The entertainment industry in the last year has been nothing short of dramatic and twisty. But while the year ended on a good footing for some celebrities, the same could not be said of others who struggled to reclaim their space in the movie or music circles. Per Second News David Adebayo chronicled some of the major events that shaped and rocked the industry, including deaths and broken marriages.
Just as celebrities were settling down into the year 2023, the death of ace filmmaker Peace Anyiam-Osigwe rocked the industry on January 10. Anyiam-Osigwe, who was also the President of the Association of Movie Producers, founded the Africa Film Academy in 2005, with the award ceremony reputed to be one of the most recognized awards for Africans in film-making.
Not quite long after, news also came to town that actor Saint Obi died at the age of 57 after battling an undisclosed ailment that kept him in and out of the hospital for some time.
Obi wasn’t the only actor whose death touched many movie lovers across the nation—veteran actor Ojo Arowosafe, popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro, also succumbed to the cold hands of death at the age of 66, after a protracted illness. Fadeyi Oloro is popularly known for his oratory skills in reciting Yoruba incantations. He rose to fame after acting in the movie ‘Arelu’ in the late 1980s.
While Fadeyi’s death was a painful pill for many of his colleagues to swallow, the sudden death of famous actor Murphy Afolabi came as a rude shock. He breathed his last in May after he suddenly became ill, complained of weakness, and died a few hours later. His colleagues mourned him for months, and some are yet to get over his death, even now.
From the movie industry to the music circle, another death that still hurts many within and outside the music industry was that of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad, who died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27 under questionable circumstances. From Nigeria to the rest of the world, the JusticeforMohbad hashtags got global attention. Videos of the singer being bullied and assaulted surfaced on social media platforms after his demise. Police are still investigating the cause of his death, even after the post-mortem has been conducted and concluded.
From the deaths, the industry also had its fair share of marriage break-ups among celebrities, with the notable one being actor Bolanle Ninalowo parting ways with his wife, Nino, after almost a decade of the union. On Friday, September 1, 2023, Ninalowo posted the sad news to his Instagram page and said that the breakup was best for all parties.
The marriage crash and circumstances that led to its break caught many unawares, given how the actor and his ex-wife made people green with envy with how they loved each other and celebrated their love on all social media platforms. Ninalowo has since moved on and is currently in a love relationship with another famous actress.
Damola Olatunji and Bukola Arugba ended their union as well.
Popular Nollywood actress Bukola Awoyemi, professionally called Arugba, officially separated from her husband, actor Damola Olatunji. The actress had moved out of the actor’s house earlier this year over alleged infidelity, a rumour denied by the actor.
Announcing their separation via her Instagram page, the actress claimed she had never married actor Damola Olatunji.
Davido’s logistics manager, Israel, and wife ended their marriage on a sad note.
After getting married to his wife in an elaborate wedding in October 2022, Israel’s marriage crashed in November 2023, barely a year after they were consummated in grand style. Both former lovebirds threw caution to the wind as they engaged in a dirty social media war that dragged on for weeks.
From one of Davido’s staff to his cousin, Adebayo Adeleke, also known as B Red, the marriage breakup saga continued. The son of the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, got separated from his wife, Faith Johnson, the mother of his child, over allegations of infidelity and abuse.
The estranged couple stopped following one another on Instagram and took some time to accuse and counter-accuse each other online, sometimes spreading their dirty linen in public in the process.
Yul and Mary Edochie’s marriage hits the rocks
May Edochie, the estranged first wife of Nollywood actor Yul Edochie, filed for divorce from her husband in September and also demanded the sum of N100 million in damages from him and his second wife, Judy Austin, over alleged adultery claims.
The businesswoman, who shares three children with Yul Edochie, filed the suit through her counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), and the Eculaw Group, which shared an update on the couple’s marital crisis at the time.
The DPA Family Law Clinic also noted that both Yul and his second wife are aware of the lawsuit, having received copies of the suit papers by email.
May also filed another restraining order against Yul Edochie from accessing their former matrimonial home, citing safety concerns about the actor’s alleged erratic, irrational, aggressive, and increasingly threatening behaviour.
Ireti and Patrick end their union
At the beginning of the year—January, to be precise—popular Nollywood actress Iretiola Doyle confirmed her divorce from famous actor and media personality Patrick Doyle.
In an interview with Chude Jideonwo, she confirmed the split, adding, “We are officially divorced.”
The actress also clarified that she was actually 19 when she gave birth to her first child, dispelling the stories that she had her first child at the age of 17.
After an unreported dispute with her spouse in 2017, Ireti left her matrimonial home.
Two years later, Patrick Doyle acknowledged he was the one who ruined their relationship and apologized to his wife in public on social media.
The triumphant moments
In February, talented Nigerian Afrobeats artist Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems, won her first-ever Grammy award in the United States.
The singer got recognition in the “Best Melodic Rap Performance” category for her role in the 2022 hit song by popular American rapper Future titled “Wait for U.”
In the same event, another Nigerian artiste, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, lost out in the “Best Global Music Album” and the “Best Global Music Performance” categories.
Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record
Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly called Hilda Baci, broke the Guinness World Record for the “longest cooking marathon by an individual.”
Hilda, a 27-year-old native of Akwa Ibom State, broke the record that Indian chef Lata Tondon had previously set at 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds.
Following her feat, Hilda Baci, who is popularly called the “Nigerian Jollof Queen,” was hailed for her resilience by many Nigerians, including former Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who all cheered her on to success.
Ilebaye’s BBNAIJA victory
Ilebaye Odiniya was announced as this year’s Big Brother Naija reality television show, tagged “All-Stars Edition.”
She took home a cash prize of N120 million, an SUV, and other incentives for her efforts in the house.
Ilebaye brushed aside strong competition from the 2019 winners of the contest, Mercy Eke, who finished in second place, and Cynthia Nwadiora, aka Cee, who finished in third place.
Davido, Wizkid, BurnaBoy, and Asake clinch Grammy nominations
Nigerian music stars David Adeleke, a.k.a. Davido; Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, aka Wizkid; and Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, were all nominated.
Also listed as nominees from Nigeria are: Olamide Adedeji, aka Olamide; Ahmed Ololade, aka Asake; Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, aka Ayra Starr; Adedamola Adefolahan, aka Fireboy DML; Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems; and Chukwuka Ekweani, aka CKay.
The nomination was Davido’s first, while Wizkid, Tems, and Burna Boy are past Grammy award winners.
However, the quartet of Olamide, Asake, Fireboy DML, CKay, and Ayra Starr are equally featured in a Grammy nomination for the first time in their musical careers.
Seun Kuti’s arrest after assaulting policemen
Seun Kuti, a scion of the late Afrobeat legend, was released from custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, Lagos, after spending eight days in detention.
Seun was arrested on May 15 for assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos and was later arraigned at the Yaba Chief Magistrate Court.
While reflecting on his time in police custody after his release, Seun Kuti stated that putting him on the hard floor amid prisoners was way better for him than sitting in the “devil’s house with politicians.”
‘‘Dem put me on a hard, cold floor, amid prisoners, still better than sitting in the devil’s house with politicians.’’ Seun wrote on his official Instagram page.
The Trinity Guy landed in a cell
A magistrate court in Ibadan, Oyo State, ordered the detention of skitmaker Abdullahi Maruff Adisa, aka Trinity Guy, over allegations of sexually assaulting a minor in his skit.
The court ordered that Trinity Guy be remanded in the Agodi Remand Centre when he was arraigned today, June 26, before Magistrate Olúdáre Adebayo.
Trinity Guy was arraigned on two counts of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, which violate Section 516 of the Criminal Code.
The court also ordered that the parents of the little girl in the video be remanded alongside Trinity Guy at the Agodi Correctional Centre until the next sitting scheduled for July 11.
Moyo Lawal’s sex tape
Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal was forced to address a leaked video of her that made the rounds on the internet in September. The thespian who reacted to the video of her having sexual intercourse with a bearded black man said that the video in question was shared without her consent.
She said that the private video was done a while ago and that releasing it had violated her privacy, while also stating that the man in question was her ex and they were supposed to get married.
In a post earlier shared on her Instagram page, Moyo Lawal stated that she is a decent person despite the viral video circulating online, which is painting her in a very bad light.
Mr. Ibu’s failing health
Nollywood actor John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, had one of his legs amputated by doctors after undergoing seven successful surgeries to keep him alive and increase his chances of recovery.
The family of the ailing actor confirmed the development while sharing an update on the actor’s health condition on his official Instagram page in November.
Mr. Ibu’s family also used the medium to solicit support from well-meaning Nigerians and acknowledge everyone who supported the actor during his trying period.
Chidi Mokeme and Chioma Akpotha’s unveiled love affair
Nollywood actor Chidi Mokeme left many of his fans in awe when he confirmed on social media that he is dating his colleague Chioma Akpotha while speaking about his feelings towards her.
The thespian who made the revelation in a post on his Instagram page said that they have both had something going on for a while but have kept it from the public.
He said that he cannot help but love and adore Chioma Akpotha and that he has no explanation for his feelings towards her, as it has made both of them decide to come out of the closet.
‘‘We have found favour in each other’s eyes, and as such, we think that we have a lot in common, and we have decided to share our time, and now we bring you the good news of a union that has been made from heaven. This good news of a calling by God, after all, can two work together unless they agree,” Chidi Mokeme’s post read in part.
Oladips death hoax
Burgeoning Nigerian rapper Oladipupo Olabode Oladimenji, popularly known as Oladips, pulled a fast one when he faked his death to promote his album.
On November 15, the management of the rapper announced his passing after he was rushed to the hospital for an undisclosed illness.
The management, in a statement shared on the rapper’s Instagram page, said that Oladips kept his battles within himself for more than two years before he passed on.
However, after weeks of speculation that the rapper had faked his death, Oladips shared a new video of himself on social media, vibing to a new song off his new album.
Oladips tagged his post “Proof of Life”, and it was also discovered that the statement issued by his management announcing his death has been deleted from the rapper’s Instagram page.
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