The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), the esteemed umbrella organization representing Nollywood actors, has recently announced the appointment of prominent business figure Kenneth Ifekudu as its National Patron.

In an official statement released on Friday, AGN’s National President, Emeka Rollas, expressed the guild’s profound admiration for Ifekudu’s unwavering commitment to the advancement and prosperity of the creative economy, alongside his notable philanthropic endeavors.

Rollas elaborated on the significance of Ifekudu’s appointment, affirming that the decision was reached unanimously by the Board of Trustees and the entirety of AGN’s membership. A letter of appointment was formally presented to High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu, recognizing his pivotal role as the Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Leeds Ltd, and honoring his exceptional contributions to various sectors including infrastructure, hospitality, and his commendable leadership qualities.

“It is our intention to bestow this prestigious title upon a select group of distinguished individuals who have demonstrated unwavering support for humanity and the national economy,” Rollas remarked. He further emphasized Ifekudu’s gracious acceptance of the role, highlighting the business mogul’s commitment to leveraging his influence and resources in advancing the objectives of the guild.

In response to his appointment, Ifekudu expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged his steadfast dedication to fostering the growth and development of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Spotify, the renowned global music streaming platform, has announced a significant milestone in its support of Nigerian artists, disclosing a staggering N25 billion paid out in royalties during the year 2023. Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, unveiled these figures in a statement on Friday, underscoring a remarkable 2,500 per cent increase since 2017 and a doubling of payments from the previous year.

The revelation came as part of Spotify’s annual report, “Loud & Clear,” aimed at fostering transparency within the music industry. Muhutu-Remy emphasized the report’s role in shedding light on Spotify’s royalty payments and elucidating the dynamics of the global streaming economy.

Of particular note is the exponential growth in royalties earned by Nigerian artists, with the number of those earning over N10 million quadrupling since 2018. More than half of these royalties were directed to independent artists or labels, illustrating the democratizing influence of streaming platforms like Spotify.

In a testament to the increasing global appeal of Nigerian music, Spotify listeners discovered Nigerian artists nearly 950 million times in 2023, with Nigerian artists commanding over 80 per cent of tracks featured on the country’s daily top 50 chart. Additionally, over 1,400 Nigerian artists were added to Spotify’s editorial playlists during the same period.

Muhutu-Remy highlighted the transformative impact of streaming on Nigeria’s music landscape, noting a genre revolution beyond the dominance of Afrobeats. Local genres such as Highlife, Igbo Pop, and Fuji experienced substantial increases in listenership, with notable growth recorded in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.

Leading the charge in these genres are acclaimed artists like K1 De Ultimate in Fuji, Umu Obiligbo in Highlife, and Phyno in Igbo Pop. Notable tracks include Adewale Ayuba’s “Koloba Koloba,” Chief Osita Osadebe’s “Nwanem Ebezina,” and KCee’s “Ojapiano.”

Demographically, men dominate listenership of local genres, but Gen Z emerges as a significant audience segment across all three genres. Cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Katsina lead in streaming local music, with the top five exported music genres from Nigeria including Afrobeats, Nigerian Pop, Afropop, Nigerian Hip Hop, and Afro Rhymes and Blues.

Spotify’s substantial investment in African artists underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable careers in the music industry, promising continued support to fuel the momentum of Nigeria’s music revolution.

Popular singer, Simisola Kosoko, aka Simi, has finally addressed her colleague, Brymo, and producer-turned-blogger, Samklef’s flirtatious comments about her.

Brymo sparked controversy last year after admitting that he demanded sex from Simi while she was unmarried before he could make music with her.

He said she rejected his request and he in turn declined to collaborate with her.

Similarly, controversial producer, Samklef recently came out to admit that he was in love with Simi during their days as struggling artists.

He explained that he didn’t ask her out because he didn’t want to mix business with pleasure.

Reacting in a recent interview with Angela Yee, Simi said there was no point in what Brymo and Samklef said about her, stressing that she couldn’t take them seriously.

The mother of one said she is confused about their rhetoric and considers their actions as comedy.

She said, “I don’t know what these people [Brymo and Samklef] are going on about. The funny thing is that these are two different people and I don’t know why they keep talking about me like that. When you even look at what they’re saying, you can’t even pick out anything. I’m still confused.

“I just feel like it doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t change anything. My husband is speaking out for me, is he fighting for his woman as he would. I don’t feel anything about this. It doesn’t impact me. I don’t have anything to hide. If you’re going to post that you asked me out and so what? Or that I had an ex [laughs]. The whole thing to me, is more comedy than anything else.”