Entertainment
Wedding Party 2 Gulped N300m Production Cost …Grosses N500m In Six Weeks
Nollywood’s acclaimed movie, The Wedding Party 2-”Destiantion Dubai” production gulped N300 million excluding publicity, said one of the producers, Kene Mkparu. The movie released in December 15, 2017 has raked in over N500 million within the six weeks of its release in cinemas, making it the highest grossing Nollywood films ever in such a short time of release.Kene Mkparu, the Managing Director (MD) Film one distribution company disclosed this in a recent interview. The film maker is one of the resource persons at the ongoing consumer forum of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) at the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi State. “Wedding Party I cost us over N150 million to make plus publicity and the Part 2 cost us N300m”, he said.
Mkparu further explained that the partnership with relevant stakeholders especially in tourism in Dubai added colour to the Glitz and Glamour of WP2. He therefore urged relevant stakeholders in Nigerian tourism and film making sector to initiate such partnership for the growth of the industries.
“We pay for some far locations and then entered into partnership with Dubai tourism which made available a lot of tourism facilities and hotels in Dubai for us, we could shot anywhere we wanted as long as the script said so and we lived in top hotels in Dubai, film making is not just for entertainment but to promote and develop tourism as well”, he noted.
According to Mkparu, the Wedding Party project has positively changed the narratives of the Nigerian movie industry both within and outside the country. The Wedding Party 2 has generated over N500 million as at today and is now in cinemas across different countries including England and Holland and some French speaking African countries.
The idea of the film is to show that it is possible in Nigeria today to create a movie that can entertain, sell and make money. We wanted to prove that it is possible to make money from all the value chains in the industry even in the midst of piracy threats, the producers looked at what the audience enjoys in cinema and we created a script of a topical issue that people can identify with and have fun identifying with those things”, he stressed.
The producer explained that although the movie was raking in huge returns for its investors, it was highly capital intensive. He therefore urged film makers to develop good scripts as business plans to attract financiers as adequate funding was logical to making sellable movies. It was gathered that the Wedding Party is a signature title by Elfike film collective, a partnership between Ebony Life Films, Film and Distributions Inkblot production and Koga Studios.
The Wedding Party 1 was premiered in cinemas across Nigeria in December 2016 and reportedly grossed N203 million in just two weeks topping the 2016 Nigeria box office. Sequel to the Wedding Party 2, Destination Dubai was then released in cinemas exactly one year after and it grossed N73 million within the first three days of its opening.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’