Renowned poet Junior Rumaga has unveiled a monthly poetry event dubbed ‘Siga Siga Sira’ as part of promoting poetry in Rwanda. The first event of its kind took place at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV) on January 31 where the poet led the stage alongside his emerging poetry collective known as ‘Ibyanzu’ and other celebrated poets like Essy Williamz, Saranda Poetess, Viviane Uwababyeyi and No Stress Ntare among others. Speaking to The New Times on Monday, February 3, Rumaga confirmed that the event will be held every month at KCEV. “We noticed that many artists, especially the youth, are returning to the poetry scene. This inspired SIGA Rwanda to create an initiative where artists in the poetry industry can showcase their talents. That’s how Siga Siga Sire came to life,” Rumaga explained.

Trust Khosa Organisers of the 2025 Oliver Mtukudzi Half Marathon have described this year’s edition as a resounding success. The event, which took place at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton last Sunday, turned out to be a celebration of music, aerobics, and athletics. It was spiced up by a health expo, where the focus was mainly on diabetes awareness. The event was held in memory of the late crooner Tuku, who died at the age of 66 on January 23, 2019. He was declared a national hero and was buried at his Madziwa homestead in Mashonaland Central Province. A series of festivities to mark his legacy usually takes place in January, with the marathon race being one of the events. Marathon director Sylvia Sanyanga, who had a busy day in the office last Sunday, said they surpassed last year’s number of runners. Last year they recorded 500 runners.

Controversial media personality, Denrele Edun, has hinted at being ‘Bisexual’ while responding to an X user who questioned his sexuality. The netizen with the handle, BigTarantino, wrote: “Sorry but is denrele gay ?” Promoted Content Adeboye Breaks Silence On Viral ‘Alhaji’ Photo Idealmedia How Can You Come Here Without Bra? Idealmedia In response, Denrele Edun used the word gay as an acronym for different words. He further gave a controversial statement saying he is a sexual outlaw who is ‘BI’, a word often used for individuals who are bisexual. He wrote, “GAY as in, Gorgeous.And.Young, Graceful.And.Youthful? “Or best, http://Good.As.You ? “Who you go to bed AS is different from Who you go to bed WITH! “So to answer your Question, I’ll plainly leave it outchea; I’m a Sexual Outlaw who’s BI your side!”

Former Big Brother Naija housemate cum comedian, DeeOne, has queried whether the Big Brother Naija reality TV show is a blessing or a curse. Naija News reports that the reality star, in a video via his TikTok page, claimed that he, media personality and BBNaija host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, and Nollywood actress, Bisola Ayieola are the only former housemates of the reality show who are still relevant. According to him, some of their colleagues, such as Erica, Teddy A and Laycon, who were doing well before the show, became stagnant after participating in the reality show. The comedian added that many former housemates participated in the reality TV show because of fame, and after the show ended, life became more challenging for them.

Popular Nigerian singer, Oludipe David, also known as Spyro has alleged that he is being threatened with his sex tape. The singer disclosed the development via his Instagram story on Tuesday. He accused some unnamed religious figures of hiding behind their faith to cover up their deceitful actions. He lamented that the blackmail attempt came after he confronted an individual online for a wrongdoing. He said, “Don’t be deceived, the biggest scams and liars are the ones at the top of religious ladders. “They perpetrate evil and quote holy books to support their wrongs and then the emotional games and threats. The deception is on another level.

Nigerian rapper, Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, better known as Odumodublvck, has revealed that the circumstance surrounding his birth was miraculous. Naija News reports that the ‘Industry Machine’ crooner, in a recent episode of the Afrobeats podcast, claimed he is a covenant child. According to Odumodublvck, his mother gave birth to him when she was 39. During the interview, Odumodublvck also boasted that he is one of the most confident artists in music history. He said, “I am the only child of my mom. She gave birth to me when she was 39. I’m a covenant child. That’s what people don’t understand. I don’t just come out and say things. They are not fallacies. I grew up in the church. That’s the foundation of my music.” “I am one of the most confident artistes in the history of music… I am just a vessel.”

Nigerian ace comedian cum filmmaker, Ayodeji Richard Makun, popularly known as Comedian AY, has expressed displeasure over his viral kissing photos with the estranged wife of Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, May. Naija News reports that a video and photos making the rounds online, generated using Artificial Intelligence, AI, show AY kissing May Edochie while on a flight to London. However, in a lengthy post via his Instagram page on Tuesday night, AY urged the perpetrators to channel their talents toward building a better nation rather than tearing each other down. The movie star stated that his colleague and reality TV star, Alex Unusual, has yet to come out of the lies and narratives about their romantic relationship and questioned whether people want to chase away everyone working with him.

In the opening track of Qing Madi's debut LP 'I Am The Blueprint', she shares her dream of someday winning a Grammy. While the coveted prize is now within the grasp of Nigerian superstars, her ambitions reflect her deep convictions in her talent and an unflinching belief that she can become whatever she wishes. Although only 18, Qing Madi boasts of a talent forged from a very young age (6 as she told Apple Music in a recent interview) paired with the confidence of a star who is fully aware of the talent she carries. She elected to call her album 'I Am The Blueprint', which offers insights into how she views herself as a star whose lofty steps will leave visible footprints for others to follow. On her debut LP, She displayed this impressive talent albeit still developing, across 13 tracks, and for a good part of the album, she managed to.

A tweet recently made its rounds online, claiming that Nollywood no longer produces celebrities. The user nostalgically referenced Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, asserting that today’s Nollywood stars don’t measure up in terms of fame or global presence. And while I understand the sentiment, I have to ask; is that really true? “Nollywood does not produce celebrities anymore. Genevieve and Omotola ka na-ewi since 1999 till date, and they were really huge in the 2000s. Actors now are not nearly as huge. The reverse is the case with musicians, those ones are global stars now. I blame the movies,” he said.

In a recent interview on the Afrobeats Podcast, OdumodubBlvck revealed the contributions ofAfrobeats megastars Davido and Wizkid in his rise. The rapper revealed that in the early days of his mainstream rise, Wizkid was the first big star to share his music. "In Nigeria, Wizkid was the first major artist to post my music. He posted picanto...Then after I dropped 'Declan Rice', he posted the song and there's also a video of him vibing to the song". Wizkid's post would drive mass attention to OdumoduBlvck's music and the rapper quickly rose from relative obscurity to stardom as 'Declan Rice' named after the England and Arsenal football star became an instant hit. On the role Davido played in the early days of his career, OdumoduBlvck said the five-time Grammy nominee chose to help him when he didn't have to. "David (Davido) is someone who helped me when he didn't need to. So there's no way I will say anything bad about him even if I have the chance to".

Nollywood director Bolanle Austen-Peters takes to social media to celebrate her 56th birthday. In a heartfelt morning post, the creative powerhouse reflected on her journey, expressing deep appreciation for her career, and loved ones. “Stepping into 56 years of boldly achieving purpose. Blessed, accomplished and poised. Walking through our garden, I reflected on everything God has done for me and all I can say is "THANK YOU LORD" for making me a Beautiful African Princess (BAP) with the Baddest Amazing Productions (BAP) surrounded by the most amazing people that love me and doing what I love best; appreciating nature. I am looking up to God Almighty for the journies ahead of me and thanking all my loved ones for being part of my making,” the post said.

Gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has not yet responded after activist Vincent Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan or VDM, promised to look into her claims of fraud, forgery, and music royalty theft against music executive Ezekiel Thankgod, also called Eezee Tee. GistLover shared that VDM’s choice to investigate follows the ongoing social media conflict between Mercy and her former label head. VDM, who voiced worries about possible efforts to manipulate the story, promised to conduct a separate investigation. The critic, unhappy with Mercy Chinwo, posted another video explaining that his previous video was removed from his YouTube channel just hours after he criticized the gospel singer.

Nollywood actress Evan Okoro has strongly addressed the public backlash regarding her and other stars’ absence from the traditional wedding of her colleagues, Ruby Orjiakor and Onwa Idemili. In a recent video aimed at countering the criticism, Evan fervently articulated the reasons for her and several others’ non-attendance at the event, despite Ruby being one of her closest friends. The wedding, held over the weekend, featured Ruby and Onwa, whose relationship has faced considerable scrutiny, exchanging vows in a ceremony attended solely by family and close friends. To the surprise of many, no Nollywood celebrities were seen at the event, prompting an uproar on social media. Fans, dismayed by the absence, inundated the social media accounts of Ruby’s close friends, accusing them of neglecting to support the couple on their significant day.

Nollywood actress and producer Toyin Abraham has extended heartfelt birthday wishes to her friend Bimbo Ademoye, who is celebrating her special day today. In an Instagram post, Toyin referred to Bimbo as her prayer partner and expressed her desire for God to bestow blessings upon the actress on this occasion. She wrote: “Aisha @bimboademoye mi, there is nothing I want to write that will tell the world how much you mean to me and I love you, sugbon t’oba ku die ki omo oloore e Aisha Jin si koto, monamona a tan fun e,ooni Jin si koto aye Aisha mi owon. Thanks for supporting and praying along with me always. I love you so much, and I won’t stop loving you. Hbd darling @bimboademoye”.

US-based Nigerian artist Korra Obidi expressed her worries on social media about her children’s declining health, causing concern among her followers. In an emotional TikTok video from February 3, she was shown fully engaged in caring for her ill little girls. The video captured her carefully leading them to the bathroom, their small bodies weak and clearly affected by illness. At one moment, she quietly talked to her oldest daughter, June, reminding her that she had already missed school last week because of being sick. With a blend of support and worry, she encouraged June to push through and get her strength back to return to her friends. Despite the difficult situation, Korra did her best to make everyone happy with her playful actions.

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards have come and gone, and one of the biggest names to emerge from this year’s nominations was Nigerian-American artiste Collins Chibueze, known as Shaboozey. With five Grammy nominations across multiple categories, Shaboozey stood out as the Nigerian artiste with the most nominations, marking a significant moment in his genre-bending music career. Shaboozey, who performed his hit song, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” at the ceremony, received five nominations for Best New Artiste, Song of the Year, Best Country Song, and Best Country Solo Performance. He was also nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his feature on Beyoncé’s “Spaghetti”. He received a sixth nomination for Best Remixed Recording thanks to David Guetta’s remix of his song.

The third season of ‘The Leading Woman Show’ will premiere on 8 February, continuing its mission to amplify women’s voices in leadership and drive conversations on gender equality in Nigeria. Powered by WILAN Global and hosted by Abosede George-Ogan, the show is known as a vital platform for discussions of women’s roles in governance, business, and society. The third season introduces ‘The Policy Series,’ a comprehensive exploration of the impact of gender-inclusive policies on economic empowerment and social equity. Featuring prominent policymakers, leaders, and advocates, the show will provide expert insights into policymaking and its role in shaping a more inclusive society. Ahead of the season premiere, a media parley was held on Friday at the Venus Room in Lagos. The parley provided insights into the new season and highlighted the show’s impact over the years.

Nollywood actress and politician, Tonto Dikeh, has reflected on the impact of maturity on her personal and professional life. The movie star stated that maturity has taught her to be more cautious about her interactions and professional endeavours. Tonto Dikeh explained that while she still maintains a discerning perspective, she now places greater value on remaining vigilant in her engagements. In a recent Instagram post, Dikeh wrote: “As I mature, I’ve become more attentive to advice about exercising caution in my interactions and professional endeavors. While I still maintain a discerning perspective, I now place greater value on such counsel, remaining vigilant in my engagements.”

Nigerian singer Oludipe Oluwasanmi David popularly known as Spyro disclosed that he was blackmailed using a purported sex tape. On Tuesday, February 4, he made a number of posts on his Instagram story that contained this information. Spyro claimed that after confronting the individual about their wrongdoing, the blackmail began. Additionally, he noted that the individual is religious and asserted that some of the most egregious liars and con artists are frequently religious individuals. According to Spyro, people commit sins and cover up their wrongdoings by posing as spiritual and hiding behind their beliefs.

Thabiso Rammusi brings the character of Mpho to life. In the hit Showmax series, Mpho is a divorced father of three who has to deal with two baby mamas. However, with the situation he is in now, he realised that he needs to change his way. Speaking about his character, Thabiso Rammusi said the change was imminent and that Mpho realised this the hard way. "He realised the gravity of his mistakes and after experiencing the void of divorce, Mpho knows he must change. The absence of family and unity weighs heavily on him; simple moments like coming home to an empty, cold house take their toll," he said. Rammusi said Mpho is now working on mending the fences with his children and also dealing with life's troubles. He said Mpho will show a different side to him as he works on his past troubles as well.

Renowned for her powerful vocals and soul-stirring melodies, Maddy Maznaz is set to bless her fans with a brand-new gospel track. The singer, known for blending contemporary sounds with deep spiritual messages, took to social media to tease the upcoming release, sparking excitement among her followers. The title of her yet to be released gospel song is “Bread of life”. In a cryptic post, Maddy shared a short clip featuring an uplifting melody, accompanied by a heartfelt caption: “Today marking the first Sunday in February, and my first Sunday as a new creation to uphold my creator and lover forever! I can’t wait to drop this gospel anthem to the masses to dance and celebrate the goodness of the lord! “Happy Sunday, Happy New month.” She took her inspiration from the book of Isaiah 43:18-19 which reads: God says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past!”

ANigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer, Tems, has won the 67th Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance. The awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday. ems clinched the award with her love song “Love Me Jeje”, defeating “Tomorrow by Yemi Alade, MMS by Asake featuring Wizkid, Sensational by Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay, and Higher by Burna Boy. Receiving the award, Tems said: “Dear God, thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team.”

During his interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, he reflected on thelife-changing incident, admitting that the experience was frustrating, especially having to use a wheelchair while shooting the music video for Holy Father. Speaking on the accident, he said, "I think about it as a downtime in my life and when it happened I was frustrated because being in a wheelchair while shooting the video for Holy Father was not what I wanted to do because I don't like it when people pity me. After a while, I got over it, and now I live with remembering the accident."

Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has opened up about the struggles of forming lasting connections in today's world, expressing frustration over the fleeting nature of relationships. Speaking during a recent interview on TVC, the actor admitted that loneliness sometimes creeps in despite having success and stability. "Sometimes, it does get lonely. Because you’ve got everything, and obviously, you’ve understood the power of the energy surrounding your space, so you’re not just going to let anybody in," he said. Timini stressed that he has reached the point of frustration with relationships fading away quickly, underscoring how people leave quickly. I am personally tired of temporary connections when you meet somebody and, after getting to know them, they leave. It gets tiring. He also criticised the impact of social media on relationships, blaming the "woke generation" for promoting unrealistic expectations.