By Joshua Olomu

Abuja:  Funke Akindele’s blockbuster, ‘A Tribe called Judah’, has broken box office record within 21 days of its release in cinemas to become first Nollywood film to gross One Billion Naira.

Ace Nollywood actress and producer of the movie, Funke Akindele, made this known on her Instagram page as she shared the One Billion Naira feat flier.

She wrote: “Thank You LORD!!!, Thank NIGERIA!!Thank you GHANA!!”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the movie which hit cinemas on December 15,2023 has continued to break records, becoming the first to gross over N 133 million in its opening weekend.

It became the highest grossing Nollywood film for the year 2023 after grossing over N 613 million within first 14 days of its release.

The film earlier made history on January 2, as it emerged the highest grossing Nollywood film ever with a reported N854 million at the box office within 18 days in cinemas.

This feat has surpassed Akindele’s previous films ‘Battle on Buka Street’ (N668.4 million), and ’ Omo Ghetto’ (N636.1 million) which now currently sits as the second and third highest grossing film in the Nigerian box office respectively.

NAN reports that a ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ is directed by Adeoluwa Owu, popularly known as Captain Degzy and is distributed by FilmOne Entertainment.

The star-studded movie featured seasoned actors including Nse Ikpe Etim, Funke Akindele, Timini Egbuson, Ebelle Okaro, Uzor Arukwe, Genoveva Umeh, and Nosa Rex, among others.

Other cast include Boma Akpore, Ebele Okaro-Onyiuke, Etinosa Idemudia, Fathia Balogun, Jide Achufusi, Olayode Juliana, Olumide Oworu, Paschaline Alex, Tobi Makinde, Uzor Arukwe and Yvonne Jegede.

According to Akindele, the plot of ‘A Tribe called Judah,’ revolves around a woman called Jedidah Judah, who has five sons from five different men, all belonging to different tribes.

She said: “The story is so dear to my heart and it has a part of my late mum in it, and it represents the struggles faced by many single parents and mothers in society.”

According to her, the movie is currently showing in cinemas in Ghana and the United Kingdom.(NAN) (nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

New York:  (tca/dpa/NAN)/Flowerbudnews:  Beyoncé’s childhood home was consumed by a Christmas Day fire.

Firefighters in Houston, Texas’ Third Ward, responded to a raging blaze on the 2400 block of Rosedale Street, in the early hours of Christmas day, according to local station KIAH.

They reportedly took 10 minutes to largely tamp down the flames after needing only three minutes to arrive on the scene.

The couple who live in the house and their two children were home at the time but uninjured.

What caused the two-story home to catch fire wasn’t immediately clear.

The holiday season helps make December the leading month for residential fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The Knowles family, whose eldest daughter Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter grew up to be an international pop star and the winningest artist in Grammy history, paid 64,000 dollars for the Houston home in 1981, according to TMZ.

They left the three-bedroom house in 1986 after Beyoncé’s sibling, Solange Piaget Knowles, also a Grammy-winning recording artist, came along in 1986.

The home features a spiral staircase, three bathrooms and an office.

TMZ said a buyer paid 310,000 dollars for the 8,640-square-foot-lot lot next to the house last year.

Beyoncé performed in Houston twice in September as she wound down her 39-city Renaissance World Tour, which grossed 579 million dollars.

The “Crazy in Love” singer broke the record for the most wins ever by a single honoree at this year’s Grammy Awards, earning her 32nd gramophone trophy. (tca/dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

By Taiye Olayemi

A gospel artiste, Benedict Onyemechalu, on Monday advised colleagues to adopt different sounds and styles in their music to give room for versatility in the gospel music industry.

Onyemechalu, a Reverend Father of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to the artiste, gospel music should not be limited to certain sounds and styles which are becoming  monotonous.

He commended the likes of Johnny Drille and Asaka who have made remarkable changes to their sounds and styles.

“In practical terms, in our day today, if your gospel sound doesn’t sound in a certain kind of way, then it is not gospel music. So, you must engage the electronic pads, and speak a little bit in tongues, use high pitch vocal range amongst many others.

“But thanks to the likes of Asaka and Johnny Drille, who came to redefine and open up the net to accommodate many other sounds.

“And gradually, people have adapted and they are doing great with their sounds, this should be encouraged by others.

“To me, the conventional concept of gospel music tightens the net and allows for little or no further expansions but music cannot be caged. Music cannot and should not be contained,” he said.

Onyemechalu, also the Creative Director of O’Padre Creations, said he usually gains inspiration to compose his songs and sing when driving.

“I love to drive. Driving is a hobby for me, as well as a channel of creative birthing to life of ideas and many other stuff.

“The moment I drive in a relaxed disposition, I get to come back home with songs, depending on the distance covered.

“Most of my songs, great as they may sound, started as ideas while I was driving,” he said.

The artiste who has released 12 singles and an EP of seven tracks, which was his debut, said he started his musical career in 2003 when he started writing choral and liturgical music for use in Catholic worship.

He said some of the liturgical music are still sung in Catholic churches around.

He noted that music comes to him naturally and it has been a rewarding experience for him so far.

“In 2016, I had a somewhat dramatic switch to Gospo-Contemporary music, with a view to exploring the other kinds of music in me.

“I would say that it has been quite a rewarding experience. I still hope to write choral music for liturgical purposes. But for now, let me exploit a bit more of the music in me.

“I have a great interest and experience in photography, videography, editing, community building and youth development, technology and smartphone creative ventures, amongst others.

“I believe and strongly support all that pushes for the growth of innovation in creative arts since a creative mind is a God-driven mind,” he said.

On who his role models are in the musical industry, he said, “I have been influenced by the works of notable Nigerian choral musicians like Prof. Laz Ekwueme, Sir Sam Ojukwu and Sir Jude Nnam.

“I look up to musicians like my friend and brother, Moses Abdulkass. I love the works of Nathaniel Bassey.

“On the flip side of it all, I look up to finesse acts like Johnny Drille and Asaka. The list can go on and on.”

Onyemechalu, who is also a keyboardist, revealed his plans for the next five years to include becoming a professional artiste.

“I would love to hear the name “FadaBen” on everyone’s lips. I would love to hear my music sung in the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities in Nigeria and down to other nations of the world.

“I used to say that God gave me all the gifts I needed and wanted in this world, except one, which is dancing.

“I wish I could dance. I would have used my dancing skills in fostering the cause of the kingdom through neo-evangelisation media.

“If I could dance, you would have heard the title, “The Dancing Priest”, just as we have the “dancing senator”,” he said.  (NAN) (nannews.ng)

The rapper’s management announced his death on his official Instagram page on Wednesday.

The statement from the management reads: “We are saddened to inform the general public that Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji aka 0LADIPS has passed away yesterday Nov’14th Tuesday evening, at exactly 10:14 pm. We are still in shock as we speak! For over 2 years he has kept his battles within himself, his body is now with his family & funeral services will be announced as it is concluded!

The family asked that we respect their privacy in this trying time. May God give us all the fortitude to bear this great loss. (amen).- Management.”

Afrobeats singer, Davido has called on his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, to ‘abort mission’ over a promise to help a physically challenged hawker captured in a viral video a few days ago.

Recall that comedian Brainjotter shared a clip from a hawker selling bottled water on the street in Lagos a few days ago. He also urged netizens to support the hawker.

Reacting to the video, Davido tagged Gov. Adeleke in a post on X after the hawker mentioned Osun State in the video.

The governor responded in a tweet and said, “Thanks for sharing the video, Eniola’s dedication to making an honest living is inspiring. She embodies the qualities that represent Osun. I’ve directed my office to get in touch with her & explore possibilities to assist in advancing her education or improving her makeup skills.”

However, the singer has called on the governor to ‘abort mission’ after reports emerged that the hawker is a ‘crossdresser’. Brainjotter, in a post on Instagram, expressed his shock after discovering the hawker is a male who disguised as a female.

His words: “Excellency dem job us !! Dem say nah man ABORT MISSION”

Omowunmi Aloba, the wife of the late Nigerian rapper, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad, has stated that it is a must to conduct a DNA test to prove the paternity of her 6-month-old son, Liam.

Omowunmi made this known in a chat with the popular Nigerian actress and one of the frontrunners in the justice for Mohbad calls, Iyabo Ojo.

In the screenshot of the chat, which was made available on Iyabo Ojo’s official Instagram account on Tuesday, Omowunmi revealed that conducting the test is no longer an option but a necessity.

Following Mohbad’s passing on September 12, 2023, there have been ongoing debates among concerned Nigerians about the necessity of taking a DNA test on the artiste’s son.

In response to these discussions, the late rapper’s wife said she’s ready to share her side of the story with the world.

According to her, she initially decided not to say anything on the development to avoid distractions and give the police ample time to conduct an investigation into the death of her late husband, stating that getting justice is the most important thing for her.

She said, “I’ve decided not to speak on anything until 7th of November which is the coroner inquest because i do not want any side distraction,all I want is Justice for my husband which i believe the Nigeria government are working on, after everything I’ll either grant an interview or tell my own story before the whole world, and also DNA is definitely a must!!!”