian titles that emerged the most popular with Nigerians on Showmax in 2020.
A Thousand Ways To Break A Cheating Man
We’re kicking things off with the Bimbo Ademoye (‘Sugar Rush’, ‘Love is Yellow’) and Uzor Arukwe (‘Sugar Rush’, ‘Unbroken’) movie, ‘A Thousand Ways To Break A Cheating Man’.
A woman who has been hurt by love in the past takes her revenge on a player to teach him a lesson but the unexpected happens.
Big Brother Naija Lockdow Unarguably Nigeria’s biggest reality show, ‘Big Brother Naija’ has amassed millions of followers in Nigeria and beyond through the years. In 2020, the Lockdown- season broke the Showmax live-streaming record, becoming the most-watched live entertainment content ever on the streaming service.
Come February, BBNaija Lockdown winner Laycon is set to star in the first-ever Showmax Nigeria original, ‘I Am LAYCON’.
Dirty Laundry
A lady who gets dumped after catching her boyfriend cheating goes on the ultimate revenge spree.
The movie stars Nollywood veteran Zack Orji (‘3 Wise Men’, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’), Kalu Ikeagwu (‘Living in Bondage’, ‘Unmarried’) and Shaffy Bello (‘The Men’s Club’, ‘Chief Daddy’).
Enakhe
Set in Benin City, ‘Enakhe’ tells the story of a rebellious daughter who, after the sudden death of her father, is forced by circumstances to grow and become the leader of her extended family and the family’s criminal empire.
The hit telenovela stars Alex Usifo (‘Battle of Musanga’, ‘A Soldier’s Story’), AMVCA winner Ivie Okujaye (‘Slow Country’, ‘Hote Majestic’),- Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun- (‘Games Men Play’, ‘Invasion 1897’) and Lota Chukwu-(‘Ajoche’).
Halita
The show tells the story of 19-year-old Halita, a village girl forced to move to the city and work as a maid in the powerful Zam-ani household. Her time with the Zamanis is highly eventful as she navigates her way between her fellow domestic staff and the Zamani family to earn her place in the residence.
The show finale aired in September 2020, with fans taking to social media to say their goodbyes. All episodes of ‘Halita’ are currently available for binging on Showmax.
Love Is Yellow
AMVCA 2020 Best Actor winner Timini Egbuson teams up with Bimbo Ademoye for this hit movie directed by Kayode Kasum.
Oladayo is a tech entrepreneur based in Lagos, who finds himself at the mercy of his sabotaging bosses while in pursuit of his dreams. The movie also stars Mofe Duncan
Mercy & Ike
Big Brother Naija Pepper Dem winner, Mercy Eke, and her beau, Ike Onyema, kept us entertained with their antics in the house so it’s only fitting that the feisty couple now have their very own reality show.
‘Mercy & Ike’ follows the lives of the reality TV couple as they deal with the pressures of life outside the BBNaija house. The show remains a hot favourite for fans and even birthed the now popular phrase ”relass and be taken kiaruf”.
My Flatmates
One of Nigeria’s longest-running comedy shows, ‘My Flatmates’ follows a group of friends who share an apartment as they navigate their way through their chaotic lives.
Produce by comedian Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth and Kayode Peters, ’My Flatmates’ continued to remain very popular amongst Nigerians in 2020.
Riona
‘Riona’ tells the story of a village under siege and a king who does everything he can to stop a dark prophecy from coming to pass.
The hit telenovela stars Big Brother Naija season 1 housemate Frank Kowea as King Ofotonku. Also starring are Michelle Dede from ‘Unbroken’, Elvina Ibru (‘Bling Lagosians’), Mimi Chaka (Tumini in ‘The Men’s Club’) and Big Brother Naija Season 4 housemate, Jeff Nweke.
The Johnsons One of Nigeria’s most loved family comedies, ‘The Johnsons’ remained a hit with fans in 2020.
The Johnsons follows the lives of an average Nigerian family and the challenges they face.The star-studded cast includes Osita Iheme, Ada Ameh, Charles Inojie and Olumide Oworu.
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.”