Veteran actress Kate Henshaw joins the ensemble cast for the return of London Life, Lagos Living to the Lagos stage.

“Kilon Sparkles!”

If you remember those words, then there is a good chance Bobo Omotayo’s London Life, Lagos Living needs very little introduction.

Fifteen years after the cult favourite first hit shelves, the beloved story is heading back to the stage for the third time, and this time, it is bringing quite the cast along with it.

For a generation of readers who came of age on BellaNaija and followed Lagos pop culture before social media became the all-consuming force it is today, Bobo Omotayo, writing under his popular nom de plume, The Renaissance Man, was a familiar voice. His weekly column, The Friday Track, had readers coming back for his sharp observations, cheeky commentary and often hilarious takes on the people, places and peculiarities that made Lagos what it was.

Then came London Life, Lagos Living, a story that turned many of those familiar observations into a world of its own.

At its heart was the peculiar dance between London and Lagos life: the IJGB returning home, the social climbing, the status games, the relationships, the parties, the tables to be seen at and all the little contradictions that came with trying to find your place between two worlds. It was familiar, funny and just pointed enough to make readers wonder if they knew some of the characters themselves.

Gideon Okeke stars in the third stage adaptation of Bobo Omotayo’s London Life, Lagos Living.

Now, that world is coming alive on stage once again.

The latest production brings together an exciting mix of Nollywood favourites and fresh faces, with Kate Henshaw, Linda Ejiofor, Gideon Okeke, Chigurl, Olarotimi Fakunle and Tosin Adeyemi leading the cast, alongside more actors who will join them for the production.

And because this is London Life, Lagos Living, expect the story to bring all the familiar ingredients back into the room: Lagos society, culture clashes, relationships, ambition and the endless comedy that can come from trying to navigate life between home and abroad.

Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman takes the stage in the revival of Bobo Omotayo’s classic Lagos tale, London Life, Lagos Living.

The stage production will take place at Black Diamond Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, with shows scheduled for Friday, 28 August at 7PM; Saturday, 29 August at 4PM and 7PM; and Sunday, 30 August at 4PM and 7PM.

Fifteen years later, London Life, Lagos Living is getting another chance to remind audiences why “Kilon Sparkles” became such a memorable phrase in the first place.

Whether you remember the book, the characters or simply the era it captured so well, Lagos is about to revisit a story that knows its way around both sides of the Atlantic.

Olarotimi Fakunle featured in the star-studded cast for the 2026 revival of London Life, Lagos Living.

The post “Kilon Sparkles!”: Kate Henshaw, Linda Ejiofor & Gideon Okeke Lead London Life, Lagos Living’s Stage Return appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Today, we are spotlighting Firstklaz. Firstklaz’s music is one of the distinctive sounds coming out of Nigeria in recent times. He combines his Hausa influence with modern Afrobeats to create soulful songs that are both emotive and groovy. In this feature, Firstklaz shares how he discovered his passion for music, where he currently is in his journey, and his ultimate dream for his music.

Hi Firstklaz. How are you feeling?

Hello. I feel good. I feel blessed.

Congratulations on your Headies nomination! What first made you believe music was something you wanted to pursue seriously?

Thank you. Music was always around me growing up, but I didn’t immediately see it as a career. That changed when I started making songs and saw how people genuinely connected with them. Seeing people sing my lyrics back to me and relate to my stories made me realise music could be bigger than just a hobby. From that point, I decided to give it everything I had because I knew this was what I was meant to do.

Do you still remember your earliest memories of making music, like the first song you ever recorded?

My earliest memories are simply creating with whatever I had. I wasn’t thinking about streams or numbers; I just wanted to make music that felt honest. I still remember recording my first songs with very limited equipment, learning through trial and error, and improving with every session. Those early days taught me resilience. Nothing came easy, but every recording helped me find my voice. They also taught me not to be afraid of experimenting. Today, I’m still driven by that same curiosity, always looking for new ways to blend sounds and tell stories that feel authentic.

Looking at your journey so far, where do you think you are in your career today?

I think I’m entering a new chapter. I’ve built a foundation, and now I’m focused on taking my music to a global audience. Every release teaches me something new, and I’m becoming more intentional about my artistry, my visuals, and the world I’m creating around my music. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I also feel like I’m only scratching the surface of what’s possible.

What moments have felt like real milestones for you?

One of the biggest milestones has been seeing my music reach people beyond my immediate community. Watching songs resonate with listeners and create conversations reminded me that music has no borders. I’ve learned that the best music comes from being honest rather than chasing trends. My sound has evolved because I’ve become more confident in embracing my roots while experimenting with modern influences. Today, I focus on making music that feels timeless, something that can connect with people whether they understand my language or not.

Every artist sometimes has a label for the kind of music they create. How would you describe your sound or type of music?

I would describe my sound as a fusion of African rhythms and Hausa culture. I enjoy blending traditional melodies and storytelling with modern production to create songs that are emotional, energetic and easy for people from different cultures to connect with. Whether it’s something you can dance to or something that makes you reflect, I always want my music to feel genuine.

When people discover your music years from now, what do you hope they’ll find in it?

I hope people hear authenticity. I want them to discover music that represents where I come from while showing that African stories can connect with the entire world.

Who or what do you think continues to influence your artistry?

I’m influenced by everyday life, my culture, the people around me, and artists who create music that lasts for generations. Those influences remind me to make songs that have meaning, not just songs that are popular for a moment. I want my music to introduce more people to Hausa culture and show how beautiful and universal it is. If someone from anywhere in the world can sing along to a Hausa lyric and feel something, then I’ve done my job.

Every artist has a dream, but what would a truly successful career look like for you?

To me, success isn’t just awards or chart positions. It’s building a lasting legacy, inspiring the next generation of African artists to embrace their identity, selling out concerts around the world, and creating music that people will still return to decades from now. That’s the kind of career I’m working toward.

The post On Our Radar: “I Want My Music to Reach People Beyond My Immediate Community” – Firstklaz appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Yokuro Skincare, a clinical African skincare brand founded by Dr. Adetola Adegoke, officially launched in Lagos on July 18. The founder, a British-Nigerian medical doctor who has practiced in the UK for over a decade, introduced guests to the world of Yokuro through an immersive experience that blended skincare, science, and wellness.

Doctors, Beauty editors, Skincare influencers, Dermatologists, Wellness enthusiasts and members of the public gathered for the Yokuro World Experience, a thoughtfully curated launch designed to engage all five senses.

Held at Soto Gallery, the venue was transformed into a calming wellness space where guests were welcomed by a custom signature scent inspired by nature before beginning their journey through the Yokuro experience.

At the heart of the event was the Yokuro Ingredient Lab, an interactive exhibition that invited guests to discover the science behind every formulation. Hero ingredients including Kojic Acid, Licorice Root, Cucumber, Allantoin and Green Tea were displayed alongside the products they power, allowing guests to see, touch and learn about the role each ingredient plays in addressing different skin concerns. The installation quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the day, with guests spending time exploring the displays, asking questions and gaining a deeper understanding of what goes into every Yokuro formula.

The experience continued with wellness-inspired food and drinks, from handcrafted cocktails to fresh juices, alongside a dedicated Reset Corner where guests enjoyed complimentary mini wellness massages. For many attendees, it became one of the highlights of the day.

Guests also explored the Yokuro Forever Routine Quiz, an interactive skin consultation designed to recommend a personalized skincare routine based on their unique skin concerns. The experience reflected the brand’s belief that skincare should be simple, intentional and tailored to the individual.

Adding a playful touch to the event, guests won products and exclusive merchandise from a retro claw machine, with cheers filling the room after every successful grab. Every attendee also left with skincare samples, full-sized products, tote bags, mirrors and other curated gifts.

Speaking during the launch, founder Dr. Adetola Adegoke shared the vision behind the brand.

“Yokuro was built to eliminate the need for complicated 10-step skincare routines. The word ‘Yokuro’ is a play on the Yoruba phrase ‘to remove.’ Our mission is to remove the guesswork, remove impurities, remove dehydrated skin and remove the frustration that so many people experience with skincare, leaving you with a routine that works for you for life.

That’s why we believe in our three principles: Remove, Replenish and Reinforce. Those principles were shaped by my years treating patients in my clinic in the UK. Science is at the core of everything we do, and we’re proud to build a Made-in-Nigeria brand for the world.”

One of the most sought-after experiences of the day was Dr. Adetola’s complimentary one-on-one skin consultations. A long queue quickly formed as guests waited patiently for personalized skincare advice and product recommendations. For many, it was a rare opportunity to have their skin concerns assessed by a practicing medical doctor, bringing Yokuro’s science-first philosophy to life beyond the products themselves.

True to its philosophy of science inspired by nature, the venue featured thoughtfully designed nature-inspired installations where guests paused to connect, create content, and capture memorable moments throughout the evening.

The launch marked the beginning of Yokuro’s journey to redefine skincare as a wellness lifestyle, one rooted in science, inspired by nature and designed to simplify everyday skincare.

Yokuro Skincare products are now available on the brand’s official website at yokuroskin.com and via Instagram @yokuroskin.

See more highlights from the event here

Sponsored Content

The post Yokuro Skincare Launches in Lagos with an Immersive Wellness Experience appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

This is the emancipation of Cuppy, and she is freeing herself of the perceptions of others.” — Florence Otedola

For years, Cuppy was hard to miss. From the pink wigs and bold fashion choices to her music and DJ sets, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola built a personality that became instantly recognisable, both in Nigeria and beyond.

But while the world got to know Cuppy, Florence was figuring out what it meant to be herself away from the expectations that came with the name, the spotlight and, of course, being the daughter of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola. Today, her story stretches far beyond music. From DJing and Afrobeats to education, philanthropy and global advocacy, Cuppy has continued to explore different spaces while using her platform to create opportunities for young people.

Music remains an important part of that journey. As she puts it, “As Africans, we communicate so strongly through music. I learned that when I was younger, and I hold it close to me even now. It is and will always be, a form of healing for me”.

Music remains home: Florence Otedola keeps her DJ roots close while expanding her global footprint.

Her music career saw her release her debut studio album, Original Copy, featuring collaborations with Rema, Wyclef Jean, Sir Shina Peters, Julian Marley, Fireboy and other artists. But in the years since the album, her attention has increasingly expanded beyond the stage and into work centred on education, philanthropy and advocacy.

Through the Cuppy Foundation, she has supported initiatives aimed at improving the lives of children in Nigeria. Since 2018, the Cuppy Foundation has held the record as the largest single funder of Save The Children’s work in Africa, raising over $17 million for displaced and impoverished children in Nigeria. Looking at the current outlook of the country, Cuppy believes there is more work to be done. Her approach to giving has also evolved into a broader belief in creating lasting opportunities, rather than simply making donations. “Charity is just giving because you want to. Being a philanthropist, though, is about making a lasting difference. It’s about long-lasting results. If my privilege ends with me, what is the point of it?”

“Being a philanthropist is about making a lasting difference.” Florence Otedola reflects on using her privilege to create educational opportunities.

That desire to create lasting impact has also taken Cuppy beyond Nigeria. She has become a regular participant at the United Nations General Assembly, where she has used her voice to advocate for young people across Africa. In 2025, the Gates Foundation named her one of its Goalkeepers for her advocacy around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Quality Education and Gender Equality.

Still, beneath the achievements and the public persona has been a more personal journey. Growing up in the spotlight meant learning early that there were expectations attached to the Otedola name and to the Cuppy persona she created for herself.

“It’s really hard to grow up when everyone is watching you. I learned from a young age that high standards are what we do in my family. Whatever you want to do, you must be excellent at it”.

Florence Otedola transitions from music stages to global platforms like the UN General Assembly and Gates Foundation Goalkeepers.

For a long time, she embraced the character people had come to know. The pink wig, the lashes, the fashion and the larger-than-life personality were all part of it. Eventually, though, she began questioning whether she still wanted to perform that version of herself.

“I had gotten used to performing who I am, and that is something I am unlearning. For a long time, I felt like people applauded Cuppy’s energy, but they failed to recognise my depth as Florence.”

That realisation brought with it a willingness to let go of some of the things that had become synonymous with her public image. “I created a persona I couldn’t sustain, and I don’t want to pressure myself to do so. I mean, I woke up one day and said, ‘I don’t want to wear a pink wig or false lashes. So what?’”

For Cuppy, that decision represents something much bigger than changing her look. “This is the emancipation of Cuppy, and she is freeing herself of the perceptions of others. Now, I do not apologise for who I am, and I don’t do things I do not want to do.”

Florence Otedola embraces cultural heritage and deeper self-expression beyond the original Cuppy persona.

And perhaps that is the most interesting part of Cuppy’s evolution. The DJ and Afrobeats star who once seemed to have every aspect of her public identity figured out is allowing herself the freedom to change, explore and grow.

The pink-haired Cuppy may be a version of Florence that fans remember fondly, but this chapter is making room for everything else she has become too.

The post Florence “Cuppy” Otedola Steps Into Her Next Chapter With Purpose, Freedom & a Deeper Sense of Self appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Miss World 2026 continental Top Model winners celebrating their automatic qualification for the Top 40 quarter-finals. Photo Credit: Miss World/Instagram 

Nigeria’s Tamunosoye Karibi George has just given the country another reason to keep an eye on the Miss World stage.

Competing at the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII, the beauty queen claimed the Top Model title for Africa, earning an automatic place in the Top 40 quarter-finals of Miss World 2026. It is a major step in her journey at the competition and puts her among the contestants to watch as the pageant heads towards its final stage.

Tamunosoye, fondly known as Soye, is representing Nigeria at the 73rd Miss World festival in Vietnam after winning the national crown in Lagos earlier this year. A communications professional, fashion model and social advocate, she brings more than pageantry to the international stage, with her work also extending to advocacy and social inclusion.

Through her Beyond Labels project, Soye focuses on advocacy and education for neurodivergent children and children with special needs, making her Miss World journey about more than the crown itself.

Tamunosoye Karibi George performing on stage during the talent segment of the 73rd Miss World festival in Vietnam. Photo Credit: Miss World/Instagram 

But on the runway in Vietnam, it was her modelling that did the talking.

The Miss World Top Model fast-track event challenged contestants to show their ability to work the runway, present haute couture and command the camera, with only the strongest performers moving forward. Soye emerged ahead of contestants from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and South Africa to take the African Top Model title and secure one of the continent’s 10 spots in the Top 40.

For the winning showcase, she brought plenty of drama to the runway in a bright yellow mini dress featuring a sheer illusion bodice, intricate beadwork and a fringed hem. She completed the look with a sweeping yellow feather boa, metallic heels, drop earrings and a sleek, long ponytail. Then came the moment that sealed the performance. Soye swept the boa across her shoulders as she made her way down the runway, let it fall to her sides and finished with a slow, deliberate spin at the edge of the stage.

It was enough to put her name at the top of the African Top Model results and, more importantly, move her one step closer to the Miss World crown.

With her place in the Top 40 quarter-finals secured, Soye now heads into the final stretch of the competition, with the 73rd Miss World crowning ceremony scheduled to take place in Vietnam on 5 September 2026.

The post Top 40 Secured! Tamunosoye Karibi George Wins African Top Model Title at Miss World appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa during the official announcement of the ₦365 million Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize in Abuja.

There’s now a new national platform putting Nigeria’s brightest student researchers and innovators in the spotlight, and there is ₦365 million in annual prize money attached to it.

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the opening of the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize, a new initiative designed to recognise and reward outstanding research, innovation and intellectual excellence across Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Announcing the prize on Thursday, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to support student excellence and give exceptional academic work the recognition and reward it deserves.

And the prize pool is significant. The Undergraduate Star Prize is worth ₦35 million, while the Master’s Star Prize carries ₦50 million and the Doctoral Star Prize is worth ₦100 million. Another ₦180 million will be shared across 15 Thematic Excellence Prizes, with each recipient receiving ₦12 million.

That means students and researchers whose work stands out have more than academic recognition to look forward to. The programme is designed to create a national platform where research and ideas with real potential can receive both visibility and meaningful support.

The prize is open to students and researchers across every accredited tertiary institution in Nigeria, making it a nationwide opportunity rather than one limited to a particular university or region.

The awards will recognise work across key areas including Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Law and Teaching Innovation.

There is also a special award with a particularly significant namesake. The Dr Stella Adadevoh Prize for Medicine and Medical Innovation has been established in honour of the late Nigerian doctor, whose courage and contribution during the 2014 Ebola outbreak became an important part of Nigeria’s public health history.

Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa with members of the National Laureate team during the launch of the ₦365 million initiative.

The National Laureate Prize is being jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD). According to Alausa, the selection process will be transparent, competitive and merit-driven, with academic excellence and impact at its centre.

The Minister said the broader goal is to encourage an education system that goes beyond producing certificates to one that also produces solutions, innovations, enterprises and measurable national value.

Our goal is to build an education system that does not simply produce certificates, but produces solutions, innovations, enterprises and measurable national value.

Alausa formally announced the prize following a press briefing in Abuja with members of the NERD National Laureate team, where the ministry outlined the programme’s vision, structure, selection process and long-term objectives.

***
Photo Credit: Dr Tunji Alausa/X

The post FG Opens Applications for ₦365 Million National Laureate Prize to Reward Top Student Researchers appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Ayra Starr is set to bring her hit singles to the NFL London Game halftime show on 11th October

Sabi Girl is taking her global run to one of the biggest sporting stages in the world! Afrobeats superstar Ayra Starr has officially been announced as the headliner for the halftime show at the 2026 NFL London Game on Sunday, 11th October.

The game, which sees the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, will feature the 24-year-old singer bringing her catalogue to tens of thousands of fans inside the stadium and millions watching worldwide.

Taking to the stage for the NFL’s London series presented by American Express, Ayra expressed her excitement about returning to one of her favourite cities:

I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London. London is one of my favourite places in the world and to bring Starrgirl to the NFL global stage is a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to see you guys there!

Highlighting the cultural relevance of bringing her on board, Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL, shared why Ayra Starr was the prime pick for this year’s show:

London is one of the most influential music cities in the world, and African music has been at the center of that conversation for years now. Ayra Starr is a generational talent with a real connection to fans in this market, and building on the halftime shows we have staged in London in recent seasons, she is the right artist to carry that momentum forward.

Ayra Starr prepares to take the Starrgirl era to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the 2026 NFL London halftime show.

The announcement comes right on the heels of her third studio album, Starrgirl, released on 14th August. The 16-track project features star-studded international and home-grown collaborations, including Wizkid on Gimme Dat, Rema, ZAYN on Heaven Baby, and Leon Thomas on Pressure. Fans can certainly look forward to hearing hit tracks like Dangerous, Tornado, and Gimme Dat ring out across Tottenham Hotspur Stadium come October.

If you are tuning in from Nigeria to catch the match and Ayra Starr’s halftime performance live, you can catch the broadcast via SuperSport on DStv and GOtv, which routinely broadcast the NFL International Series games. Streamers can also catch every moment live on NFL Game Pass via DAZN, ensuring you do not miss a single second of the action or the performance.

***
Photo Credit: Ayra Starr/Instagram

The post Starrgirl Takes London! Ayra Starr Set to Headline 2026 NFL Halftime Show appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Ayra Starr performing Heaven Baby live on stage at the All Points East 2026 festival in Victoria Park, London.

Since the release of her debut EP in 2021, Ayra Starr has cemented her place as one of the most internationally acclaimed African artists of her generation. In under five years, she has grown into the star she named herself, collecting milestones that many spend decades chasing. A Grammy nominee, MTV Europe Music Award nominee, Billboard Music Award nominee, and most recently, winner of the 2025 BET Award for Best International Act, Ayra continues to prove that her talent flows effortlessly, and as she sings in “Rush”, e dey rush.

Beyond awards, she has graced some of the world’s biggest stages, even sharing the spotlight with the iconic Coldplay. On September 27, she will take on the Global Citizen Festival in New York, performing in the line-up alongside Cardi B, Shakira, and fellow African, Tyla.

Last year, ahead of the Global Citizen Festival performance, I had a chat with Ayra to talk about what it means to have come this far, this fast. With her latest album, Starrgirl, dominating charts with Heaven Baby being a fan favourite, it is instructive to revisit this important conversation about her journey.

When you think of moments you’ve shared stages with global artists, what does it symbolise for you personally and for the future of Afrobeats on global stages? 

Oh my God, it takes me back to when I was growing up listening to their songs and being the most adorable fangirl; it takes me to the moments when I would practise dancing like Shakira because I was, and I still am, such a huge fan. Overall, I feel a sense of gratitude and recognition for my music. There are Afrobeats superstars who have done incredible things by paving the way for artists like me. I’m just glad to be able to contribute my own quota in a way like this that promotes the culture.

How do you carry the “Sabi Girl” energy into a performance of this scale, and what goes through your mind in the final moments before stepping onto the stage? 

Have you watched me perform on stage?! Sabi girl no dey carry last, and this is evident in my performance, in the way my setlist is curated, my dance routines, styling and general coordination. Before I get on any stage, I give myself a pep talk to have fun and enjoy the performance myself.

Do you have a pre-performance ritual that helps you connect with yourself and your audience before you get on stage?

It varies; I don’t have set rituals per se. You’ll always find me goofing around backstage before any performance, and you’ll be shocked to find out I take a quick nap when I can before hitting the stage.

A nap?

Yep!

Alrighty! It was a social media joke, but you once mentioned that you carry Afrobeats on your back. Does where you are now give you a sense of responsibility for the genre?

Of course! Being where I am, gracing the stages I’m fortunate to, gives me a sense of responsibility–not a crippling sense of responsibility, but first the sense of duty and responsibility to myself. Then the sense of responsibility to pay forward what I am now enjoying because some other people paved the way for me.

I like that. Over the past few years, your sound has travelled globally, resonating with fans who don’t even speak our language. What do you think it is about your music that allows people everywhere to connect with it? 

That’s the beautiful thing about music; it transcends language, borders and culture. It’s the emotions in the music that make it resonate. I’ve come to find out that people connect with my music because the themes and subjects I sing about are not just experiences particular to me; they are shared experiences, and people usually see themselves in my songs. They find the lyrics very much relatable.

Where you are right now, Ayra, feels like a dream that many artists spend years achieving. You’ve fortunately achieved a lot within a few years. As one of the youngest global headliners from Africa right now, how do you balance being present in this huge moment while also thinking about your long-term legacy? 

Luckily, I have grown, and I am still growing. I am learning to let go of the idea of perfection and just enjoy my process, my progress and how I continually evolve. This does not place so much pressure on me when I think of my long-term legacy; it just makes me feel somewhat content and proud in the moment. It also assures me that I’ll be able to look back at all I am doing now and genuinely know that I did all I wanted to do, and I had a ball while doing it.

The post Ayra Starr Is Living the Dream appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Nathaniel Bassey smiling with eyes closed while wearing a black suit jacket, white shirt, and dark tie for his 45th birthday. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Bassey/Instagram 

Gospel minister, trumpeter and convener of the global Hallelujah Challenge, Nathaniel Bassey, has plenty to be grateful for as he celebrates his 45th birthday.

For Nathaniel, the milestone is first and foremost a reminder of God’s faithfulness. In his birthday message, the singer and songwriter gave all the glory to God for bringing him this far, asking his followers to join him in thanking God and declaring his new year as one of favour, new beauty and honour.

45! This boy here is helped by God. From A to Z, it is God all the way. Saints, Today, please help me thank Him. Give Him all the glory on my behalf. And proclaim this new year ‘The year of The LORD’s favour. The year of New Beauty. The year of Honour. In Jesus’ name. Amen. GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST! ‘to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

He shared the message alongside a black-and-white portrait of himself, dressed in a black tuxedo, white shirt and dark tie, with his eyes closed and a broad smile on his face.

And while Nathaniel was giving thanks for another year, his wife, Sarah Bassey, had a few words of her own for the birthday celebrant.

In her tribute, Sarah celebrated the many sides of the man she shares her life with, listing him as a psalmist, trumpeter, songwriter, convener of the Hallelujah Challenge, mentor, pastor, father, brother and friend. But after all those titles, she had one that mattered most to her: “My own!”

To many: he is a psalmist, a skillful trumpeter, a prolific song writer, the convener of the hallelujah challenge, a voice, and a visionary leader. To some others, he is a mentor, a pastor, a father, a brother, a friend. To me, he is My OWN! !!!  I thank God the day he designed you with me in mind. I pray that God your father and Lord will surprise you Himself this year in Jesus name, Amen! I love and celebrate you today and always.

Nathaniel Bassey is known for songs including Imela and Olowogbogboro, as well as his most recent live worship project The Life Recording. Through his music and the global Hallelujah Challenge, he has built a community of worshippers across Nigeria and beyond.

The post Nathaniel Bassey Marks 45 With a Thank-You to God and a Sweet Tribute From Sarah appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

One of the beauties of life is the richness of experiences—events, people, occurrences, and the many intricate layers of humanity. This is what Big Brother Naija has been offering to many people over the years, beyond mere entertainment.

However, like many things, I was once oblivious to the existence of Big Brother Naija. If I hadn’t found myself working in digital media, I might not have become as familiar with the show as I am now. I knew it was a reality show, and I recall how students at my university would cram into a single hall to watch what I now know as the eviction show. I often heard loud noises from that hall whenever something eventful happened, or perhaps when one of their favourite housemates was evicted. But I was never interested. To me, it was just another show, similar to Game of Thrones or Star Wars, that I wasn’t inclined to watch.

I wasn’t alone; I had friends who felt the same way. However, the difference is that, while I didn’t know much about the show, I didn’t criticise the existence of the show. They, my friends, disliked it, claiming it distracts people from the realities of our country. I don’t agree with that perspective. I believe that a reality show—among the many forms of entertainment available in Nigeria—has little impact on our ability to confront the challenges we face as a nation. In fact, they can be used as a tool or vehicle for social change.

In recent years, Nigeria has gone through ongoing socio-economic and political instability. Even if you try to remain indifferent or apolitical, the harsh economic situation swiftly brings you back to reality—one that a show like Big Brother Naija cannot make you forget.

Certainly, Nigerians are grappling with the rising cost of living. Life is becoming increasingly hard and expensive. Inflation is putting immense pressure on households, and many people are struggling to afford basic necessities. The unemployment rate continues to rise, and fuel prices are high, making everyday life more challenging. While these issues are well-known, it is possible to enjoy entertainment while remaining critical of our government. Watching a show and being politically conscious are not mutually exclusive.

It is acceptable if discussions arising from the show do not address pressing societal issues like gender roles, relationships, or the economy. However, we must remember that it is not Big Brother Naija’s responsibility to solve Nigeria’s problems. The show is meant for entertainment—and it fulfils that purpose. Expecting a reality TV show to tackle national issues is an unrealistic expectation.

Some people claim, “I cannot sit on my screen to watch others,” yet we often watch and get excited about football matches or concerts. Every show is created for those who are interested. If you choose not to watch the show, that’s perfectly fine, and no one will criticise you for it. Conversely, you shouldn’t fault others for enjoying it.

Some complain that Big Brother Naija dominates their social media timelines, filling their feeds with content they would rather not see. However, in the age of algorithms, we have more control than ever over what we consume. If the show’s content does not appeal to you, you can mute the hashtags, unfollow the accounts, or simply scroll past them. The digital world is vast and diverse, catering to everyone’s interests. Complaining about Big Brother Naija taking up space on your timeline indicates that you may not be fully utilising the tools available to curate your online experience.

I do not consider it a fair critique to say that BBNaija diverts people’s attention from important national issues. Entertainment has always coexisted alongside societal challenges and is just as important as political or economic matters. People need entertainment not only to survive but also to feel human, to connect, and to experience joy. The fact that Nigerians still take the time to watch Big Brother Naija despite the country’s economic difficulties illustrates that the show fulfils their need for entertainment and social connection.

Big Brother Naija reflects the society that consumes it. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but it serves a purpose. It brings joy, ignites conversations, and provides a shared experience in a country often divided by various issues. Those who criticise it for being a distraction should also recognise the value of distractions in a world that can often feel overwhelming.

Big Brother Naija will keep airing, no matter what. If your values or religion does not share a familiarity with the show’s, the easy response is to ignore it. The show’s very existence might seem like a snub to the “seriousness” of the situation of the country, but perhaps the real affront is the expectation that people should be in a constant state of anxiety, never allowing themselves a moment of reprieve. In a country where survival often feels like a full-time job, a little entertainment is not just a distraction, it’s a necessity. Let people enjoy what they want, please.

The post Why Big Brother Naija Is Still Important Today appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

From Lagos to Accra, Dakar to Cape Town, a new generation of African fragrance houses is quietly attracting attention far beyond the continent. Most of us have not noticed yet.

Think about the last perfume you bought. Not one you were given, one you chose and paid for. Where was it made?
Most of us would say France. Some would say Dubai. Plenty would say they bought it from a shop in Ikeja and never thought about it again. Very few would say Accra, and almost nobody would say Maiduguri.

That is starting to look like an oversight.

There is a Nigerian house called Beguile operating across three continents. There is a woman in Maiduguri who took the incense her family burned every morning and evening and put it into a spray bottle. There is a house named after a nineteenth-century trader from the Niger Delta whose award-winning fragrance is built on green plantain. There is a perfumer in Cape Town working with myrrh that Himba women gather from fallen resin in northern Namibia.

These are not hobby projects.

Catherine Omai, a Nigerian perfumer, sells a fragrance called Contagious through Saks Fifth Avenue. Maya Njie has run her own perfume label out of London since 2016, and Liberty carries it. And in June, at an awards ceremony in Athens, two of the winning perfumes were ours.

So this is not a story about what might happen one day. The houses exist. The bottles ship. The awards have already been handed out. The only part still missing is that most of us have never heard about any of it.

Beguile‘s line, developed in Dubai and sold across its four markets. Photo: @beguilebyomaa

So how are people finding these brands?

Through a screen, mostly.

Every house in this article is niche. Designer fragrance is what a fashion label puts its name on and sells at volume. Niche is the smaller end, where a house will lose money on a fragrance because it wanted to make it, and where buyers care about who wrote the formula roughly the way we care about producers.

Niche used to be almost impossible to sell across borders. You cannot smell a video, so for decades a house needed a distributor, a shelf, and a country with the retail infrastructure to support them. Then the shelf stopped being the only way in. A house can now run its own storefront, take payment from anywhere, and build the audience itself across Instagram, TikTok and its own website. Beguile does exactly that, selling from its own site and passing thirty thousand followers on Instagram largely on founder-led content. The scale of the shift is not small: Cosmetics Business reports that the #PerfumeTok tag alone has passed 2.3 billion views.

The independent databases serve a different buyer. Someone who meets a house through a founder’s video goes straight to the shop. Someone weighing eight unfamiliar houses at once starts on Fragrantica or Parfumo, where notes, reviews and ratings sit in one place and none of it is written by the brand. Réserve en Afrique has six fragrances on Parfumo carrying close to a hundred ratings, most of them from people nowhere near Senegal. Fragrantica has also run long interviews with the founders of Yerwa Secrets and Maison Yusif.

Then there are the people talking. Our creators run whole series on local houses now, and the comment sections fill with people who have been wearing something for three years and never once posted about it.
None of that needs a distributor’s permission. It needs the perfume to be good enough that somebody wants to talk about it unprompted.

Is there actually a market for this?

Bigger than most of us assume.

Statista values Nigeria’s fragrance market at 0.92 billion dollars in 2024, heading for 1.07 billion by 2029. IndexBox reports that we account for 37% of all African perfume consumption by volume and 48% of production. And GlobalData has forecast our region to post the fastest fragrance growth in the world, at a 9.3% annual rate.

The international houses have read the same numbers. Clive Christian chose Nigeria for the African debut of its Absolute range, bottles that start around £7,000. Maison Crivelli told Business of Fashion in January it is targeting Nigeria and Ghana.

That raises an obvious question. If we were always among their best customers, why did it take this long?

Richard Vedelago, who founded the Lagos gallery Nahous, gave Forbes Africa the answer. Nigerians have always been among the world’s top spenders on luxury goods, he said, and “we just haven’t had the infrastructure here.” Before the pandemic that gap was filled by travel, with affluent Nigerians running shopping circuits through Dubai and London. Covid closed the circuits, the demand stayed home, and the brands finally had to come to it.

The buyers were never the problem. The shelf was.

It also matters where the volume sits. Statista puts 94% of Nigerian fragrance spending outside the luxury tier, which makes the £7,000 bottle a headline rather than a market. The same research house reports demand here surging for locally made, natural and culturally inspired scents. Beguile has been building for exactly that buyer since 2021, which is a less glamorous position than the £7,000 shelf and a considerably larger one.

Some of the most useful work is happening a tier below the perfume bottle. Cececa spent years scenting commercial spaces in Lagos, for Puma and Afreximbank among others, before moving into candles and diffusers, and it learned the market from the inside out. Its managing director Mena Kezia told Forbes Africa there is “a distinct cultural palette when it comes to fragrance,” with notes that land as deeply familiar here in ways they do not elsewhere.

The retail layer has been quietly doing its part too. Seinde Signature now runs fifteen branches carrying over forty niche houses, and it is where a great many of us met the category for the first time. Its founder Olufemi Olusola spent a year giving away more than 600 bottles purely to teach Nigerians what niche perfumery is, which tells you something about the size of the education problem. “We don’t sell based on brand names,” he has said. “We sell based on quality.”

The market is real. The education is nowhere near finished.

Which houses are already doing this?

Nine of them, and no two are attempting the same thing.

Beguile was founded in Nigeria in 2021 and now runs from bases there, in the UK, the US and Canada, with the fragrances developed in Dubai. It has taken the modern route, and the case rests on composition and performance. Mystique is the one most people arrive at first, a fruity floral that opens on bergamot and peach, turns velvety as plum and sandalwood come up under the rose and jasmine, then dries down into vanilla, tonka and amber. Reviewers report ten to twelve hours on skin. Sweet Oud is the heavier proposition, Goddess the lighter everyday one, and the rest of the line includes a separate range of oils and scents.

Most of the others work the other way round, starting from memory.

Ilé Olomu was founded by Bawo Ijirigho after fifteen years in Los Angeles music production. He named it in Yoruba rather than French: ilé means house, chosen instead of maison. Olomu was his great-grand uncle, a trader in nineteenth-century West Africa. He works with a Swiss perfumer on compositions built from green plantain, ginger and Milo, and Verdant, the plantain one, is what won in Athens. Nobody else is building perfume on that.

Yerwa Secrets takes its name from Yerwa, what Maiduguri people call Maiduguri. Fatima Babakura grew up there in a Kanuri household where incense burned twice a day, and started the business during lockdown. She took humra, normally sold in dropper bottles, and reworked it into a proper spray with presentation to match. She also makes incense that refuses to smell like incense, including a vanilla one. Orders come in from Mauritius and the UAE.

Catherine Omai built Contagious on a rarely extracted oud, with oakmoss and sandalwood underneath, and wrapped the bottle in aso-oke. In 2019 she took it to Pitti Fragranze in Florence, the trade fair the niche world treats as its fashion week, and became the first West African perfumer to exhibit there.

Then there are the ones building distribution.

Maison Yusif works out of a flagship store in Accra, with over twenty fragrances built around locally harvested frankincense, cocoa butter and Ghanaian peppercorns. Yusif Meizongo Jnr is the first West African perfumer certified by the International Perfume Foundation, and he ships worldwide from Ghana.

Scent of Africa is the most widely distributed house here, selling across half a dozen African markets, in airport duty free and on Ethiopian Airlines. Its founder Tanal Ghandour spent twenty years manufacturing cosmetics for the mass market in West Africa before launching a luxury brand out of Ghana.

Maya Njie is Swedish-born with Gambian roots, self-taught, working out of London since 2016. Her perfumes come from a family photo album from before she was born, and the question she puts to each photograph is what it smelled like. Aethi Opum runs black pepper and wet earth into thiouraye incense and suede. She rebuilt gowe seed as a perfumery material herself because nobody was using it.

Saint d’Ici makes botanical perfume in Cape Town with no synthetics at all. Marie Aoun left fashion to do it, and every bottle is blended and filled by hand. Her Magnolia takes its powderiness from omumbiri, the Namibian myrrh gathered from fallen resin.

Réserve en Afrique 1934 is named for the year the founders’ grandfather reached Senegal’s Sine-Saloum, where the family has worked on a protected forest ever since. It sources Madagascan vanilla, Somali opoponax and Nigerian ginger, and puts 5% of profits back into conservation. A Fragrantica reviewer at Pitti Fragranze last year called it a brand to watch.

Yerwa Secrets reworked humra into spray format out of Maiduguri, with orders arriving from the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Photo: @yerwasecrets

Who outside the continent is paying attention?

The trade fairs and the award panels, where the industry decides among itself what counts.

Paris Perfume Week this year was the loudest moment. Maison Yusif exhibited, the first niche house from Ghana ever to do so, and the delegation arrived in kente, agbada and fugu. France 24 put Meizongo on its live evening broadcast, believed to be a first for a Ghanaian perfumer, and he used the slot to argue that the industry has told its own history wrong: “perfumery did not begin in France. It was refined there.”

But the result that matters most came out of Athens.

On 11 June, the Institute for Art and Olfaction held the twelfth edition of its awards at a cultural centre in view of the Acropolis. Maya Njie won the Artisan category for Aethi Opum. Ilé Olomu’s Verdant took People’s Choice among the independents, shortlisted alongside houses from Vietnam, Taiwan, France and the United States.

The retail evidence is quieter and adds up more slowly. Contagious is in Saks. Liberty carries Maya Njie in London, independent perfumeries in New York, San Francisco and Paris carry the others, and Réserve en Afrique runs its own US site. Beguile sells direct in all four of its markets.

Maison Yusif’s delegation at Paris Perfume Week 2026, the first niche house from Ghana to exhibit there. Photo: Maison Yusif
What is the diaspora actually buying?

Take Aethi Opum, a Swedish-Gambian perfumer’s reading of her own family archive, made in London and judged in Athens by people who had never heard of her.

The 2022 American Community Survey counted around 712,000 US residents of Nigerian ancestry, up from roughly 25,000 in 1980. The UK census recorded about 293,600 Nigerian-born residents in 2021, and past half a million once British-born children are counted.

What these houses offer someone in that position is a way of showing up as yourself that requires no explanation from you. Fragrance is the only thing we wear that people notice before they see it. Someone with no interest in wearing print to a London office can wear a fragrance built on thiouraye incense to it, and nobody in the meeting needs to be told a thing.

A Zikoko review of Beguile’s Mystique this year made the same point in reverse. The big imported houses we all buy are composed around somebody else’s memories, so wearing one means “putting on someone else’s reference points.” A fragrance built closer to home asks less of the wearer, which is a small thing until you have spent years doing the translating.

Scent of Africa has said openly it is looking at the United States because of the size of the diaspora there. Yerwa Secrets fields orders from the Gulf. Beguile built bases in London and North America. These are not brands waiting to be found by our people abroad. They were built around them.

Is being African enough to sell a perfume?

No. A perfume with nothing going for it but origin gets bought exactly once.

Somebody buys from one of ours out of curiosity, or out of solidarity, and that first purchase is the easy one. Coming back is the real test, and it has nothing to do with where the bottle was made. It has to do with whether the thing lasted eight hours in real weather, whether the atomiser worked, whether the second bottle smelled like the first, and whether there was stock when they went looking.

That is why the Athens result carries more weight than any amount of press. The Art and Olfaction Awards are judged blind by an international panel of perfumers and critics, on technical and artistic merit alone. Aethi Opum and Verdant were not chosen for their passports.

The uncomfortable part is where these fragrances are actually composed. Ilé Olomu‘s are built in Zürich, Beguile’s in Dubai, Scent of Africa’s in France. Those are sensible decisions, and Swiss and French perfumery infrastructure is genuinely the best there is. But the romantic version of this story, the one where our houses compose our scents on our own soil, is not true yet. Most of what has been built so far is brand, story and distribution. The chemistry is the part still outsourced.

The record includes misses too. A reviewer of Catherine Omai’s Contagious Gold found the sillage soft and the longevity weak for the money. Being taken seriously includes being allowed to disappoint somebody.

The houses still standing in ten years will be the ones that solved the boring problems: consistent batches, packaging that survives shipping, enough stock to restock, distribution that does not depend on one person’s suitcase.

So where should you start?

Beguile’s Mystique is the easiest first buy, with Sweet Oud if you want performance and the oils if you prefer something that stays close. Ilé Olomu sells 30ml bottles and Verdant is the award winner. Maya Njie and Saint d’Ici both sell discovery sets, which is the sane way in. Maison Yusif ships worldwide from Accra. And if you would rather smell forty niche houses in an afternoon before spending anything, Seinde Signature has fifteen branches and no obligation to buy.

None of these houses needs us to root for them. They are on shelves, in databases and in front of blind judging panels already. The discovery everyone keeps predicting has been under way quietly for years. The only real question left is how long the rest of us take to catch up.

Sponsored Content

The post The World Is Starting to Discover African Fragrance appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Fola leads the 2026 Headies Awards nominations with 10 nods, including Next Rated and Album of the Year. Photo Credit: Fola/Instagram 

Fola is having quite the year. The Afro-R&B singer leads the nominations for the 18th Headies Awards with 10 nods, making him the most nominated artiste at this year’s ceremony. It is also his first time appearing on the Headies nomination list.

The singer, whose full name is Odunlami Afolarin Temiloluwa, has picked up nominations across several major categories following the release of his debut project, Catharsis. The album is up for Album of the Year and Best R&B Album, while Fola is also nominated for Next Rated, Best Male Artiste and Digital Artiste of the Year.

His hit single “You” adds three more nominations to his tally, with nods for Afrobeats Single of the Year, Best Recording of the Year and the fan-voted Headies Viewers’ Choice.

Fola is also recognised for his songwriting and collaborative work. “Who Does That?” earns him a nomination for Songwriter of the Year, while “Lost”, his collaboration with Kizz Daniel, is nominated for Best Collaboration.

The 10 nominations build on the momentum Fola has gained since earlier releases such as his breakout track “Alone” and the subsequent release of Catharsis, which introduced his sound to an even wider audience.

Now, with his first Headies nominations, Fola leads the 18th edition’s list ahead of several established names in Nigerian music. The ceremony is set to take place on October 25 in Toronto, Canada.

The post FOLA Is the Most Nominated Artiste at the 18th Headies With 10 Nods! appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

World No. 4 Coco Gauff celebrates her second Cincinnati Open victory.

Fresh off her victory at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, Coco Gauff has strengthened her position among the world’s best tennis players, retaining her place at No. 4 in the official Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings with 6,704 points. The 22-year-old American defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the final to claim her second Cincinnati title and fourth WTA 1000 trophy.

The victory also marks Gauff’s first title of the 2026 season and comes after a strong run in Cincinnati, where she dropped the opening set of her first match before winning 12 consecutive sets on her way to the trophy. She now joins Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka as the only women to have won the Cincinnati Open twice.

Coco Gauff celebrates her 12th career singles title at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

It is another significant chapter in a career that has moved quickly since Gauff first became a global tennis sensation as a teenager. Born Cori Dionne Gauff in Delray Beach, Florida, she has grown from a teenage prodigy into one of the leading names in women’s tennis, with major titles and consistent runs at the biggest tournaments now part of her résumé.

Gauff also comes from an athletic family. Her father, Corey, played college basketball at Georgia State University, while her mother, Candi, competed in college track and field at Florida State University. Beyond her achievements on the court, Gauff’s journey has resonated with many fans who see her success as part of the growing representation of Black women at the highest levels of global sport.

Coco Gauff marks her latest WTA 1000 triumph after securing the 2026 Cincinnati Open title.

At just 22, Gauff already has two Grand Slam singles titles to her name, winning the 2023 US Open before claiming the 2025 French Open. Her four WTA 1000 titles further underline her consistency at the sport’s highest level, and her latest Cincinnati triumph gives her added confidence heading into the US Open.

At the top of the current WTA rankings, Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka remains No. 1 with 8,575 points, followed by Elena Rybakina at No. 2 with 8,141 points and Pegula at No. 3 with 7,265 points. Gauff sits just behind them at No. 4 with 6,704 points, keeping her firmly among the players to watch as the season heads towards the US Open.

***
Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram 

The post Coco Gauff Is World No. 4 in Latest WTA Rankings After Winning Cincinnati Open appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Generated Illustration.

I am writing this from Dallas, which should probably disqualify me from writing it at all.

Last December, I sat at a send-off in Abakaliki. Jollof, a cooler of malt, an aunty crying in a way that was about ninety per cent joy. The pastor prayed for journey mercies. In the middle of it, I realised that if you removed every mention of Canada and put heaven in its place, nobody would have noticed. It was a funeral. A very happy funeral. We were burying a young man into a better life.

We call it japa. Nigerians have always given funny names to funerals.

Every airport photograph in this country is a celebration and an indictment at the same time. Every “congratulations bro” in the comments carries a question underneath it that everybody can hear. When will it be my turn? We have arranged our affairs so that escape looks like achievement, because staying has begun to look like a failure of nerve. We raise the child to love the country, then applaud him for successfully leaving it.

The dream has a foreign address now. It wears a winter jacket. Ask a young Nigerian where he sees himself in five years, and he will answer you with geography. Canada is a career plan. Britain is a prayer point. America is the answer to a question nobody wants to put to Nigeria directly.

None of this is hatred of home. Nobody hates the soil where his father is buried, or the language his mother used the first time she called him precious. What the young resent is smaller and more daily than hatred. It is the humiliation of belonging to a country that does not behave as though they belong to it. It is the bereavement of giving to a country that demands more than it gives.

Consider what citizenship costs in Nigeria. You buy your own light. You sink your own borehole. You settle the vigilante at the end of the street. You pay tax to the government and then pay a second time to replace the government. The state invoices you for services it did not render and asks for your patriotism as a tip. But a flag cannot employ a graduate. An anthem cannot bring down the price of a bag of rice. People love a country when they can live inside it without rehearsing survival every morning.

Instead, we have made a virtue of endurance. We praise resilience because justice would cost more. Naija no dey carry last, we say. Or maybe Naija does not carry last because Naija has spent sixty years running from collapse and has learned to call it a sprint. We didn’t even go to the World Cup.

The young have been watching all of it. Watching honesty become an economic disadvantage. Watching a first-class graduate queue for a job. Watching men of no visible profession build houses no salary can explain, and then receive chieftaincy titles for it. Watching a politician defend Nigerian hospitals from a hospital bed in London. After a while, even satire gets tired.

So Nigerians study escape the way we used to study for WAEC. He knows the visa categories better than the history of his own state. She has memorised the immigration rules like scripture, including the parts that changed last year. At midnight they compare proof of funds in WhatsApp groups, which agent is genuine, whose IELTS is expiring. God when. My testimony is next. E go reach everybody.

I want to be clear that I do not think leaving is a betrayal. No young person owes a country a wasted life. Migration is not a rejection of home and certainly not the body simply refusing to die where it was born.

But abroad runs its own theatre. Social media shows the snow, the gown, the first car. It does not show the Sunday afternoons. It does not show a man who arrived physically four years ago and is still trying to arrive emotionally, or the old self folding itself smaller to fit through the new door. You can leave Nigeria and spend every night of your life sending money back into it. Abroad is not heaven. It is a place where the dysfunction is less ambitious.

What is happening is not really a hunger for foreign soil. It is a hunger for systems that work. Nobody I know wants to become Canadian. They want the light to stay on and the police to be boring. A teacher raising her children without begging. A nurse who can enter a hospital without becoming its next patient. The right to be ordinary without being punished for it. Ordinary is what has become expensive in Nigeria. Only suffering is subsidised.

Can staying stop looking like failure, and leaving stop looking like resurrection? I do not know. I am, after all, writing from Dallas.

What frightens me is not the leaving. It is that those who stay or remain now envy the ones who go more than they miss them. It is that we have started measuring a life by its distance from home. Nigeria may go on existing long after the idea of belonging to it has quietly died. One day the last hopeful one will stand in front of the departure board with his passport in his hand, and we will ask him why he is leaving. He will be within his rights to ask us why the country left first.

After all, what is the Nigerian dream that precludes emigration?

The post UcheChukwu Agbo: What Is the Nigerian Dream Beyond Relocating Abroad? appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Yinka Quadri remembers his lifelong friend and brother Taiwo Hassan Ogogo following his passing at the age of 66. Photo Credit: Yinka Quadri/Instagram

For more than 40 years, Yinka Quadri and Taiwo Hassan, fondly known as Ogogo, shared a friendship that went far beyond the movie set. They were colleagues, close friends, brothers and, as many who knew them would say, almost inseparable. Following Ogogo’s passing, Yinka has now opened up about the friendship they built from the time they first met in 1984.

The Yoruba film industry and Nollywood audiences around the world have been mourning Ogogo, who passed away on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at the age of 66. Across a career spanning four decades, the veteran actor and filmmaker became known for his memorable performances, commanding screen presence and contribution to the growth of Yoruba-language cinema.

For Yinka, however, Ogogo was much more than a fellow actor. Their friendship began in 1984 and grew through years of working together, appearing in films and navigating the Nigerian film industry side by side. The pair were so close that they became known as heavenly twins born to different mothers.

In a personal tribute shared on social media, Yinka recalled the last time he saw Ogogo in hospital. He described struggling to hold back his tears when he saw his friend on his sickbed, only for Ogogo to reassure him.

Taiwo Hassan, I will never forget the last time I saw you at the hospital. You were lying on your sick bed, and when I saw you, I could not hold back my tears. You looked at me and said, ‘Yinka, don’t cry. Nothing bad will happen to me.’ I responded, ‘Yes, Amen.’

Industry veterans and fans pay tribute to veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, fondly known as Ògògó, following his passing.

He also remembered a small moment from that visit that gave him hope. Ogogo drank a bottle of water and asked the doctors around him to confirm that he had eaten earlier that morning. For Yinka, those ordinary details made the situation feel less frightening, even as he remained hopeful for his friend’s recovery.

Over the years, there were also rumours that the two actors had fallen out, but Yinka made it clear that their friendship was never defined by the speculation around them.

Neither of us ever went to the public to speak against the other. Whenever people heard rumours that we were fighting, they were only guessing. They never heard it from us… We have known each other since 1984, and with time, our friendship grew into something beyond ordinary friendship.

He recalled how people would sometimes expect to see tension between them whenever they arrived at the same event or worked on the same film, only to find them sitting together, laughing and catching up as they always had.

For Yinka, the loss is that of someone who was woven into so much of his life. In the closing lines of his tribute, he described Ogogo as his friend, brother, confidant and companion, while praying for his eternal rest and strength for his family and loved ones.

You were more than a friend to me. You were my brother, my confidant, and my companion… You may have left this world, but you will never leave my heart. May Almighty God forgive your sins, grant you eternal rest, and give your family, children, friends, and loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss.

With a career spanning over four decades, Ogogo leaves behind a rich legacy on screen. Fans will remember him for classic Yoruba titles like Owo Blow, Agbelebu, and Okan Soso, alongside modern favourites such as Omo Ghetto, Aníkúlápó, and the recent 2024 drama series Seven Doors. His contributions to Nigerian cinema will continue to inspire generations to come.

Yinka Quadri remembers his lifelong friend and brother Taiwo Hassan Ogogo following his passing at the age of 66.

The post “My Brother, My Confidant, My Companion”: Yinka Quadri Remembers Late Friend Taiwo “Ogogo” Hassan appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Joselyn Dumas attends Bozoma Saint John and Keely Watson’s Accra wedding in a handwoven Kente Kiosk gown styled by Quophi Akotuah.

Let us tell you one thing about Kente: it is colourful, regal, richly woven, deeply rooted in Ghanaian heritage and impossible to overlook when it is made into a beautiful custom creation. From its bold patterns and carefully woven motifs to the stories and traditions carried in every piece, Kente has a way of making an outfit feel deeply connected to its roots while still leaving plenty of room for contemporary styling.

Ghanaian actress, television host and producer Joselyn Dumas leaned into all of that for the traditional wedding of Bozoma Saint John and Keely Watson, choosing a striking custom look that placed Ghanaian craftsmanship right at the centre of her wedding guest style.

Joselyn Dumas wears purple eyeshadow and a short finger-wave bob to match her beaded Kente high-neck gown.

The couple celebrated their traditional nuptials on Friday, 21 August 2026, in Accra, Ghana. Bozoma Saint John, the global marketing executive, entrepreneur and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, married her partner, entrepreneur Keely Watson, at the Accra residence of former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo–Addo.

For the celebration, Joselyn wore a handwoven pink and blue Kente piece from Kente Kiosk, crafted into a custom creation by Ghanaian fashion brand Quophi Akotuah. The floor-length silhouette follows the body closely, with a high stand-up collar and cap sleeves giving the look a structured finish.

Joselyn Dumas wearing a custom Quophi Akotuah Kente dress paired with a beaded handbag for Bozoma Saint John and Keely Watson’s traditional wedding in Accra.

Teal pleated satin and micro-beading shape the upper portion, complete with a keyhole cutout, while the skirt brings together geometric Kente motifs in teal, magenta and silver. An asymmetric side slit adds movement to the fitted silhouette, with cascading magenta fringe tassels tracing its edge.

Joselyn Dumas pairs her Quophi Akotuah beaded Kente outfit with aqua teal satin mules for a traditional wedding celebration in Accra.

She carried the colour story through to her accessories, pairing the dress with aqua-teal satin heels and a transparent pink beaded tote. The result is a celebration-ready look that gives Kente the attention it deserves while allowing the modern construction and styling to speak alongside it.

***
Photo Credit: Joselyn Dumas/Instagram

The post Joselyn Dumas Wears Pink and Blue Kente to Bozoma Saint John’s Traditional Wedding in Accra appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Akin Faminu and Kiky Festus kick off their September 2026 wedding countdown with the first of four pre-wedding looks.

When two fashionable people are getting married, you already know the pre-wedding looks are going to be worth bookmarking for your own big day. Medical doctor and top menswear fashion influencer Akin Faminu is counting down to his wedding celebrations with dentist and fashion influencer Kiky Festus.

The couple, who had their civil wedding ceremony in April 2026, are now preparing for their main wedding celebrations in September, and they have started the countdown with a series of stylish pre-wedding looks.

Akin Faminu and Kiky Festus share an intimate moment during their pre-wedding photoshoot ahead of their September 2026 wedding.

For this shoot, the couple kept things beautifully coordinated in custom creations from two Nigerian fashion houses. Akin was dressed by menswear brand Deji & Kola in a dark forest-green three-piece suit layered beneath a floor-length velvet trench coat. The coat features wide textured lapels and turned-up cuffs, while a blush-pink dress shirt and matching bow tie add a softer touch to the look. He finished things off with a floral brooch and a pocket-watch chain running across his waistcoat.

Akin Faminu wears a custom Deji and Kola three-piece suit and velvet trench coat for his pre-wedding shoot.

Meanwhile, Kiky wore a bespoke creation by Firstlady, choosing a strapless blush-pink gown with structured corset boning and a sweetheart neckline. Soft draping runs along the side of the dress, flowing into a trailing train, while three-dimensional floral petals cascade down the front. She accessorised with a draped neck scarf, emerald drop earrings and a sleek high bow updo.

Kiky Festus wears a custom blush pink Firstlady gown for her first pre-wedding look with Akin Faminu.

And this is only one of four pre-wedding looks the couple have lined up. With their September wedding celebrations getting closer, there is clearly more fashion to come.

Akin Faminu and Kiky Festus coordinate in forest green and blush pink for their September 2026 wedding countdown.

Kiky Festus in a Firstlady blush gown and Akin Faminu in Deji and Kola tailoring pose on set for their pre-wedding shoot.

***
Photo Credit: Akin Faminu/Instagram

The post Akin Faminu & Kiky Festus Coordinate in Forest Green and Blush Pink for Their Pre-Wedding Shoot appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Bride and groom embracing outside a church on their wedding day. Photo credit: Jovelina Ferreira Silva/Pexels

Society has established a certain age by which women are expected to get married. As a woman, I have observed and experienced various situations that prompt me to write about this topic.

When a woman reaches her late twenties, the questions and confrontations begin: “You’re getting older. What are you waiting for? Do you have a partner?” By the time she turns 30 and beyond, these inquiries become more frequent, and people start to view her differently. As a woman approaches the end of her 30s, society often looks at her as if something must be wrong because she remains single.

But does age truly determine when someone should get married?

Age, as various experiences have revealed, is not what prepares one for marriage. You have to be psychologically, mentally and emotionally prepared because marriage is about two people coming together, each with different experiences and social ideologies. A person must first know they are ready and open to handling and living with someone else who has a different mental orientation, because that will inform how they communicate, listen, understand and respect each other. These are things that age alone cannot teach one.

People enter marriage carrying many scars and bruises from past relationships or childhood experiences—wounds they’ve not yet healed. These are issues they haven’t fully resolved or found clarity on within themselves, and things they haven’t forgiven themselves for. Yet, they bring these emotional scars into their marriage.

When they meet someone new, that partner has no connection to their past troubles, yet they often end up bearing the pain and burden of those unresolved conflicts. The person we marry inadvertently becomes the one who pays for the wrongs inflicted by those who hurt us before. This dynamic extends beyond just our partners, affecting the overall health of the relationship, like the children we bring into the world.

Everyone gives birth with the hope of raising them with love. We want to give them the kind of childhood we wished we had. We want to protect them from the things we went through. But because we have not healed ourselves, we end up raising them from a place of fear and hurt. We don’t want them to go through what we went through, so we become too protective. We become too controlling. We become emotionally unavailable. We become afraid of letting them experience certain things. And without even knowing it, we may end up giving them different scars from the ones we carried.

So, when we talk about marriage, we need to stop talking only about age. We have to assess experiences too.

We are very quick to ask a woman why she is still single, but we rarely ask what she has had to go through to get to where she is today. There is a saying that goes: a man doesn’t marry a woman simply because he is in love with her; a man gets married to a woman when he is ready to settle down with her.

A woman too doesn’t marry solely for love; she marries when she feels ready. While love is important, compatibility is often underestimated and mistakenly viewed as overrated. Being a good match with someone involves understanding, love, effective listening, communication, and mutual respect. Unfortunately, many of us enter relationships and marriages without these essential elements.

We often believe that if we love someone, everything else will fall into place. However, love doesn’t automatically teach us how to communicate effectively. It doesn’t provide the skills needed to resolve conflicts, respect boundaries, or heal the wounds we bring into the relationship.

I’m not a marriage expert, but as a woman, I believe that a peaceful, successful, and happy marriage requires at least one partner to be comfortable with themselves. It’s important to have self-awareness. You need to understand your emotions, as well as your mental and emotional state. This includes recognising what hurts you, what triggers you, and what burdens you carry. Additionally, you should be willing to work on these aspects of yourself.

It is someone who is mentally, psychologically, and emotionally secure and ready who can confidently say, “Yes, I am ready to build a life with this person.” Of course, being ready does not mean being perfect. Nobody is. But you should at least be aware of yourself, what you can tolerate or not, how to communicate, listen and respect another person. A girl in her 20s can possess these qualities, while an older, more mature woman may not necessarily have them.

The post Tochukwu Ekoh: Does a Woman’s Age Determine When She Gets Married? appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Victony releases his 15-track sophomore album STARLIFE featuring YKB, Blaqbonez, and contemporary Afropop sounds.

Need something new to listen to this week? We have got you. From Victony’s sophomore album STARLIFE and Niniola’s deeply personal Without You EP to new music from Yemi Alade, Faith Martins and FOLA, Nigerian artists are bringing plenty of new sounds to the table.

This week’s releases move between Afrobeats, Afro-house, soulful pop and more personal stories, giving you a little bit of everything depending on what you are in the mood to hear. Here are five new Nigerian songs and projects worth having on your radar this week.

Victony – Starlife

After the introspection of Stubborn and Very Stubborn, Victony takes a lighter, more danceable route on his sophomore album, StarLife. Across 15 tracks, he looks at life after the struggles and self-doubt that shaped his earlier work, this time making more room for the freedom, fun and possibilities that come with being a pop star.

The album still carries traces of the artist listeners have come to know, but there is more room here for movement and experimentation. From the title track featuring YKB and Blaqbonez to 2Fresh, Armed & Dangerous, Missin Piece, Fyne and Clear, Victony moves between Afropop, Brazilian funk and contemporary sounds while nodding to artists and influences from across African pop culture.

StarLife feels like Victony allowing himself to enjoy the life he has worked towards while also looking ahead to where Afropop could go next.

Niniola – Without You

Niniola takes a deeply personal turn with her four-track EP, Without You, created following the loss of her husband, partner and business manager, Michael. The singer channels memories, love, grief and everything she has struggled to put into words since his passing into the project.

“Pain”, the opening track, takes her back to moments she wishes she could forget and others she wishes she could relive. Across the EP, Niniola moves away from the dancefloor-focused sound often associated with her Afro-House catalogue, making room for soulful arrangements and more vulnerable songwriting. As she puts it, Without You is “my heart in music.”

Yemi Alade featuring Don Jazzy – Ala Bekee

What does Ala Bekee mean? The title comes from a popular Igbo expression referring to a foreign land or life abroad, and Yemi Alade and Don Jazzy build the song around that familiar idea of travelling overseas and the aspirations attached to it.

Yemi’s vocals sit at the centre of the Afropop production, while Don Jazzy brings his own conversational delivery to the collaboration. The result is a song that taps into a subject familiar to many Nigerians while keeping the sound rooted in contemporary African pop.

Faith Martins – Dájú

One of the newer voices to explore is Faith Martins, whose song Dájú draws from her love for Afro-soul and her Yoruba roots. The song grew from a simple but weighty reminder someone close to her once shared: “The world is wicked already. Control the things you can; please don’t die.”

That thought became the starting point for Dájú, as Faith turns a personal conversation into a song about holding on, navigating life and being mindful of what is within our control. With her background singing in a church choir and a songwriting process that often happens late at night, the emerging singer brings a personal touch to her sound while introducing herself to a wider audience.

FOLA – Attention

There is a familiar question at the heart of FOLA’s Attention: what happens when you really want someone to notice you? The singer explores attraction, uncertainty and the push-and-pull of modern romance over a smooth Afrobeats production.

The track leans on melodic vocals and a memorable hook, with FOLA keeping the delivery relaxed rather than overcomplicating the record. Following the growing interest around his music, Attention adds another romantic entry to his catalogue and gives listeners a closer look at the sound he is developing.

The post From Victony’s StarLife to FOLA’s Attention: 5 New Releases to Hear This Week appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Ayra Starr performing Heaven Baby live on stage at the All Points East 2026 festival in Victoria Park, London. Photo Credit: All Points East/Instagram

If Heaven Baby has had you hooked on repeat since it landed, wait till you watch how Ayra Starr made it even sweeter live on stage!

Taking over Victoria Park in London for the All Points East 2026 festival, the Nigerian singer brought her latest track to life in front of a massive crowd. Tapped as one of the standout performers of the day, Ayra gave fans a festival moment to remember.

The song itself is a standout track off her third studio album, Starrgirl, which officially hit streaming platforms on 14 August 2026. Heaven Baby brings together Ayra Starr and global pop sensation ZAYN for a smooth, romantic cross-genre collaboration that explores devotion, deep affection, and high-level romance.

Singer Ayra Starr holding her custom Starr Girl clutch while arriving at her third album listening party in Manhattan. Photo Credit: Ellie/Instagram 

During the London festival, Ayra delivered her vocals live while ZAYN’s pre-recorded feature video played across a large display screen right behind her. The backdrop showed the former One Direction star performing his verse directly into the camera, making the duet feel fully present in the park despite the physical distance.

Ayra stepped out in a futuristic two-piece set featuring structured metallic silver paneling with rich purple accents that perfectly align with the signature purple visual theme of the Starrgirl album era. The look paired a white bralette under silver-and-purple sculpted plates connected to a bold high-neck choker collar, alongside a matching striped mini skirt and knee-high metallic boots. Finishing the style, her hair was pulled back into an ultra-long high ponytail falling past her waist, complemented by glossy bronzed glam.

Watch below

The post Watch Ayra Starr Perform “Heaven Baby” Live at All Points East With ZAYN on Screen appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Life Lager Beer

Following the success of its first edition across Aba, Onitsha, and Enugu, the experience returns to five eastern regions and Port Harcourt with instant rewards, cash prizes, and a renewed focus on the moments that make drinking a bottle of Life beer worth remembering. Consumers visiting participating bars across these States can enjoy their Life Lager while standing a chance to receive airtime instantly, with bigger rewards of up to ₦250,000 in cash also available through the promotion.

The upgraded experience will run from August to November, with a draw held every Thursday to select three lucky winners. Enjoy a bottle of Life Beer, win instant airtime, and a raffle ticket for a chance to win N250,000.

The excitement is built around a simple idea: sometimes all it takes is one call to bring people together. Whether it is calling an old friend, inviting the group out, or checking in on someone who has been missed, Life Lager is giving consumers another reason to make that call and head to the bar. Reconnecting with old friends and creating lasting memories is made both deeply meaningful and exceptionally rewarding through the second edition.

Every evening, Flavour will also keep the excitement going with reminders at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM across participating regions, giving consumers another reason to round up their people, head out, and make the most of the evening at participating Life Lager outlets.

From spontaneous celebrations to unexpected wins, the experience is designed to add more excitement to nights out with friends. With rewards up for grabs throughout the promotion, every visit across the five eastern states and Port Harcourt offers another chance to be part of the excitement.

Speaking on “Back to Bar Experience 2.0,” Chukwuemeka Chieki, Brand Manager, Life Beer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said,

“This is about bringing people back to the moments that matter, the conversations, laughter, and unexpected memories that happen when people come together. With this second edition, we are giving consumers even more reasons to step out, make that call and reconnect, while adding rewards that make the experience more exciting. Life Lager has always believed that the best moments are shared, and Back to Bar 2.0 is our way of encouraging people to create more of them.”

Back to Bar 2.0 is ultimately about more than the rewards. It is about making room for connection again calling the people you have not seen in a while, meeting up after a long day, and creating the kind of memories that only happen when people come together.

So, make the call, gather your people, and head back to the bar. With Life Lager, your next evening out could qualify you for a draw to win the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira.

For more details on how to participate and stand a chance to win, follow Life Lager Beer across its social media platforms at @lifelager_ng. Stay connected for updates, promotion details, and more exciting moments from Back to Bar 2.0.

Sponsored Content

The post Life Lager Returns with Back to Bar 2.0, Giving Consumers More Reasons to Celebrate appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

FOLA and Davido lead 2026 Headies nominations with 10 and 8 nominations respectively.

The 18th Headies Awards will be held in Canada on October 23, 2026, and the organisers have announced the nominees for this year’s ceremony. As expected, some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars and emerging acts feature across the various categories, with several artists earning multiple nominations for their work over the past year.

These are the nominees for the 2026 Headies Awards:

Next Rated

• Fido
• FOLA
• Llona
• Mavo
• Shoday

Song of the Year

• Arike — Kunmie
• Hey Jago — Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago
• Hot Body — Ayra Starr
• Joy Is Coming — Fido
• MMS — Asake & Wizkid
• With You — Davido & Omah Lay

Best Female Artiste

• Ayra Starr
• Qing Madi
• Sewa
• Tems
• Teni
• Tiwa Savage

Best Male Artiste

• Adekunle Gold
• Asake
• FOLA
• Mavo
• Rema
• Wizkid
• Burna Boy

Afrobeats Album of the Year

• 5ive — Davido
• Captain — BNXN
• Clarity of Mind — Omah Lay
• Fuji — Adekunle Gold
• Morayo — Wizkid
• No Sign of Weakness — Burna Boy

Album of the Year

• Morayo – Wizkid
• Clarity of Mind – Omah Lay
• Catharsis – FOLA
• This One is Personal – Tiwa Savage
• G.O.A.T – Erigga
• No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy
• The Machine is Coming – Odumodublvck

Best Performer (Live)

• Adekunle Gold — Live at the National Theatre, Lagos
• Asake — Red Bull Symphonic
• Ayra Starr — Global Citizen Festival 2025
• Johnny Drille — Johnny’s Room Live 6
• Ruger — Live at Indigo @ The O2, London (2025)

Digital Artiste of the Year

• Asake
• Ayra Starr
• BNXN
• Chella
• FOLA
• Mavo
• Seyi Vibez
• Wizkid

Best Rap Album

• GOAT – Erigga
• No Excuses – Blaqbonez
• King – Jeriq
• GE3 (The Beginning) – A-Q
• The Machine is Coming – Odumodublvck
• Black Sheepizen – Tuff King

Rookie of The Year

• Danpapa GTA
• Firstklaz
• Amma
• No11
• Kidd Carder
• Priesst
• OG Abbah

Best Recording of the Year

• Arike — Kunmie
• How Do You? — Amaeya
• Baby (Is It a Crime) — Rema
• Coping Mechanism — Omah Lay & Elmah
• With You — Davido & Omah Lay
• You — FOLA

Best Original Song For Visual Media

• All My Love — Osas Okonyon & Abbey Wonder, from Evi
• Behind the Scenes — Funke Akindele & Tolu Obanro, from Behind the Scenes
• Save Me — Oscar Heman-Ackah & 2Baba, from To Kill a Monkey
• Only in Lagos — WurlD & Liya, from Christmas in Lagos

Songwriter of the Year

• Adekunle Gold — Many People
• Victony — Cough Syrup with BNXN
• Wizard Chan — Time Traveller
• FOLA — Who Does That?
• Kunmie – Arike
• Amaeya — How Do You?

Best R&B Single

• 6:35 — Layefa
• How Do You? — Amaeya
• I Love You — Amma
• What You Need — Tems
• Winter & Summer — Magixx
• You4Me — Tiwa Savage

Best Rap Single

• 2:02 PM in London — Odumodublvck
• ACL — Blaqbonez
• Man2Man — Dremo
• Moshood — PDSTRN
• Nkemakonam — Tuff King
• Wuse Tu — Zaylevelten, Mavo
• John Wick — Zhus Jdo

Best Alternative Song

• CYK Baddie — Luwa.mp4 ft Jeleel!
• Lagos Lovin — Sewa
• Oliver — Wizard Chan
• Omo to Sexy — BLNDE
• Prada Baby — Wavestar
• Sweet Danger — Obongjayar
• Summer Adina — Chief Priest ft BoyPee & Zoro Swagbag

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

• Layefa — 6:35
• Amaeya — How Do You?
• Sewa — Lagos Lovin
• Qing Madi — Scum Bag
• Liya — Skin to Skin
• Tiwa Savage — You4Me

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

• Adekunle Gold — I’m Not Done
• Flavour — Orente
• Magixx — Winter and Summer
• Odeal — Patience
• Syemca — Love Egbugomo
• Tay Iwar — Bad Belle

Best R&B Album

• Before We Became Strangers — Kunmie
• Catharsis — FOLA
• I Am the Blueprint — Qing Madi
• Love Is a Kingdom — Tems
• Reflection Station — Tay Iwar
• This One Is Personal — Tiwa Savage

Best Alternative Album

• Afrika Magik — SDC
• Detox — Sewa
• Duplicity — BOJ
• Healers Chapel — Wizard Chan
• Olorin Pack — Scottyolorin
• Then 1t Got Crazy — Zaylevelten

Producer of the Year

• Magicsticks
• P.Priime
• Ragee
• Sarz
• Tempoe

Music Video of the Year

• Director Pink, for 10 Kilo by Davido
• Dammy Twitch, for With You by Davido
• TG Omori, for Afroculture by Flavour ft Baaba Maal
• Jyde Ajala, for Olamide and Wizkid’s Kai!
• DK, for Bundle by Bundle by Burna Boy

Best Collaboration

• CKay ft Mavo — Body (Danz)
• Mavo ft Wavestar — Escaladizzy
• Poco Lee, Shoday & Rahman Jago — Hey Jago
• FOLA ft Kizz Daniel — Lost
• Odumodublvck ft Victony — Pity This Boy
• Davido ft Omah Lay — With You
• Mr Eazi and King Promise — See What We’ve Done
• Chief Priest ft Spyki — Finally

Best Street-Hop Artiste

• Famous Pluto — Na Scra
• Kashcoming — All My Money
• Poco Lee — Hey Jago ft Shoday and Rahman Jago
• Seyi Vibez — Shaolin
• Shallipopi — Laho
• Tuff King — Nkemakonam
• Rybeena — Gaddem ft Shoday

Afrobeats Single of the Year

• Fun — Rema
• Jogodo — Asake & Wizkid
• Laho — Shallipopi
• With You — Davido & Omah Lay
• You — FOLA
• Bundle by Bundle — Burna Boy

Lyricist on the Roll

• Blaqbonez — ACL
• Dremo — Man2Man
• Modenine — If You Like Gym with Odumodublvck
• PDSTRN — Moshood
• Ycee — Man2Man (Ycee Remix) with Dremo

Best Inspirational Single

• Amioluwa — Sunmisola Agbebi ft Yinka Okeleye
• Favour — Lawrence Oyor
• Idinma (You Are Good) — Sinach
• Korin Iyin (I Will Praise You) — EmmaOMG
• No Turning Back 2 — Gaise Baba ft Lawrence Oyor
• We Move — Mercy Chinwo

Headies Viewers’ Choice

• Ayra Starr — Hot Body
• Davido — With You ft Omah Lay
• Rema — Baby (Is It a Crime)
• FOLA — You
• Wizkid — Jogodo with Asake
• Kunmie — Arike
• Mavo —Escaladizzy ft Wavestar

Best West African Artiste (Non-Nigerian)

• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
• KiDi (Ghana)
• King Promise (Ghana)
• Moliy (Ghana)
• Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
• Stonebwoy (Ghana)

Best East African Artiste

• Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
• Bien (Kenya)
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Harmonize (Tanzania)
• Joshua Baraka (Uganda)

Best North African Artiste

• Balti (Tunisia)
• Dystinct (Morocco)
• Marwan Moussa (Egypt)
• Soolking (Algeria)
• Tul8te (Egypt)

Best Central African Artiste

• Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
• Ferré Gola (DR Congo)
• Héritier Watanabe (DR Congo)
• Hiro (DR Congo)
• Innoss’B (DR Congo)
• Locko (Cameroon)

BEST AFRICAN DIASPORA-CANADIAN ARTISTE

• Debby Friday — Lipsync
• Tôme — CC ft Alpha P
• Bolu Ajibade — Diana with Friyie
• Nonso Amadi — Dive In
• Rooky Kamiz — Deeper
• Tobi — Out the Mud

International Artiste of the Year

• Ciara
• Dave
• Gunna
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Shenseea

Read more on the 2026 Headies Awards here.

The post FOLA, Davido, Wizkid & Omah Lay Lead 2026 Headies Nominations | See The Full List appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Colleagues and fans mourn the passing of Ògògó, celebrating his decades of iconic performances on screen.

As a child who didn’t grow up watching many movies, certain names in the film industry were inescapable. No matter how little exposure you had to films, your friends in the neighbourhood would share the names or pictures of actors who dominated Nigerian screens, either by the popularity of their characters or by the names they had become known for. Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, was one of them. Anytime I had the chance to watch a film at a neighbour’s house, I would always ask, “Can we watch an Ogogo film?” It didn’t matter what role he played, as long as he was in it.

Memory doesn’t serve me as well as it used to, so I can no longer remember the roles he played in many of the films I watched. But his charisma, and the image he carried with him, remain permanently sealed in the house of memories. There was Ogogo the boxer. Ogogo the handsome man. Ogogo the friend of Yinka Quadri. And, of course, Ogogo the actor.

The Nigerian film industry has been in mourning since the news broke that Taiwo Hassan had passed away. Once again, the industry has lost one of its most decorated legends — an actor whose presence helped make Nigerian films appealing to generations of viewers.

To explore the life, times and legacy of this Nollywood icon, I invited people who knew and admired him to share their memories of Taiwo Hassan.

‘Yemi Ajala

Taiwo Hassan did not merely act in the Yoruba film tradition. He carried its ghosts, stagecraft, humour and immense populist imagination across generations. For many of us, he arrived not just as a name or even a face, but as a force that showed the very ethos of Omoluabi, especially restraint of physical prowess in the face of multiple alternatives. When Ogogo entered a scene, something happened to the air. A gathering of the brows. A voice that could turn an ordinary Yoruba sentence into a warning from the ancestors. Villain, patriarch, wounded man, fearsome presence, he understood something beyond fame.

He understood presence.

And that is his place in the story of Yoruba cinema. Ogogo belonged to the generation that helped carry a great tradition from the travelling theatre to television, celluloid, VHS, VCD, YouTube and streaming. He stood in a river that began long before him, with the great Yoruba theatre pioneers, but he became one of its strongest currents.

He was also a product of the Odunfa Caucus, that influential creative fraternity that nurtured actors and helped turn Yoruba popular theatre into a modern screen industry. We like to celebrate individual genius. We often forget the rehearsal rooms, friendships and communities that made the genius possible.

But we knew Ogogo. He became part of our cultural furniture. His voice, expressions and archetypes travelled into music, comedy, memes and everyday language. This is why Burna Boy, and perhaps even Toni Braxton, should cut his family a cheque. It is a cultural invoice. That we must do right by all even when we can get away with doing wrong. This was Ogogo’s character’s main driving force, and even himself in real life.

It comes from a perfect understanding that death, after all, is the ultimate breakfast.

Rest well, legend.

‘Dami Ajayi

Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan has passed away. Aged 66, he was a pioneer of the travelling theatre, a bona fide member of the Odufa Caucus, whose work contributed to the transition to home videos, which reached peak popularity in the 90s and 00s.

Renowned in his earlier career for poetic recitals, he entered our lives through TV as a fine boy actor, Ogogo, with a dapper dress sense and stoic manners. In every film, about five minutes was reserved for him to lose his temper. His best role, in my opinion, was as the adult protagonist/antihero in Tade Ogidan’s 90s masterpiece Owo Blow. Something of a Robin Hood character, Owolabi remains legible in the Nigerian collective imagination. Check out Olamide’s 2016 song, Owo Blow, and Burna Boy’s Last Last, which playfully extrapolate those words from one of Ogogo’s characters. God rest his soul and comfort his family and colleagues.

Murtala B. Fuad

This news still feels like an absolute dream. Before all these new-school Nollywood actors came on the scene, Ogogo was one of the biggest fan favourites in the early 2000s. And I was one of his biggest fans.

The first Ogogo film I watched was Egbin Ara in 2009. I loved the movie so much that I literally crammed most of his lines. My siblings and I would recreate scenes from the movie during our playtime. We would act like Ogogo and the other characters, repeating the lines and trying to copy his mannerisms. That was how much we loved Ogogo in my house.

As the years went by, Ogogo became one of those actors you could never ignore. He had a way of making his characters feel real. His acting, his voice, his presence and even the way he delivered his lines made him stand out. As Olamide said in one of his songs, “Action pọ̀ bi Ogogo.” And honestly, that line says a lot. Ogogo always brought serious action.

He also gave us the famous “Last Last Breakfast” slang, which became so popular that even Burna Boy used “Last Last” as the title of one of his biggest songs.

But beyond all these, Ogogo was a hero to me. His movies were part of my childhood. His lines became part of our playtime. His work created memories that I will always remember. Hearing the news was really painful.

Ogogo, thank you for the memories. Thank you for giving us characters and moments we will never forget. May Allah SWT forgive your shortcomings and grant you Al-Jannatul Firdaus. May Allah also give your family, friends, colleagues and everyone who loved you the strength to bear this loss.

Rest well, Ogogo.

The post “Action Pọ̀ Bi Ogogo”: Remembering the Life and Times of Taiwo “Ogogo” Hassan appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

On Saturday, 18th July 2026, Oriflame Nigeria welcomed over 800 guests to Marcelina’s Place, Lagos, for the second edition of Oriflame SkinFest, a vibrant celebration of beauty, wellness, education, and community.

Centered around the theme “Integrative Beauty,” SkinFest 2026 went beyond traditional skincare conversations to explore how healthy skin is influenced by the choices we make every day from the products we use and the food we eat to the lifestyle habits we cultivate.

Bringing together skincare enthusiasts, wellness advocates, healthcare professionals, beauty experts, Brand Partners, and guests from across Nigeria, the event showcased Oriflame’s philosophy of helping people carve their unique path to wellbeing.

A Beauty Experience from the Moment Guests Arrived

Guests were welcomed into an immersive beauty experience where they explored interactive product stations featuring Oriflame‘s latest innovations and best-selling collections.

From elegant fragrances like Divine Dark Velvet and the newly launched Mister Giordani Gold Eau de Parfum and Miss Giordani Gold Eau de Parfum, to personal care favourites such as Feminelle, wellness solutions from Wellosophy, and Oriflame‘s advanced Novage+ skincare range, attendees had the opportunity to touch, test and experience the products firsthand.

One of the biggest attractions throughout the day was the Novage+ Digital Skin Diagnostic Tool, where guests received personalised skin analyses and recommendations tailored specifically to their skin concerns. Instead of relying on guesswork or social media trends, attendees left with a clearer understanding of what their skin truly needed.

The event was also attended by the management team of Oriflame Nigeria, including Nikola Baroli, Oriflame Nigeria’s Managing Director; Adesewa Okeyinka, Marketing and Sales Support Manager; Oluseyi Abiri, Operations Manager; and Oyindamola Tella, Operations Manager, who joined guests and Brand Partners in experiencing the celebration of beauty, wellness and self-care.

Setting the Tone for the Day

The official programme commenced with a welcome address from Oriflame Nigeria‘s Marketing and Sales Support Manager, Adesewa Okeyinka, who warmly welcomed guests to SkinFest 2026.

She spoke about Oriflame‘s commitment to empowering people through beauty, wellness, education, and entrepreneurship, while encouraging everyone to embrace beauty as a lifestyle rooted in healthy habits rather than unrealistic beauty standards.
Her address perfectly introduced the day’s theme Integrative Beauty where beauty is viewed as the connection between skincare, wellness, confidence, nutrition, self-care, and healthy living.

Learning the Science Behind Great Skin

The first educational sessions were led by Oriflame Top Brand Partners, who guided guests through practical skincare education while simplifying the science behind achieving healthy-looking skin.

Rather than focusing on complicated routines, they encouraged attendees to first understand their skin before choosing products.

The sessions explored the advanced skincare science behind Novage+, introducing guests to innovative technologies including Bio Lumilock, Aspatrolift, Bio Sebum Control, and Bio Collagen Pro, each designed to target different skincare concerns such as uneven skin tone, dullness, excess oil, fine lines, and loss of firmness.

Guests were also introduced to the newly launched Novage+ Proceuticals 10% Niacinamide Power Drops, learning how its powerful formulation helps improve skin texture, visibly brighten the complexion, support the skin barrier, and reduce the appearance of pores, making it a versatile addition to many skincare routines.

Throughout the sessions, one message remained clear: skincare is not about changing who you are it’s about understanding your skin and giving it the care it deserves.

Healthy Smiles Complete Healthy Living

Continuing the morning’s conversations around holistic wellness, Dr. Chidera Nyingifa, a certified dentist, took the stage to speak about an area of beauty that is often overlooked oral health.

Dr. Chidera Nyingifa delivered an insightful session on oral health, sharing practical tips for maintaining healthy teeth and gums while emphasizing the connection between oral hygiene, overall wellbeing, and confidence. She also spotlighted the Oriflame Optifresh range including the Pro White Toothpaste, Maximum Fresh Toothpaste, and Sensitive Toothpaste reinforcing the message that beauty and wellness go beyond skincare.

Discovering Oriflame’s Latest Innovations

Guests were then taken on an exciting journey through Oriflame‘s newest beauty innovations by Oriflame Product Specialist, Awa Irene.

She introduced the science, inspiration and benefits behind the latest launches, including the Novage+ Proceuticals 10% Niacinamide Power Drops, the sophisticated Mister Giordani Gold and Miss Giordani Gold Eau de Parfum, the nourishing Milk & Honey Gold Shampoo and Conditioner, the glossy The ONE Hydrating Shine Lip Gloss, the volume-enhancing The ONE WonderLash XXL Mascara, and the Optifresh oral care range.

Guests gained a deeper appreciation of the research and innovation behind each product and how they fit into a complete beauty and wellness routine.

Real Stories. Real Transformations.

One of the most inspiring moments of the day came from Rachael Udenkwo, Oriflame Face of Nigeria 2026, who shared her “Glow Up with Oriflame” journey.

She spoke candidly about embracing healthier habits and how incorporating Wellosophy Meal Replacement into her lifestyle supported her weight management journey, boosted her confidence, and encouraged her to make healthier choices every day.
Her testimony reminded guests that true transformation happens through consistency and self-care not shortcuts.

Panel Session One: Understanding Your Skin at Every Stage

The first panel discussion was moderated by Oriflame Product Specialist, Awa Irene, and featured an esteemed lineup of speakers, including Kunle Remi—award-winning actor, one of Nigeria’s most recognizable screen talents, and Oriflame Brand Ambassador; Dr. Adefunke Arowolo, a medical doctor and Health Educator; Dr. Peter Odunuyi, a Chemical Pathologist in Metabolic Medicine  and lifestyle enthusiast; and Loretta Kama, an Oriflame Top Leader.

The conversation focused on understanding the skin through different stages of life and explored how age, hormones, lifestyle, nutrition, stress, and environmental factors influence skin health. Panelists also challenged common skincare myths while encouraging attendees to choose products based on their individual skin needs rather than social media trends.

Speaking during the session, Dr. Adefunke Arowolo emphasized the importance of adapting skincare routines as the skin changes over time. She noted that “as you grow older, your skincare should grow with you,” highlighting the need for skincare to evolve with age and recommending anti-ageing solutions such as the Novage+ range to help address changing skin concerns.

Dr. Peter Odunuyi also shed light on the dangers of using harmful and unregulated skincare products, explaining how certain ingredients and practices can damage the skin barrier, trigger long-term skin concerns and compromise overall skin health. He encouraged attendees to prioritize safe, quality skincare products and make informed choices when building their skincare routines.

Kunle Remi highlighted the growing importance of skincare for men, encouraging more men to take an active interest in caring for their skin. He noted that skincare is not exclusive to women but an essential part of overall grooming, wellness and self-care for everyone.

It was an insightful conversation that helped guests better understand that great skincare starts with knowledge.

Panel Session Two: Beauty Starts from Within

The second panel session was moderated by Oriflame Commercial Planner Buhari Memunat, who was joined by Dr. Adefunke Arowolo, Dr. Peter Odunuyi, Kunle Remi, and Oriflame Top Brand Partner Iniye Emelife.

This session focused on the power of holistic wellness and the impact that everyday lifestyle choices can have on overall health, confidence, and wellbeing.

A standout moment was hearing Iniye Emelife’s inspiring wellness journey. Through consistency, healthier habits, and the support of the Oriflame Wellosophy Meal Replacement, Iniye achieved a remarkable weight-loss transformation that has positively impacted her overall health, energy levels, and quality of life. Her story served as a powerful reminder that wellness is a journey, and that caring for the body from within can lead to lasting, visible results.

The session beautifully reinforced the principle of Integrative Beauty that true confidence and radiant skin begin with a healthy body and balanced lifestyle.

A Journey of Transformation

Following the second panel discussion, Oriflame Top Leader Damilola Adeniji took to the stage to share her own “Glow Up with Oriflame” story.

She opened up about her struggles with weight management and how embracing healthier habits, alongside the support of Wellosophy Meal Replacement, helped her achieve her desired weight and build greater confidence.
Her story resonated deeply with the audience, serving as a powerful reminder that lasting transformation comes through consistency, patience, and choosing a healthier lifestyle.

Ending on a High Note

To round off the event, another exciting round of games brought smiles, laughter, and plenty of excitement to the audience.
Guests enthusiastically participated, with winners receiving Oriflame goodie bags, ending the day on a joyful and memorable note.

Thank You for Making SkinFest 2026 Unforgettable

SkinFest 2026 was far more than a skincare event.

It was a celebration of Integrative Beauty, bringing together skincare science, wellness, nutrition, oral care, fragrance, personal care, expert knowledge, technology, and inspiring real-life stories under one roof.

To our over 800 guests, distinguished speakers, healthcare professionals, Brand Partners, volunteers, beauty experts, and every member of the Oriflame community who made SkinFest 2026 possible thank you.

Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and passion transformed this year’s event into an unforgettable celebration of beauty and wellness.
As we reflect on another successful edition, one thing is certain, SkinFest has become more than an event. It has become a movement that inspires people to embrace beauty from the inside out.

Keep glowing. Keep growing. Keep reaching your happy place with Oriflame.

Follow Oriflame Nigeria on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp Channel for live updates on Oriflame SkinFest 2026.

Sponsored Content

The post Oriflame SkinFest 2026: Celebrating Integrative Beauty From The Inside Out appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

BBNaija Season 11 Week 4 recap powered by Minimie Chin Chin.

Ladies and gentlemen, Week 4 was a lot! When we say it was a lot, we mean voluntary exits, housemates hiding cutlery, a massive ₦5 million hit to the grand prize, and high-stakes nomination twists—and we have got the full rundown for you. You already know that to truly enjoy a recap this packed, you need something to keep your mouth moving and your stomach happy, so grab a pack of Minimie Chin Chin to munch on while we dive into all the drama brought to you by the brand.

Neche’s Sudden Departure

The week opened on a heavy note when Neche made the decision to voluntarily step away from the game on Day 22 to attend to urgent personal matters. Her sudden exit left a noticeable void in the house. Goddessa admitted everyone still half-expected her to walk back through the doors, while Cassi, Ricky, and Yusuf openly shared how much they missed her presence.

Bells and Yusuf reacting to Ebuka’s questions on the BBNaija Season 11 Week 4 live show.

Abi’s High-Stakes Reign and the Veto Twist

Girl power remained supreme in the arena as Abi claimed the Head of House title after outlasting Ricky, Tram, and Chimsom Chuka across a series of puzzle, painting, and memory challenges. Chimsom picked up immunity for finishing as the runner-up alongside Abi’s team members.

However, Biggie brought an unexpected curveball during Conspiracy Hour. After Abi’s team voted to save Bells and Bluethopia, Biggie used a Diary Room twist to force Abi into using her HoH Veto power. She was forced to swap those two saved housemates for three members of her own team, ultimately placing Aikou, Araga, and Yusuf straight onto the nomination list.

Cassi awaits the eviction results during the BBNaija Season 11 Week 4 live show.

Rule Violations and Missing Cutlery

After weeks of keeping the grand prize intact, repeated transgressions finally caught up with the house. Big Brother deducted ₦5 million from the pot, bringing the final prize down to ₦95 million. Reactions inside the house were instantly split: Ricky nonchalantly shrugged off the loss, whereas Sheba was visibly gutted by the drop in stakes. As if financial loss was not enough, kitchen chaos erupted when Araga discovered that every single piece of cutlery had vanished. With housemates forced to eat cereal and meals with their hands, suspicion initially fell on Abi—only for Oyin to quietly return the hidden stash to the kitchen a few days later.

Abi serves as the Week 4 Head of House on Big Brother Naija Season 11.

Garden Feuds and Creative Triumphs

The cutlery mystery was mild compared to the flare-up between Chimsom Chuka and Oyin. After Chimsom started jumping on the garden bed while Oyin was trying to sleep, she retaliated by pouring water all over his bed inside the room. The back-and-forth escalated until Abi stepped in to calm Chimsom down, leading him to admit in the Diary Room that he had let pettiness get the better of him.

Despite the internal friction, Team Chao Artics—comprising Abi, Aikou, Araga, Barry, Flora, Keivo, Oyin, Ricky, Sheba, and Yusuf—managed to pull together to win the weekly art-showcase wager against Team ISU, securing a fresh stash of BB Bucks. The artistic momentum continued with an “Imagining Big Brother” canvas task, before Cassi took top honours at the Friday Night Arena Games, just edging out Chimsom Chuka.

Barry and Temi Nkem seated together during the BBNaija Season 11 Week 4 live eviction broadcast.

Spilling Tea on the Anonymous Hot Seat

Things topped off with an Anonymous Hot Seat game where secrets spilled fast. Aikou named his top favourite and least favourite housemates in one breath, Yusuf addressed those persistent romance rumours regarding Bells, and Ricky dismantled the dynamic between Goddessa and Araga by declaring that no real relationships exist inside the house.

Yusuf stands on the nomination block during the BBNaija Season 11 Week 4 live eviction show.

Cassi Bids Farewell on Live Eviction Night

Sunday’s live eviction show brought the ultimate climax. Ebuka Obi–Uchendu arrived in style to turn up the heat, questioning Abi about selecting Cassi as her unofficial deputy over Chimsom Chuka, and pressing Barry on where he really stands in his dynamic with Goddessa and Araga. After giving Araga, Gerard, and Tram a nerve-wracking fake eviction scare, Ebuka delivered the real outcome: Cassi became the sole housemate evicted in Week 4.

Cassi will take his acting career more seriously moving forward.

Good luck, Cassi. We’re rooting for you.#BBNaijaS11 #BNxBBNaija11 #BBNaija pic.twitter.com/I1ZTxE0LHI

— BellaNaija (@bellanaija) August 23, 2026

Reflecting on his journey, Cassi shared that he took the experience step-by-step amidst shifting emotions, confirming his plans to focus entirely on his acting career moving forward. Abi capped off an exceptional week by being named the Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW), taking home immunity.

Here’s how you voted for the housemates last week!#BBNaijaS11 #BNxBBNaija11 #BBNaija pic.twitter.com/XXgOzNRL4V

— BellaNaija (@bellanaija) August 23, 2026

With another week wrapped up, the game is getting tighter, the stakes are rising, and the strategy is only getting deeper. If you enjoyed this recap, we bet you’re going to come back for the Week 5 recap—and we bet you’re going to need even more Minimie Chin Chin, because the show is getting hotter by the day!

***

Stay tuned for the recap of Week 5, brought to you by Minimie Nigeria. Don’t forget to connect with Minimie Nigeria across all social platforms so you never miss a moment of the fun!

• Instagram: @MinimieNigeria and @Minimienoodles
• Facebook: @Minimie Nigeria
• TikTok: @Minimie_nigeria
• X (Twitter): @MinimieNigeria

The post From Neche’s Exit to Cassi’s Eviction: Here’s Everything That Went Down in BBNaija Week 4 appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Chimsom Chuka emerges as Big Brother Naija Season 11 Head of House for the second time in Week 5.

Chimsom Chuka has done it again! The 27-year-old pharmacist and actor is once again Head of House after winning the Week 5 arena challenge on Monday, becoming the first housemate this season to claim the title twice.

And this is not Chimsom’s first time at the top. He opened the season as the very first Head of House in Week 1, and now, several weeks later, he has found his way back into the leadership seat.

The Anambra State native has had quite the run in the Big Brother Naija house so far. Outside Biggie’s house, Chimsom is a registered pharmacist and professional actor, and viewers got to see that mix of confidence and composure come into play once again during Monday’s challenge.

His second Head of House win comes with some very useful perks. Chimsom is safe from the upcoming nominations, gets BB Bucks to spend when the BB Marketplace opens, and will have a say in how things are organised in the house for the week.

There is one catch, though: winning Head of House does not automatically mean moving into the famous Head of House Loft this season. Access is decided by lucky dip, so Chimsom will have to leave that particular privilege to chance.

When he won the title in Week 1, the loft went to Tram through the lucky draw, with Sheba joining her in the luxury space. This time around, Chimsom already has the most important part secured: he is safe from eviction.

Now that he has picked up his second Head of House win, it will be interesting to see how Chimsom uses his position as the house settles into another week of nominations, strategy and shifting alliances.

The post Chimsom Chuka Wins BBNaija Week 5 Head of House Title to Score His Second Win appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Romanda Hombir (Miss World South Africa 2026), Fatoumata Diop (Miss World Senegal 2026), and Tamunosoye Karibi-George (Miss World Nigeria 2026) represent their nations at the 73rd Miss World Festival in Vietnam.

Vietnam is currently playing host to women from around the world as the Miss World 2026 Festival gets into full swing, with 24 African contestants in the mix. Representing countries across West, East, Central, North and Southern Africa, these women are bringing much more than their pageant credentials to the competition.

Since the festival began on 9 August, the contestants have already taken part in the Sash Ceremony in Haiphong, the Top Model challenge at Dragon Beach Square, the Sports Challenge and several other activities ahead of the grand finale on 5 September in Nha Trang.

With the competition for the official Top 40 underway, Africa’s delegates have plenty to introduce themselves through. There are entrepreneurs, students, medical professionals, models, advocates and creatives among them, each with a cause or ambition that goes beyond the pageant stage.

Here are the 24 African women representing their countries at Miss World 2026:

Botswana: Ruth Thomas

Working as a professional Beauty Advisor in Masunga, 24-year-old Ruth Thomas centers her personal mission on building self-confidence and self-expression among young people across her home country

Ruth Thomas, Miss World Botswana 2026.

Cameroon: Raissa Noura Njikam

Born and raised in Yaoundé, 26-year-old Raissa Noura Njikam channels her entrepreneurial background into humanitarian action. She serves as the founder and president of the NOUNJI Foundation, an initiative established to support women and youth affected by violence.

Miss World Cameroon 2026 Raissa Noura Njikam

Côte d’Ivoire: Fatima Koné

Hailing from Bouaké, 23-year-old Fatima Koné balances her academic pursuits and modeling career with youth advocacy. She is currently building a business incubator framework designed to mentor early-stage entrepreneurs.

Fatima Koné, Miss World Côte d’Ivoire 2026.

Equatorial Guinea: María de los Ángeles Ndong

Carrying the flag from Malabo, 25-year-old María de los Ángeles Ndong focuses her national advocacy on expanding educational access and developing sustainable community outreach schemes.

María de los Ángeles Ndong, Miss World Equatorial Guinea 2026.

Eritrea: Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin

Marking a historic moment as Eritrea’s debut representative at Miss World, 26-year-old Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin discovered her calling for social advocacy through youth media platforms as a teenager, and now champions youth leadership programmes on the global stage.

Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin, Miss World Eritrea 2026.

Ethiopia: Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilassie

Representing Addis Ababa, 21-year-old Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilassie divides her time between university studies and grassroots community work, focusing primarily on projects that provide direct support to vulnerable children.

Ruth Yirgalem, Miss World Ethiopia 2026.

Ghana: Rumzia Sule

22-year-old Rumzia Sule earned her ticket to Vietnam after being crowned Miss Ghana in Accra. Coming from the North East Region, her main focus centers on educational outreach and skill development for young girls in underserved areas.

Rumzia Sule, Miss World Ghana 2026.

Guinea: Saran Keita

From Kankan, 26-year-old Saran Keita directs her energy toward public health education, leading grassroots initiatives that promote maternal wellness and economic self-sufficiency for rural women.

Saran Keita, Miss World Guinea 2026.

Guinea-Bissau: Hernânia Nantote

26-year-old Hernânia Nantote brings Guinea-Bissau back to the Miss World platform, using her voice to push for improved youth literacy rates and structured local community development.

Kenya: Trizah Muhenje Akala

A graduate in Tourism Management, Trizah Muhenje Akala applies her background in travel marketing and event management to showcase East African hospitality, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage during the global competition.

Trizah Muhenje Akala, Miss World Kenya 2026.

Malawi: Ireen Navicha

Active as a student, model, and community advocate, Ireen Navicha concentrates her advocacy on youth empowerment, working to expand access to quality secondary education and leadership training workshops.

Morocco: Chirihan Chergui

Adding North African representation to the continental cohort, Chirihan Chergui uses her platform to promote cross-cultural communication and advocate for improved educational resources for young women.

Chirihan Chergui, Miss World Morocco 2026.

Mozambique: Arcenia Quehá

Representing Mozambique, Arcenia Quehá works closely with regional initiatives that address sustainable local development, youth engagement, and environmental awareness.

Namibia: Elly Aron

Currently studying Software Development with plans to specialize in Data Analytics, Elly Aron merges tech ambition with creative pursuits like spoken-word poetry, public speaking, and mental wellness advocacy.

Nigeria: Tamunosoye Karibi-George

A 26-year-old communications strategist, voice-over artist, and model from Port Harcourt, Tamunosoye “Soye” Karibi-George is an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. She leads the Beyond Labels initiative, advocating for inclusion, dignity, and better resources for neurodivergent children and those with special needs.

Tamunosoye Karibi-George poses in her official portrait as Miss World Nigeria 2026 following her coronation in Lagos. Photo Credit: Tamunosoye Karibi-George/Instagram 

Senegal: Fatoumata Diop

A professional marketing strategist, writer, and storyteller, Fatoumata Diop places mental health awareness at the center of her work, advocating for accessible support systems for youth across West Africa.

Fatoumata Diop, Miss World Senegal 2026.

Sierra Leone: Maryam Lorba Konneh

Carrying Sierra Leone’s flag, Maryam Lorba Konneh focuses her national platform on expanding vocational training programmes and skill-acquisition workshops for young women.

Maryam Lorba Konneh, Miss World Sierra Leone 2026.

Somalia: Foziya Abdullahi Garad

An aspiring pilot and university student, Foziya Abdullahi Garad brings her enthusiasm for aviation to the global stage, inspiring young women across the Horn of Africa to pursue non-traditional career paths.

Foziya Abdullahi Garad, Miss World Somalia 2026

South Africa: Romanda Hombir

A 27-year-old professional audiologist, Romanda Hombir is multilingual, speaking English, Siswati, IsiZulu, Afrikaans, and South African Sign Language. Through her Caring Purpose Foundation, she works to expand healthcare access and provide assistive resources for individuals with hearing loss.

Romanda Hombir, Miss World South Africa 2026.

South Sudan: Nyandeng Kerubino Kuanyin Bol

Holding a degree in International Relations and Communication Studies, Nyandeng Kerubino Kuanyin Bol works as a Medical Sales professional, focusing her advocacy on health communication and social policy reform.

Nyandeng Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, Miss World South Sudan 2026.

Tanzania: Latricia Ian Sawe

A Banking and Finance student working in brand representation, Latricia Ian Sawe centers her social impact project on autism awareness and creating supportive educational environments for children with special needs.

Miss World Tanzania 2026 Latricia Ian Sawe

Uganda: Trivia Elle Muhoza

An entrepreneur with an aviation background, Trivia Elle Muhoza manages her own cosmetics brand while utilizing her business network to support vulnerable children and campaign against gender-based violence.

Trivia Elle Muhoza, Miss World Uganda 2026.

Zambia: Dr Adah Mushibi

A medical doctor volunteering at the University Teaching Hospital while working as a professional Chinese-language interpreter, Dr Adah Mushibi aims to become a surgeon while advocating for equitable, disability-inclusive healthcare access.

Dr Adah Mushibi, Miss World Zambia 2026.

Zimbabwe: Brunette Makanyiso

Representing Zimbabwe, Brunette Makanyiso concentrates her platform on grassroots community development, with a strong focus on youth employment and vocational skills training.

Brunette Makanyiso, Miss World Zimbabwe 2026.

The post Miss World 2026: Meet the 24 African Contestants Representing Their Countries in Vietnam appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Yara always assumed that when a relationship ended, she would know right away. The emotions that follow will tell. Her first serious relationship ended three years ago, after months of trying to fix something neither of them could name. At work, she cried in the bathroom with the tap running, and went to her desk to answer messages as if nothing had happened. She cried in taxis, and many times in the shower, with water running down her braids and onto the floor.

So when things ended with Samie, she waited for some version of that.

They had been seeing each other for six months. It was not for a very long time, but the relationship had quickly become part of her life. Samie sent her photos of things he thought she would find funny. She saved small stories for him during the day. When they went out for dinner, they ordered burrata to share, even when the menu made it clear it was meant for one person. Samie always moved the plate closer to the middle of the table, then gave her the better half without making a point of it. The relationship did not have any semblance of being temporary at the time.

But for a week or two, Samie suddenly became quieter. Yara tried not to read much into it, either. When they met for drinks after work, he said he had been thinking.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I just don’t think I’m in the right place for this.”

Yara looked at him for a moment. “For what, exactly?”

“For… us becoming more serious.”

He seemed embarrassed saying it, as if he knew it was vague. She waited for him to add something more useful, but he didn’t. She asked whether she had done anything. He said no, not at all. He said she deserved someone who was more certain. She almost laughed at that, but she didn’t.

When they left the restaurant, they hugged.

“Take care of yourself,” Samie said.

“You too.”

At home, Yara took off her shoes, sat on the bed, and waited.

She checked her phone several times even though she knew he would not text. She went through their conversation, far enough to see the recent things: plans they had made and then changed, a picture of the burrata from the last place they went, him asking if she got home safely.

She put the phone down.

She thought perhaps she was still in shock. The next day, she expected the emotions to catch her in her Uber, or while brushing her teeth, or when somebody at work asked an ordinary question, and she could not answer without crying. But she went to work. She replied to emails. She had lunch with a coworker. She caught herself genuinely laughing at her colleague’s funny bus ride story. At some point in the afternoon, she realised she had not thought about Samie for almost two hours.

That bothered her more than it should have.

She did miss him. She noticed it when she saw something he would have liked, or when she wanted to tell him about a difficult client at work. Once, while walking home, she passed the restaurant where they had eaten burrata more than once. Where they had their last drinks and conversation. She looked through the parking lot, all the way to the entrance, then kept walking.

But the feeling and emotions did not grow. They did not take over the rest of her day.

A few nights later, she bought groceries on the way home. Without thinking, she picked up a burrata from the refrigerated shelf. It was only when she got back to her apartment and saw it in the bag that she remembered why she had bought it. For a second, she considered throwing it away. Instead, she put it in the fridge.

One evening, she found herself sitting at her desk with nothing left to finish, just staying there a little longer than necessary. Her phone was beside her laptop. She unlocked it, opened her messages, and saw Samie’s name down the list than it had been a few days ago. She wondered for a second what he was up to. She did not open the conversation.

In the kitchen, the burrata was still in the fridge. She made pasta, took it out, and ate it by herself at the counter. It was good, though she had bought too much bread and had no one to finish it with. She washed the plate and left the rest of the bread on the counter for the morning.

The post BN Prose: The Weight We Give to Love by Toyosi Onikosi appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

The family of three poses together in matching geometric African attire styled by Emmanuel Goodnews Icon.

One year, three people and a very cute birthday boy! Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux are celebrating their son Rakeem’s first birthday, and the family came dressed for the occasion. For his big day, the couple stepped in front of the camera with their little boy in coordinated looks that bring together bold colours, traditional details and plenty of personality.

Priscilla shared the beautiful portraits with a sweet reflection on just how much life has changed since welcoming their son. “A year ago our family of two became three. 365 days later, our little one…” she wrote, marking the milestone with a glimpse into this special chapter for their family.

And if you were wondering what they wore for Rakeem’s first birthday, the answer is: a lot of colour, beads and beautiful traditional details.

Priscilla Ojo, Juma Jux, and baby Rakeem share a moment during his first birthday photoshoot.

Styled by Emmanuel Goodnews Icon, Priscilla wore a floor-length strapless gown by Lasosa by Pam Pam, featuring a sweetheart neckline and a fitted column silhouette. The front of the dress is covered in colourful geometric beadwork in emerald green, sapphire blue, mustard yellow, black and white, while a long emerald-green cape falls from her shoulders and trails behind her.

She completed the look with a tall cobalt-blue velvet gelè-style headpiece, a multi-cowrie shell necklace, matching cowrie bracelets and a green drop earring. Her beauty look stayed warm and understated, with defined brows, earth-toned eyeshadow, soft blush and a glossy nude lip.

Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux display detailed geometric patterns and beadwork in their birthday portraits.

Juma Jux, meanwhile, coordinated with his son in a P.Aries black tunic featuring wide three-quarter sleeves, a high Mandarin collar and bright teal, emerald-green and black geometric panels across the chest and sleeves. Metallic beaded trim runs around the neckline, while his matching filà-style cap carries the same pattern.

And then there is little Rakeem, who gets his very own mini version of Dad’s outfit. His short-sleeved black tunic features the same teal and green geometric panels, complete with a matching cap and tiny black dress shoes.

Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux celebrate 365 days of parenthood with baby Rakeem.

It is quite the way to mark one year.

It has been quite the year for Priscilla and Juma. After celebrating their marriage across Nigeria and Tanzania in 2025, the couple announced they were expecting their first child in July and welcomed Rakeem in Canada the following month. Now, a year later, their little boy is celebrating his very first birthday.

And judging by these portraits, Mum, Dad and their one-year-old have found a pretty good way to celebrate it.

Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux showcase coordinated family looks for their son Rakeem’s first birthday celebration.

***
Photo Credit: Priscilla Ojo/Instagram 

The post Priscilla Ojo & Juma Jux Celebrate Son Rakeem’s 1st Birthday in Coordinated Style | See Photos appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Funke Akindele shares a joyful moment in a silver scoop-neck metallic dress styled with molten-gold jewellery.

Silver was at the front, centre, back and everywhere in between as Funke Akindele stepped into her 49th birthday with a gorgeous new set of portraits. The Nollywood star is celebrating her birthday today, 24 August, and for the occasion, she chose a floor-length silver gown that gave the entire shoot a cool, sculptural feel.

Photographed by Aham Ibeleme and styled by Zack Styling, the birthday look is all about texture, metallic details and statement gold jewellery. The fitted gown features a scooped neckline and slender shoulder straps, while its hammered texture creates geometric patterns across the bodice and straight-cut skirt.

Funke Akindele poses thoughtfully in a silver metallic gown and sculpted gold jewellery.

And Funke did not stop at the dress. She paired it with sculptural hammered-gold drop earrings featuring dark red stones, a chunky gold cuff and a matching organic-shaped ring. Her hair was styled in a voluminous half-up, half-down look, with soft waves falling down her back, while her makeup stayed in warm, bronzed tones with defined brows, smoky earth-toned eyeshadow, soft blush and a glossy nude lip.

The whole birthday shoot was photographed against a minimalist studio setting, with sheer white fabrics, neutral grey tones, stylised white branches and a vintage wooden trunk adding to the visual story.

Funke Akindele poses in a custom silver hammered dress and gold accessories by Zack Styling.

But beyond the beautiful portraits, Funke’s birthday post was really about gratitude and looking ahead. Sharing her deep appreciation for another milestone year, Funke reflected on her growth, noting:

Today is my birthday. My heart is full of gratitude to God for all He has done, all He is doing, and all that is still to come. Through every season, every lesson, every win, every mistake and every challenge, God has remained my strength and my shield. Even in moments when I have fallen short, He has given me the grace to rise, learn, keep going and become better. Today, my prayer is simple. That God blesses me with good health, long life, peace and the grace to keep walking in purpose. I pray that my life continues to mean something beyond me. That I can touch more lives, open more doors, nurture more talents, raise more stars and give others the opportunity to become everything God has called them to be. May I never stop giving back. May I never stop growing. May my life remain a testimony, and may the way I live inspire others to believe, to dream and to keep going. Thank You, Lord. Happy birthday to me.

There is also another big chapter on the horizon. Funke is set to return to cinemas later this year with The Four: No One Fights Alone, her upcoming feature film, which is scheduled for a global cinema release on 11 December 2026. The film, produced by Funke Akindele Network, explores friendship, motherhood, resilience and the bonds between women.

Funke Akindele celebrates her 49th birthday in a custom silver textured floor-length gown styled by Zack Styling, photographed by Aham Ibeleme.

***
Photo Credit: Funke Akindele/Instagram 

The post Funke Akindele Is 49! See Her Gorgeous Silver Birthday Look appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Coco Gauff smiles and acknowledges the stadium crowd after her championship win.

Coco Gauff is standard-setting, unstoppable, and officially back on top! The American tennis star has won the 2026 Cincinnati Open singles title, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in a 75-minute final.

Facing third seed Pegula in a high-stakes, all-American final at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, fourth-seeded Gauff took complete command of the match right from the opening games. Pushing her opponent back with heavy serve placement, swift court coverage, and deep return depth, Gauff broke Pegula’s serve twice early on to build a rapid 4-0 cushion before taking the first set 6-2 in just 34 minutes.

Coco Gauff lets go of her racket in celebration following her final victory.

The second set unfolded with equal focus. Gauff bolted out to a 3-0 lead and maintained composure whenever Pegula threatened a comeback. Serving for the championship, Gauff closed out the match 6-2, 6-4 in 75 minutes, converting her very first match point to claim her first title of the 2026 season.

Her path through the tournament was a display of efficiency and tactical poise:

• Round of 64: defeated Liudmila Samsonova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
• Round of 32: defeated Ann Li 6-1, 7-6(3)
• Round of 16: defeated Marie Bouzková 6-3, 6-2
• Quarter-finals: defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2
• Semi-finals: defeated Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1
• Final: defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4

Coco Gauff kisses her second Cincinnati Open trophy as celebratory confetti falls. Photo Credit: Coco Gauff/Instagram

During the post-match ceremony, Gauff offered a playful yet sincere tribute to her doubles partner and friend:

I don’t like seeing you on the other side of the court. So, but I like playing with you, but yeah. I just want to say congratulations. You’re an incredible person and player. And congrats to your team, you guys are also incredible people. One of the best teams on tour. And yeah, also just like to thank Jess.

Like she said, when I first came on tour, she was one of the few players that was nice to me, and that’s always—no, seriously, that’s always stuck a long way with me and my family. And I have so much respect for you. So it’s an honour to share the court with you once again, and hopefully we can run it back a couple times.

This victory marks Gauff’s second Cincinnati Open trophy, adding to her 2023 triumph at the event. Currently ranked World No. 4 in the WTA singles standings, the 22-year-old heads into Flushing Meadows for the US Open with immense momentum.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula pose at the net prior to their all-American final.

***
Photo Credit: Cincinnati Open/Instagram 

The post Coco Gauff Is Back on Top! Tennis Star Wins Second Cincinnati Open Title appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Every day, we consume more information than we can realistically keep track of. A restaurant recommendation shared in a group chat. A work meeting link sent over email. An event flyer spotted on social media. A brilliant idea that arrives just before bedtime and feels too important to forget.

Most of us respond the same way: we take a screenshot, save a post, bookmark a page or send ourselves a message. The problem isn’t capturing information anymore. The problem is finding it when we actually need it.

That’s where the Infinix HOT 70 Pro 5G is trying to do something different.

Among its headline features is Infinix FlashMemo, an AI-powered tool designed to help users save, organise and retrieve information more intelligently. Instead of allowing useful content to disappear into an endless stream of screenshots, FlashMemo captures information from your screen and automatically generates summaries, titles and tags, making it easier to find later.

It’s the kind of feature that addresses a surprisingly modern problem. Smartphones have become powerful enough to help us do almost anything, yet many people still spend far too much time searching for information they know they saved somewhere.

FlashMemo becomes even more useful when paired with MindHub, the phone’s personal knowledge hub. Whether it’s a payment confirmation, travel information, a saved article or an important reminder, content can be stored and retrieved without the usual frustration of scrolling endlessly through galleries, folders and chat histories. Instead of asking, “Where did I save that?” users can focus on simply finding what they need.

While productivity is the feature at the centre of the experience, it isn’t the only thing that makes the Infinix  HOT 70 Pro 5G interesting.

The device also brings a playful side to smartphone personalisation through its Active Matrix Cube, a customisable mini-display integrated into the phone’s design. Users can personalise lighting effects, notifications and animations, creating a device that feels more expressive than the average smartphone. For those who enjoy standing out, colour options such as the temperature-reactive Thermo Orange add another layer of individuality.

The focus on making everyday interactions easier continues across the phone’s AI ecosystem. Students can use AI Class Timetable to convert course schedules into organised calendars. Features such as AI Search, Song Identification and Scan-to-Doc are designed to reduce friction in everyday tasks, helping users spend less time navigating their phones and more time getting things done.

Of course, no amount of intelligence matters if the hardware can’t keep up. The HOT 70 Pro 5G combines its AI capabilities with a 50MP Sony camera, a 144Hz display, IP68 dust and water resistance, 45W fast charging and a large battery designed to support long days of work, entertainment and everything in between.

What makes FlashMemo particularly interesting is that it reflects a broader shift in smartphone innovation. For years, the conversation centred on faster processors, larger storage capacities and better cameras. Those improvements still matter, but users are increasingly looking for technology that helps simplify daily life.

The Infinix HOT 70 Pro 5G makes a compelling case that the next generation of smartphone innovation may not simply be about doing more. It may be about helping us remember less, search less, and worry less while ensuring that the information that matters is always within reach.

Sponsored Content

The post What If Your Phone Could Remember Everything So You Don’t Have To? appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Industry veterans and fans pay tribute to veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, fondly known as Ògògó, following his passing.

Nollywood has lost one of its truest icons. Veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, fondly known as Ògògó, passed on on Sunday, 23rd August 2026, at the age of 66 following a battle with stage four cancer. His colleagues and industry leaders confirmed the sad news, sharing that the legendary thespian is no longer with us.

Born on 31st October 1959 in Ilaro, Ogun State, Ògògó was a bona fide pioneer of Nigerian cinema. He began his journey in the early 1980s while working as an automobile mechanic, later leaving his civil service job at the Lagos State Water Corporation in 1994 to dedicate himself fully to acting. As a foundational member of the Odufa Caucus and a key figure in the travelling theatre era, he helped pave the way for the home video boom that defined 90s and 2000s Yoruba Nollywood.

Colleagues and fans mourn the passing of Ògògó, celebrating his decades of iconic performances on screen.

To generations of movie lovers, Ògògó was the ultimate screen presence. Celebrated in his early days for his poetic recitals and dapper style, he quickly captured hearts with his stoic charm, handsome looks, and remarkable charisma. Audiences knew him as the screen star who could command any room—and famously loved waiting for those fiery moments in every film where his character would finally lose his temper.

Over his four-decade career, he delivered unforgettable performances across countless classic productions. He cemented his status as a leading man in Tade Ogidan’s 90s masterpiece Owo Blow, playing the adult protagonist Owolabi—a Robin Hood-style character that remains etched in Nigerian pop culture. His screen impact inspired music legends, with Olamide’s 2016 track Owo Blow and Burna Boy’s Last Last drawing from his legacy. More recently, he gave fans complete goosebumps with his memorable vocal chant and acting performance in the Netflix hit series Seven Doors, adding to a modern slate that also included playing King Alaafin Adeyemi in Kunle Afolayan’s Aníkúlápó.

Taiwo Hassan Ògògó leaves behind a four-decade screen legacy across classic home videos and cinema hits like Owo Blow and Seven Doors.

News of his passing has triggered a deeply emotional response across Nigeria and the global Nollywood community. Fans, colleagues, and industry leaders have taken to social media to celebrate a titan who shaped the golden era of home videos, remembering his voice, timeless grace, and the indelible legacy he leaves behind.

See how Nigerians are paying tribute to the icon:

There is no Nollywood boy that has the beauty and the Charisma of Ogogo, none. One of one!

— Elizabeth Gaskell stan account (@Ms_Ojo) August 23, 2026

The full video of K1 De Ultimate’s tribute song to Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo).

K1 De Ultimate began to cry when he started to eulogize Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) to the extent that he couldn’t control the tears anymore. His band members had to console him on stage to stop crying. https://t.co/ByXpPBTxbE pic.twitter.com/xCMkbv6BMg

— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) August 23, 2026

Ògògó was one of the most iconic Yoruba Nollywood stars of the home video from the 90s. We took his looks for granted, and he wore his attractiveness lightly, like he himself was not aware of it. I always thought he looked like a US Soul music star in the rough. Rest in peace. https://t.co/stj1icymIT

— Molara Wood (@molarawood) August 23, 2026

Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan has passed away. Aged 66, he was a pioneer of the travelling theatre, a bona fide member of the Odufa Caucus, whose work contributed to the transition to home videos, which reached peak popularity in the 90s and 00s. Renowned in his earlier career for… pic.twitter.com/lYBjmXhh2m

— Dami Ajayi (@JollyPaps1) August 23, 2026

This is what “Action por bi Ogogo” means
If area boys reach 10, Ogogo will beat them one by one

Every Yoruba household back then in 90s has a girl that is crushing on Ogogo

You’ll forever be remembered for all the good memories https://t.co/QCLT4RpQA9 pic.twitter.com/aCnK4SFxrq

— Big Uncle (@Usmanashafe) August 23, 2026

RIP Ogogo
Thank you for giving us the “Breakfast” slang

For those who don’t know, here’s where the slang originated from pic.twitter.com/Hqup0Vf7vO

— The Creative ® (@thecreativexx) August 23, 2026

He became a leading man of Yoruba films, roles not suited to the original skill he took into the theatre–as an oriki chant performer. Had to take a Femi Adebayo, born into the industry and obviously aware of that talent, to have him relive it one last time in The Seven Doors. https://t.co/K7NRlTVbw8

— deji toye (@dejitoye) August 23, 2026

Ti awo ba ki fun ni, a ma ki fun awo pada, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo chanting for Ibrahim Chatta

Skill, not just shouting ‘Eeeeehhhh…’ up and down pic.twitter.com/Owy4uVMkbB

— Penfold (@remiopakunle) December 15, 2024

There’s something about Ogogo characters and his real-life persona that a lot haven’t really said.

He demonstrated that one can be Omo Lille (physically energetic) and not use to it for the wrong reasons.

He exemplified strength without lack of discipline, never used his…

— Yemi King (@TheYemiKing) August 24, 2026

This got me so emotional
That unique voice is gone!
RIP Ogogo pic.twitter.com/L4t6wY7UXH

— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) August 23, 2026

Rest in peace, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo. There is no shame in death, and I hope his children find the strength to accept his transition with dignity. Ogogo deserves nothing else.

— The Jídé Taiwo (@thejidetaiwo) August 23, 2026

How beautiful is this unhurried chant riffed in unrehearsed praise of a junior colleague, who’s humbled by the honour and the grace? This is poetry, this is Rap. As a Yoruba expression of pure love and adoration, it doesn’t get any better than this. https://t.co/3SrFbFDEo7

— Molara Wood (@molarawood) August 23, 2026

Ogogo made our childhood special. Thankful for all the memories, Rest easy, legend.

— BIG FISH (@adekunleGOLD) August 24, 2026

Growing up, whenever older Yoruba women around me said, “omokunrin to hanz,” Ogogo was always the example.

“O fine bi Ogogo”

Like four different generations of women fell in love with him.

— Take the Disability Quiz in my bio (@misty_abisola) August 24, 2026

How does one begin to even write about Ogogo’s run in the 90s and 2000s.

— Ayomide Tayo (@AOT2) August 23, 2026

Oga Bello’s caption on instagram made me cry “the Action has ended, the Actor is no more”

— Emerald هداية (@Mz_Tosyn) August 23, 2026

My takeaway from all these Ogogo issues is that he is a good man, a good colleague in the industry and definitely a good father to his children. I pray Allah eases his affairs.

— Daddy Yas!!! (@Abu_Yaaseer) August 23, 2026

If you made a list of greatest Yoruba actors of the modern era, Ogogo is top 3. He’s probably 1.

The man was a leading man who starred in the biggest productions of the 90s and 2000s.

The best reference points for his stardom;
– Ogogo & Ireti angles
– Owo Blow
– 23/24

— Motolani Alake (@OneMotolani) August 23, 2026

***
Photo Credit: Jibril Taiwo/Instagram

The post Nigerians Pay Tribute to Nollywood Legend Taiwo Hassan “Ogogo” Following His Passing appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

“Hey, sorry to bother you. I have an interview tomorrow. Any advice?”

For nearly twenty years, I have received various versions of that message, and what continues to move me is the source, which is people I would least expect. It comes from brilliant individuals who have successfully executed flawless launches, marketers who have achieved impressive results, and professionals who excel at their work, yet feel unprepared when entering an interview. Being great at a job and being adept at interviewing for one are two very different abilities, and very few people teach the latter.

I know this because I have sat on both sides of that table.

I have lived in five countries and worked across more than forty. For fifteen years, I built the commercial engines of some of the most recognisable technology companies in the world, including a seat on Google’s hiring committee, the room where decisions about who gets hired are actually made.

That experience taught me something I have never been able to unsee. The people who got filtered out were rarely the least capable. Often they were the most. They simply didn’t have anyone in their corner to explain how the process actually works, what the room is really listening for, or how to tell the story of their own work so it lands. Talent, I came to believe, is evenly distributed. Access is not.

I think about this most when I think about people who look like me, and people who come from where my family comes from. So much brilliance never makes it into these rooms, not for lack of ability, but for lack of a map. Nobody hands you the map. I certainly was not handed one. I learned it the way most of us do, by getting more no’s than yeses, by making my mistakes in real rooms, and slowly, by paying attention to what the yeses had in common. But the good thing is, when someone has the map, they can show others too.

However, the ground has begun shifting again. Artificial intelligence has rewritten how hiring works. AI drafts resumes, screens them, and sends them in volumes nobody imagined five years ago. First interviews are increasingly run, or scored, by machines. The rules changed, but the guidance most people were given did not. Which means the gap I have spent my life watching, the gap between the capable and the connected, is not closing. If anything, it is widening, and it falls hardest on the people who were already most likely to be overlooked: early-career talent, first-generation professionals, and so many of the young people I meet who have everything it takes except someone to show them how the machine actually works.

I never intended to become the person people text the night before an interview. It happened one message at a time. However, at some point, I realised that the most valuable asset I possess is not a title, but rather the perspective I have from the other side of the table—and my willingness to share it.

I want to express what often goes unsaid: a job description is essentially a set of questions in disguise. You are allowed to apply even if you only meet half of the requirements; rejecting yourself before the company has the chance to consider you only does their least pleasant task for them, and you shouldn’t do that for free. Remember that the interview is not a test of who you are, but rather an opportunity to showcase what you have already accomplished.

There is a bigger reason I care so much about the beginning of the search, and not only the offer at the end of it. We spend roughly a third of our waking lives at work, on the order of ninety thousand hours across a career. Where we spend those hours is one of the largest decisions any of us will ever make, and we make it more than once. Whether someone ends up happy in their work usually traces back to small, quiet decisions made at the very start: which roles they let themselves consider, what they told themselves they needed, what they quietly decided to settle for.

So this is what I would tell the person typing that message at night, and what I would tell anyone who has ever felt like the room was not meant for them. You don’t need permission to belong; you need a map, and that map can be learned. In my experience, those who approach their search systematically, who know what they want, keep records of their efforts, prepare like athletes, and evaluate the companies they target, achieve success at a rate that far surpasses other applicants. This isn’t just motivational talk; it’s a pattern I have observed repeatedly over two decades. The rooms may still be difficult to enter, but the pathway is knowable.

By the way, once you understand it, the next step is to reach back and share that map with someone else.

The post Emem Adjah: How to Get Hired at Top Companies and What Hiring Managers Really Look For appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

His comeback campaign has already begun gaining attention through a series of Nigerian media features announcing his return and plans for new music. But as the rollout progresses, the focus is expected to move increasingly toward the actual music, visuals and stories behind the upcoming project.

The single is being released under TMY Empire, while Zentharon Worldwide will handle distribution.

Specdo is also expected to introduce new visual content, promotional appearances and possible collaborations as the album campaign unfolds.

Rather than recreating his previous musical era, the artist appears determined to build something that reflects where he is creatively today.

Specdo DaBoy is expected to be the first taste of that evolution.

And with a November album already on the calendar, the coming months could be an important period in defining Specdo’s next chapter.

Sponsored Content

The post Specdo Is Ready for a Fresh Chapter With Upcoming Single ‘Specdo DaBoy’ appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Cassi has been evicted from Big Brother Naija Season 11 during the Week 4 Sunday live show.

The tension inside the Big Brother Naija house hit another high during tonight’s live show, and we finally have our answer to who is packing their bags. Cassi has been evicted from Big Brother Naija Season 11, bringing his journey in the “Show Ya Sef” house to an end.

Real name Ezenwoke Nwosu, the 26-year-old entrepreneur from Abia State entered the house determined to turn things around and showcase his versatility. After a tense week on the nomination list alongside seven other housemates—Araga, Gerard, Goddessa, Nomy, Temi Nkem, Tram, and Yusuf—the public votes were tallied, and host Ebuka Obi–Uchendu called his name on stage, making him the fifth housemate to depart the show.

His departure comes right after Martins, Mercedes, and Kamsy were voted out in earlier weeks, as well as Neche’s voluntary exit just days ago. With Cassi now saying goodbye to the game, exactly 19 housemates remain in the running to chase the grand prize as competition heats up.

The evening also brought a major win for current Head of House, Abi! She snagged the title of Most Influential Housemate of the Week. That means she automatically secures immunity and sits completely safe from eviction next week.

With the house getting smaller and strategic alliances shifting every day, the race is officially getting tighter.

The post Cassi Is the Fifth Housemate to Leave Big Brother Naija Season 11 appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu wears a full sky-blue suit with 3D maize rope accents by Lisa Folawiyo Studio.

It’s another Sunday night in the Big Brother Naija 11 house, which means two things: someone is about to leave, and Ebuka Obi–Uchendu is about to give us something to talk about on the fashion front. As the show’s host, Ebuka is back on the Sunday Eviction Show, ready to guide viewers through the night’s exits, surprises and all the conversations happening in the house.

For tonight’s show, he stepped out in a bespoke sky-blue suit by Lisa Folawiyo Studio, and there is quite a lot going on once you get a closer look. The tailored jacket and wide-leg trousers feature graphic green maize stalks, while 3D braided rope details create the look of a corn cob across the suit. Underneath, Ebuka wears a matching scoop-neck vest finished with subtle embroidered kernel motifs.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu showcases the intricate embroidery on his custom BBNaija eviction outfit.

And while we are busy looking at the suit, there is plenty happening inside the house too. Following Neche‘s unexpected voluntary departure earlier this week, eight housemates are facing possible eviction tonight: Araga, Cassi, Gerard, Goddessa, Nomy, Temi Nkem, Tram and Yusuf. Abi is safe as Head of House, alongside Chimsom Chuka, Sultex and Aikou, leaving the remaining housemates waiting to find out whose time in the house will continue.

Back to the outfit, because there is plenty to take from it if you are wondering how to wear a sky-blue suit without keeping things too predictable. Ebuka lets the unusual tailoring take centre stage, pairing it with a brown structured straw hat and brown suede loafers. The warm brown accessories give the cool blue suit some balance, while his silver wire-rimmed glasses and simple chain keep the styling relatively understated.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu anchors the Big Brother Naija eviction night in bespoke Nigerian tailoring.

The result is a look that gives the usual suit-and-shirt formula a very different treatment, with the maize embroidery and rope detailing doing most of the talking. And really, if you are going to make a statement on Sunday night, you might as well make it an interesting one.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu steps out in a maize-embroidered Lisa Folawiyo suit for the BBNaija Season 11 eviction show.

***
Photo Credit: Ebuka Obi-Uchendu/Instagram 

The post Ebuka Obi-Uchendu Steps Out in a Sky-Blue Lisa Folawiyo Studio Suit for the Sunday Eviction Show appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Veteran actor Tony Umez celebrates his 60th birthday in traditional South-South attire.

Durrrllingggggs! Oh, you know we just had to start like this. How else would we announce Tony Umez, also known as Tonero Angel, also known as Durling, turning the big 6-0?

The veteran Nollywood actor is celebrating his 60th birthday today, and naturally, he marked the occasion in a look that feels very much like him. For his birthday portraits, Tony chose a white Etibo-inspired tunic, a patterned South-South wrapper and classic accessories, with touches of gold running through the look.

The long-sleeved white tunic is paired with a patterned wrapper tied around his waist, while a dark maroon textured scarf sits neatly around his collar. On his head, he wears a black velvet cap finished with gold embroidery, giving the traditional look a little extra detail without taking it too far.

Then there are the accessories: black rectangular glasses, a gold chain bracelet, a metallic gold wristwatch and his wedding band. He finishes everything with black velvet loafers featuring crown embroidery. Birthday boy, indeed.

Tony Umez shares traditional outfit photos to celebrate reaching age 60.

But there is more to Tony Umez than the famous “Durling” nickname. Born in Ogidi, Anambra State, the actor has spent decades building a career in Nollywood, becoming particularly known for playing romantic leads and the charming, sometimes complicated love interest in Nigerian films. His screen career has made him one of the familiar faces of Nollywood’s older generation, with a filmography spanning romance, family dramas and stories about relationships.

Away from the screen, Tony is also a husband and father. He has been married to his wife, Patsy Umez, for more than 32 years, and the couple share children. His birthday message made it clear just how much his family means to him, as he thanked his wife for travelling with him through the years and described his children as part of what makes the journey special.

And perhaps that is what makes this birthday post particularly sweet. Rather than simply marking the milestone, Tony used the occasion to look back at the life he has built, giving thanks for his family, friendships, purpose and the opportunity to have spent so many years doing work he loves.

“My heart is full of gratitude,” he wrote, while looking ahead to the years still to come.

Tony Umez marks his 60th birthday milestone with a traditional photo session.

***
Photo Credit: Tony Umez/Instagram 

The post Durling Is 60! Tony Umez Marks His Birthday in a White Etibo-Inspired Look appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Ayra Starr drops the official lyric video visual for Heaven Baby featuring UK pop star ZAYN from her album Starrgirl

There is falling for someone, and then there is feeling like you have found your own little piece of heaven. Ayra Starr and ZAYN are singing about the latter on Heaven Baby. The track sits at No. 14 on Ayra’s latest album, Starrgirl, and its new lyric video puts the spotlight on the romantic story at the heart of the duet. With a soft piano-led production underneath them, Ayra and ZAYN trade vocals about instant chemistry, devotion and finding someone who makes life feel a little sweeter.

If you have been listening closely to the words and wondering what Heaven Baby is really all about, the song breaks down that feeling when instant attraction flips into something that feels completely out of this world. The title itself points to a partner who feels like a blessing, someone who turns real life into a total paradise just by being around.

The lyrics jump straight into that feeling from the very first moment. They open with the line “You had me at hello,” capturing how quickly instant chemistry can take over. From there, Ayra sets up the main heart of the track, singing “You could be my heaven, baby… You’re an angel, you don’t need no wings,” framing her partner as her safe haven.

ZAYN, who UK pop fans will know from his time in One Direction before his solo R&B hits like Pillowtalk, comes in to trade verses and take the romance even higher. He sings “You know how far I’d go? It’s past the sky / You tell me jump, I jump, just say how high,” showing that the devotion goes both ways.

The whole track stands for absolute loyalty and falling completely for someone who makes the rest of the world fade out, bringing a sweet, timeless duet for both of their fanbases to enjoy.

The post “You Had Me at Hello”: Ayra Starr and ZAYN’s “Heaven Baby” Lyrics Explained appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Nigerian singer-songwriter Kunmie in a monochrome shoot following the release of five new music videos from his debut album, 22. Photo Credit: Kunmie/Instagram 

If you’ve been jamming to Kunmie‘s debut album, 22, you may already know that some of its songs come with visuals of their own. Five tracks in particular, “5AM,” “Tonight,” “Prisoner,” “Abeg O” and “Calvary,” have been given their own visual stories, adding another layer to the album.

Since “Arike” introduced Kunmie to a much wider audience, 22 has shown that there is more to his sound than one breakout record. Across the album, he moves through love, vulnerability, self-doubt and the search for peace, with guitar-led arrangements, layered vocals and choral harmonies carrying those themes. His reflections on home and his parents’ prayers for his journey make the project feel especially personal.

The five visuals pick up on some of those ideas, each taking a slightly different approach to the story behind the song.

5AM (featuring Phyno)

There is something about 5AM that naturally lends itself to reflection, and Kunmie leans into that mood here. The track features indigenous hip-hop star Phyno, with both artists sharing the visual in clean, atmospheric settings that leave plenty of space for their performances.

The early-hours feeling of the song comes through without the video trying to do too much, keeping the focus on the collaboration and the mood of the record.

Tonight

Love can be exciting, but Tonight sits with the less comfortable side of it: the fear of losing someone who means a lot to you. Kunmie brings that vulnerability into the visual through warm, muted lighting and close-up shots that keep the mood intimate. The stripped-back approach works particularly well for a song that feels like an honest conversation with yourself late at night.

Prisoner

Then there is Prisoner, where love and insecurity start to feel less like comfort and more like a trap. The visual reflects that idea through darker settings and carefully placed shadows, creating a sense of confinement around Kunmie’s performance. It gives the song’s emotional tension a physical setting while allowing the lyrics to remain at the centre of the story.

Abeg O

If Prisoner is about feeling trapped, Abeg O is about asking someone not to let you get hurt. The song finds Kunmie caught between affection and the fear that comes with giving someone your heart. Its visual keeps things performance-led, with expressive movement and scenes that follow the rhythm of the track and its repeated plea.

Calvary

With Calvary, Kunmie turns inward, exploring the search for peace of mind amid life’s noise, distractions and uncertainties. The visual uses symbolic imagery and steady shots to reflect that internal struggle, giving the song a more contemplative setting. It closes on a grounded note, echoing the idea that finding peace is often an ongoing journey rather than a destination.

The post From “5AM” With Phyno to “Calvary”: 5 Kunmie Videos to Watch From His Debut Album 22 appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Coco Gauff returning a shot during her straight-sets semi-final match against Sara Bejlek.

Coco Gauff is one win away from another WTA 1000 title!

The World No. 4 American has booked her place in the Cincinnati Open final after putting together a convincing 6-4, 6-1 victory over Czech left-hander Sara Bejlek on P&G Stadium Court. The 76-minute semi-final saw Gauff recover from a brief wobble in the opening set before taking complete control in the second at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

Gauff came out firing, breaking Bejlek early to take a 4-1 lead. The 20-year-old Czech, who had already enjoyed a remarkable run through the tournament, refused to let the set slip away and fought back to level things at 4-4. But Gauff stayed composed, found another break and closed out the opening set 6-4.

Coco Gauff serving on P&G Stadium Court during her victory over Czech opponent Sara Bejlek.

From there, she barely gave Bejlek an opening. Gauff won all 10 of the first-serve points she played in the second set and broke Bejlek twice as she raced to a 6-1 finish. She also converted six of seven break-point opportunities across the match and collected 32 receiver points compared with Bejlek’s 13.

After the match, Gauff explained that she knew she could not afford to relax, particularly after seeing Bejlek fight her way back in the first set.

I tried not to take my foot off the gas because I knew at any moment she could come back.

Coco Gauff acknowledges the crowd after qualifying for the Cincinnati Open final.

The win also brings Gauff one step closer to another major title and sets up a particularly exciting final. Waiting for her on the other side of the net will be fellow American Jessica Pegula, who defeated Iga Świątek in the other semi-final.

And there is a little history attached to this one.

Gauff and Pegula will play an all-American women’s singles final, the first of its kind at the Cincinnati Open since 1970. The pair also know each other well from their time as doubles partners, although this time they will be on opposite sides of the court with the Cincinnati title on the line.

Away from the action, Gauff also brought her usual courtside style to the tournament in a custom New Balance kit featuring a sleeveless top and pleated performance skirt.

Coco Gauff celebrates during her 6-4, 6-1 semi-final victory over Sara Bejlek at the Cincinnati Open.

***
Photo Credit: Cincinnati Open/Instagram

The post Coco Gauff Storms Into Cincinnati Open Final for All-American Showdown With Jessica Pegula appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Tems performing tracks from her debut album Born in the Wild at All Points East in London.

Tems came to London with a festival stage to headline, and of course, she brought an outfit worth talking about. The Nigerian singer co-headlined All Points East 2026 at Victoria Park on Friday, stepping onto the main stage in a custom black crochet dress that gave festival dressing its own spin.

Styled by Dunsin Wright, the MIO creation featured a halter neckline, open side cut-outs and colourful bead detailing, with layers of black and white fringe falling from the hem. As Tems moved around the stage, the fringe moved with her, giving the dress plenty to do without taking away from its simple black base. She paired it with long, loose curls pinned back at the top and a defined brown lip finished with gloss by makeup artist Kayla Perez.

Tems wearing defined lip gloss makeup by Kayla Perez at All Points East.

It was a look that felt very Tems. Her stage style has always leaned towards pieces that feel personal and a little unexpected, and this one brought together crochet, beadwork and fringe in a way that kept all the details interesting without feeling overworked.

Then there was the music.

From the start of her set, Victoria Park was singing right along with her as she moved through tracks from her debut studio album, Born in the Wild, alongside some of the songs that have followed her from one stage to another. Crazy Tings, Love Me JeJe and Me & U were all part of the lineup, and the crowd clearly came prepared to know the words.

Tems live on stage during her headlining set at All Points East in Victoria Park.

But just when the set was already giving London plenty to enjoy, Tems had another surprise waiting.

Dave joined her on stage for a live performance of Raindance, his hit track featuring Tems. The appearance was unannounced, so you can imagine what happened when the British rapper walked out. With the song already having a big run over the summer, hearing the two artists perform it together in London made the moment even sweeter.

Tems brings out UK rapper Dave for a surprise duet of Raindance at Victoria Park. Photo Credit: All Points East/Instagram

And, of course, there was something fitting about Raindance bringing Dave and Tems together on a London stage, with Dave performing in his hometown and Tems joining him on one of their biggest recent collaborations.

By the end of the night, Tems had given Victoria Park quite a lot to talk about: a custom MIO crochet dress, a set packed with familiar favourites and a surprise appearance from Dave. Not a bad way to co-headline the opening day of All Points East 2026.

Tems backstage in London showcasing her festival styling by Dunsin Wright.

***
Photo Credit: All Points East/Instagram

The post Tems Brought the Crochet, the Hits and Dave to Her All Points East 2026 Set appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Some celebrations call for a grand ballroom. Others feel more special when the guest list is smaller, the setting feels personal and every detail has room to be noticed.

For the latter, there’s a new space in Lagos to discover.

Coral at The Lofts is an indoor event venue within 234Loft on Oba Elegushi Private Beach, Oniru, created for intimate celebrations of up to 120 guests, depending on the chosen arrangement.

It is also the first fully indoor, climate-controlled event space at 234Loft, adding a new dimension to a destination previously centred around outdoor and beachfront experiences.

A space you can make your own

Rather than giving hosts a traditional hall with a fixed setup, Coral begins with a contemporary interior that can serve as the foundation for different occasions and aesthetics.

A textured stone feature wall with integrated warm lighting brings character to one side of the room, complemented by wood-look flooring and a dark slatted ceiling. Full-length drapery provides a softer backdrop around the space.

For a celebration, furniture can be removed or rearranged to accommodate the desired setup.

That could mean round tables for an intimate wedding reception, dinner or milestone birthday; theatre seating for a ceremony or programme; or an open floor for cocktails and dancing.

For more relaxed occasions, its existing lounge furniture — including velvet armchairs, channelled sofas and colourful ottomans  creates an entirely different atmosphere without requiring a complete redesign.

Made for the practical side of celebrating, too

Of course, choosing a venue is about more than how it photographs.

Coral includes tables and chairs and is equipped with air conditioning, a sound system, speakers, a projector and screen, and event lighting.

There is 24/7 power, on-site parking and restrooms, while catering, food and drinks arrangements and bar setups are also available.

These details give couples, celebrants and planners a useful starting point before décor, florals, entertainment and the more personal elements of an occasion are introduced.

The beach becomes part of the experience

Perhaps the most distinctive part of hosting at Coral is one you won’t find inside the hall.

The venue sits on the grounds of 234Loft, directly on Oba Elegushi Private Beach.

It means an indoor celebration can still borrow from its surroundings: photographs by the water, welcome drinks outdoors, some time by the beach after dinner, or simply giving guests somewhere else to enjoy during a longer celebration.

The property also has a swimming pool and approximately 10 guest rooms, which can be particularly useful when planning an occasion that extends beyond a few hours.

A birthday could become a weekend with friends. An intimate wedding could bring ceremony, celebration and accommodation into one destination. A bridal shower or anniversary dinner could simply end with everyone walking towards the water.

For celebrations that don’t need hundreds of guests to feel significant

There has been a growing appeal to celebrations that prioritise experience over sheer size.

Coral lends itself naturally to that kind of occasion.

It could host an intimate wedding, bridal or baby shower, engagement celebration, milestone birthday, anniversary, private dinner or another gathering where the intention is to bring the right people together in a setting that still feels special.
And because the room itself is relatively neutral and adaptable, hosts can decide whether their occasion should feel romantic, minimal, colourful, formal or completely their own.

For anyone currently searching for an intimate event venue in Lagos or Lekki, Coral at The Lofts offers another possibility — this time, with the beach waiting just beyond the doors.

Coral at The Lofts is now accepting booking enquiries. Email or follow @CoralAtTheLofts on Instagram to see more of the venue and enquire about hosting your next celebration.

Sponsored Content

The post Meet Coral at The Lofts, a New Setting for Intimate Celebrations in Lagos appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

The jerseys are coming back out. Weekend plans are being rearranged. Group chats are warming up again. Across Nigeria, the familiar arguments about who will win the league have already begun.

Football is back. And so is Goldberg’s Back to Bar.

The return comes after a first edition that gave consumers more than the usual matchday experience. Through the first Back to Bar edition, consumers received instant airtime rewards, while selected winners earned trips to the United Kingdom and Qatar to experience football beyond their local viewing centres and bars.

Now, Goldberg is bringing the campaign back with Back to Bar 2.0, retaining the instant rewards while introducing something new to the mix: weekly N250,000 cash prizes for consumers at participating outlets.

With La Liga already underway and the Premier League returning on Friday, August 21, followed by another weekend of major European league action, club football is once again taking over screens and conversations around the world. In Nigeria, some of those conversations will inevitably end up where many of the best football moments are experienced: at the bar, surrounded by friends, rival fans, cold bottles and 90 minutes of completely unpredictable drama.

Goldberg is adding another reason to make the trip.
The beer brand has rolled out Back to Bar 2.0, the latest edition of its nationwide consumer promotion, giving consumers the opportunity to enjoy instant airtime rewards and a chance to win N250,000 every week at participating outlets in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Benin, Makurdi, Jos, Yola.

Running from August through November 2026, the promotion lands just as the new football season gathers momentum – a period when bars across the country once again become meeting points for fans following their clubs, debating line-ups and celebrating, or recovering from, the weekend’s results.

And the mechanics are straightforward: Consumers who purchase two bottles of Goldberg at participating outlets receive 400 worth of airtime and an entry into the weekly cash draw.

Then comes the bigger possibility: 250,000 naira win.Every week throughout the promotion, consumers will emerge as cash winners, turning what might have started as an ordinary evening at the bar into a considerably better story to tell.

The simplicity is important because Back to Bar 2.0 is ultimately built around something bigger than the reward: bringing people together. Football makes that idea particularly relevant.

“The first edition of Back to Bar showed us just how strongly consumers connected with the campaign. The response was clear people showed up, participated, and made it a part of their experience. Seeing that success made it an easy decision to bring it back. With Back to Bar 2.0, we are building on that momentum by creating even more opportunities for consumers to come together, enjoy their time at the bars and be rewarded,” said, Kunle Aroyehun, Senior Manager, Goldberg, Nigerian Breweries Plc.

Goldberg Back to Bar 2.0 runs at participating outlets nationwide until November 30, 2026. Consumers must be of legal drinking age. Terms and conditions apply.

To learn more about this promo and participating bars, follow @goldberg_ng on all social media channels.

Sponsored Content

The post Goldberg Kicks Off Back to Bar 2.0 with Weekly N250,000 Wins appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Held at New Life Church Derby, the exhibition brought together documentary photographs celebrating the beauty of a multicultural faith community. Rather than relying on elaborate staging or dramatic editing, the exhibition found its strength in authenticity. Every photograph captured genuine moments of worship, fellowship and everyday interaction, allowing the people within the images to tell their own stories.

One of the exhibition’s greatest strengths was its simplicity. The photographs didn’t demand attention through spectacle; instead, they invited viewers to slow down, observe and reflect. Each image revealed something new about community, belonging and the shared experiences that unite people across different cultures.

The exhibition also stood out because of its setting. Presenting documentary photography within a church rather than a traditional gallery challenged expectations and demonstrated that meaningful artistic experiences can flourish in community spaces. It transformed a place of worship into a place of cultural conversation, encouraging visitors to engage with photography in a personal and accessible way.

With more than 300 visitors from both the church community and the wider public, the exhibition sparked thoughtful conversations around diversity, identity and faith. Visitors spent time discussing the stories behind the photographs, reflecting on the emotions they conveyed and appreciating the sense of unity that ran throughout the collection.

If there is one area that could be explored further in future exhibitions, it would be expanding the body of work. The exhibition successfully introduced Ayobami Olorunniyi‘s documentary approach, but a larger collection or a more extensive narrative series could deepen the viewer’s experience and further showcase the breadth of his visual storytelling.

Nevertheless, “One Church, Many Nations: A Community Through My Lens” is a confident and meaningful exhibition that demonstrates Ayobami Olorunniyi‘s growing voice as a documentary photographer. His work reminds us that photography is not only about capturing images but about preserving stories, celebrating diversity and creating spaces where people can connect through shared humanity.

As Ayobami continues to develop his artistic practice through exhibitions and documentary projects, this exhibition marks an encouraging step in what appears to be a promising career in contemporary visual arts.

Sponsored Content

The post A Closer Look at Ayobami Olorunniyi’s “One Church, Many Nations: A Community Through My Lens appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

The Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is a non-profit organisation set up in response to the extremely high incidence of rape, sexual violence, and human trafficking of young girls and women in our society. WARIF is tackling this issue through a holistic approach that covers health, education, and community service initiatives.

This week, we’re featuring Ogenekaro’s story, a sexual assault survivor.

Featured Image by Sora Shimazaki for Pexels

My name is Ogenekaro, and I am a 20-year-old woman.

I lost both of my parents at a very young age and was raised by my late father’s elder brother, my uncle, and his wife. They loved and cared for me as though I were their own daughter. I have always called them “Dad” and “Mom.”

After I was unable to pass all my WAEC subjects on my first attempt, my guardians enrolled me in a secondary school so I could rewrite my examinations. The school’s director, whom I will call Mr Ade, was a close family friend. Because of the trust my family placed in him, I never imagined he would become the person who would betray that trust most devastatingly.

Since I lived far from the school, I stayed with my aunt, who lived much closer. A few weeks after I resumed, Mr Ade began giving me special attention. Eventually, he asked me to be in a relationship with him, promising that he would help me excel academically if I accepted. I rejected his advances.

Alongside my studies, I ran a small online clothing business. One day, Mr Ade ordered several shirts and asked me to deliver them to his residence. Believing it was a normal business transaction, I went to his house. After we spoke for a while, he began touching me inappropriately. I pleaded with him to stop and told him I was a virgin, but he ignored my pleas. He sexually assaulted me.

Afterwards, he begged me not to tell anyone. He promised that he would marry me someday and warned me that my guardians would never believe my story. He also threatened to harm me if I disclosed what had happened. Terrified and confused, I remained silent.

The abuse did not end that day.

He repeatedly manipulated and pressured me into returning to his house. Over time, he coerced me into sending nude photographs and videos of myself. When I expressed fear or resisted his demands, he used those images to blackmail me. He threatened to send them to my guardians and falsely claim that I had tried to seduce him if I refused to comply. After every assault, he reminded me never to tell anyone.

Although he constantly instructed me to delete our conversations, I secretly kept copies of our messages and protected them with a password without his knowledge. Those messages became the only evidence I had of the abuse, threats, and manipulation I endured.

As the months passed, I became consumed by fear, shame and despair. I withdrew from everyone around me and struggled with overwhelming suicidal thoughts.

My aunt noticed the dramatic change in my behaviour and repeatedly asked what was wrong, but I could not bring myself to speak. Eventually, I reached my breaking point. I left behind a note asking my family not to look for me, left my phone at home, and went to stay with a childhood friend.

While trying to understand what had happened, my aunt found my phone and discovered several password-protected conversations. Using the password I had written in my note, she accessed the messages and uncovered the evidence of the abuse, including his threats and the explicit images he had coerced me into sending. Realising where I was likely to be, my family found me safely at my friend’s house.

My guardians were devastated that someone they had trusted so completely had taken advantage of me. They immediately reported the matter to the police. The police referred me to the WARIF Centre, where I received comprehensive medical care, psychosocial counselling, and other support services free of charge.

When I first arrived at WARIF, I felt broken, hopeless, and overwhelmed by trauma. My counsellor listened to me without judgment and continually reminded me that what had happened was not my fault. Through counselling, I learned healthy coping strategies that helped me process my trauma, rebuild my confidence, and gradually regain my sense of self-worth.

I also began attending WARIF’s monthly Group Therapy Sessions, where I met other survivors. Sharing our experiences in a safe, supportive, and confidential environment reminded me that I was not alone. Together, we encouraged one another, found strength in our shared resilience, and celebrated every step of our healing journeys.

Although my court case is still ongoing, I remain hopeful that justice will be served.

Despite everything I experienced, I refused to let my story define my future. I rewrote my WAEC examinations at another centre, passed with excellent results, and gained admission to study Pharmacy at university. Today, I am in my second year and maintaining a first-class GPA.

Looking back, I know my healing journey would not have been possible without the care, compassion, and unwavering support I received at WARIF. The dedication and professionalism of the counsellors, medical team, staff, and management restored my hope when I had completely lost the will to live.

Today, I choose to focus not only on what I survived, but on who I have become because I refused to give up. My story is proof that, with the right support, survivors can reclaim their lives, pursue their dreams, and find the strength to keep moving forward.

*Real name of the survivor changed for confidentiality.

***

WARIF aids survivors of rape and sexual violence through the WARIF Centre – a haven where trained professionals are present full-time, 6 days a week, including public holidays, to offer immediate medical care, forensic medical examinations, psycho-social counselling, and welfare services, which include shelter, legal aid, and vocational skills training. These services are provided FREE of charge to any survivor who walks into the Centre. This feature is published as part of BellaNaija’s commitment to youth, education, healthcare, and community development as part of our corporate social responsibility program.

The post How WARIF Is Helping Ogenekaro Heal and Survive After Being Assaulted By Her Uncle appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Uche Montana, producer behind trending YouTube Nollywood releases including Second Chances and Monica. Photo Credit: Uche Montana/Instagram

Looking for something to do this weekend? If your ideal Saturday involves staying in, ordering your favourite food, getting comfortable and watching one Nollywood film after another, YouTube has plenty to offer.

One actress whose films are worth adding to that watchlist is Uche Montana. Best known for her work on screen, Uche has also been building a name for herself behind the scenes as a film producer. Through her YouTube channel, Uche Montana TV, she has been bringing more of her own stories directly to viewers, giving Nollywood fans plenty to watch without leaving the sofa.

Her work has also earned recognition beyond her acting roles. At the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Uche took home the Trailblazer Award, celebrating her growing impact in the Nigerian film industry.

So, if you’re searching for Nigerian films to watch this weekend, here are five Uche Montana films to add to your list.

Uche Montana holding her Trailblazer Award at the 2026 AMVCA. Photo Credit: Uche Montana/Instagram

Second Chances

Uche Montana’s most recent film is a good place to start if you are in the mood for a story about starting over. Starring Uche alongside Bimbo Ademoye and BamBam Olawunmi, the film follows three women whose lives take different turns but eventually become connected.

At the centre of the story are heartbreak, forgiveness and the difficult process of picking yourself up after life does not go according to plan. With three women navigating their own personal struggles, Second Chances gives you plenty of emotional turns to follow.

The Long Way Home

If relationship stories are more your thing, The Long Way Home might be the one to put on next. Uche Montana stars alongside Maurice Sam and Nadia Buari in a story that brings relationships, family secrets and unresolved feelings into the same space.

The film explores what happens when things that have been buried for years start coming back to the surface, forcing people to make difficult choices about love, family and the lives they have built.

Monica 1

Released earlier this year, Monica 1 stars Uche Montana and John Ekanem as a young woman finds herself dealing with betrayal and circumstances that force her to reconsider the life she thought she had.

Monica’s story is about trying to rebuild after being hurt while finding the strength to stand on her own. If you like Nollywood stories where a woman has to navigate difficult circumstances and find her way back to herself, this one belongs on the list.

Monica 2

And if you get to the end of Monica 1 and immediately want to know what happens next, there is a second part waiting for you.

Monica 2 continues Uche Montana and John Ekanem’s story, picking up from the events of the first film. This time, Monica is dealing with the aftermath of everything she has been through while trying to find healing, seek justice and take back control of her life.

Basically, if you are going to start Monica, you might as well clear some space in your weekend for both films.

Beauty is the Beast

For something with a little romance mixed into the family drama, there is Beauty is the Beast. Directed by Tissot Nnachi and produced by Uche Montana, the film stars Uche alongside Kunle Remi.

Uche plays Anthena, a woman whose carefully organised life starts to unravel when her estranged siblings secretly enter her household as domestic staff. What follows is a complicated collision between family history, secrets and her relationship with Azuka, the heir to a real estate business.

It is also one of the films that gives viewers a closer look at Uche Montana’s work as a producer, showing the actress taking on a role behind the camera as well as in front of it.

The post Your Weekend Watchlist: 5 Uche Montana Films to Stream on YouTube appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

There are two kinds of parents during the long holiday. The first are the organized ones who already bought uniforms in July and sorted out school shoes weeks ago. Then there are the rest of us.

We keep saying, “There’s still time,” until the school’s PTA WhatsApp group suddenly comes alive with the words, “Dear Parents, this is a gentle reminder that resumption is next Monday...”

That’s when the panic starts. Suddenly, you realize your child has outgrown last term’s uniform, their black school shoes no longer fit, and to make matters worse, they casually remember they need a new mathematical set, five 60-leaves exercise books, and that special drawing pen they’ll need for the new school term.

If this sounds like you right now, you are not alone. Here are five simple things you can do to avoid the usual resumption rush and make those first few mornings a little less stressful.

• Start preparing before the rush

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is waiting until the final week before resumption. By then, bookshops and markets are packed with parents trying to get everything they need, and you’re wondering why you didn’t start a week earlier. Make a list now and buy what you can gradually. Even if you’re waiting for your salary to be paid, knowing exactly what you need will save you from last-minute panic buying.

• Check what you already have before you shop

Before buying anything new, see what’s still usable at home. Does the school bag still have another term in it or does it just need a good wash? Are there unused notebooks from third term hiding in a drawer? Children will always try to convince you they need everything brand new, but a quick check can save you money and helps you replace only what is genuinely outgrown or worn out.

• Prioritize quality everyday school essentials

School fees, uniforms and shoes are understandably high on every parent’s back-to-school checklist. But once the school term begins, it’s the everyday essentials like pens, pencils and notebooks that children rely on in almost every class.

A pen that stops writing halfway through copying notes or a pencil that keeps breaking can be incredibly frustrating for a child who’s simply trying to keep up. Investing in quality stationery from trusted brands like BIC saves you from buying replacements every two weeks. It’s one of the reasons BIC has remained a trusted choice for generations of Nigerian families. Whether it’s the iconic BIC Cristal Pen that writes smoothly to the last drop, or durable coloring pencils for art class, parents know they’re choosing dependable learning tools their children can rely on throughout the school year.

• Help everyone ease back into school mode

If you expect kids who have been sleeping late and watching cartoons all holiday to magically jump out of bed at 5:30am on Monday morning, you are setting yourself up for premium stress. A few days before resumption, start adjusting bedtime, reduce screen time gradually and let your children help pack their school bags so the first morning back doesn’t feel like a punishment.

• Prepare your child emotionally

As parents, it’s very easy to focus on the physical things like school uniforms, books and shoes but don’t forget to check in with your child too.

Take a moment to ask them how they’re feeling about going back to school. While some children are excited to see their friends again, others may be anxious about a new class, a strict teacher or making new friends. A simple conversation builds their confidence and reminds them they have your full support.

The truth is, no parent has it all 100% figured out, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to have everything sorted at once, but to take care of what you can, when you can. Start early, take it one step at a time, and when resumption finally comes around, you’ll be ready to send your child off with one less thing to worry about.

Make the Back-to-School Rush a Fun Family Experience!

Speaking of having one less thing to worry about, BIC is taking the stress out of the shopping rush and turning it into a massive celebration to send your child off to the new school term in grand style!

From August 28 to 30, BIC is taking over Ikeja City Mall with the ultimate Back-to-School Experience Center. Bring the kids along for exciting games, entertainment, food, drinks, and lots of prizes, while you seamlessly shop for all your BIC essentials. Whether you are attending as an individual or registering on behalf of an institution, make sure you secure your spot right now by registering at www.bicbts.ng.

For more updates, follow @bic.nigeria on Instagram and TikTok.

Mark your calendars, get the kids ready, and let’s get School Ready with BIC!

Sponsored Content

The post Back-to-School: 5 Things Every Parent Should Do Before the New School Term Begins appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Tems and Burna Boy earn nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations are in, and Nigerian music is represented by Burna Boy and Tems across three nominations. Burna Boy receives two nods alongside Shakira for “Dai Dai” — in Best Collaboration and Best Latin — while Tems is nominated with British-Nigerian rapper Dave in the Best R&B category for “Raindance.” The ceremony is set for Sunday, 27 September, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Beyond Nigeria, the wider African and diaspora footprint remains strong across the lineup: PinkPantheress scores five nominations for “Stateside + Zara Larsson“, RAYE picks up two, Shaboozey appears in Best Country and Best Cinematography, Tyler, the Creator lands a spot in Best Hip-Hop, and French Montana earns a Best Collaboration nomination.

Burna Boy and Shakira perform their single “Dai Dai” live on stage, securing 2026 MTV VMA nominations for Best Collaboration and Best Latin. Photo Credit: Shakira/Instagram  

One notable change, however, is the absence of the Best Afrobeats category from the 2026 MTV VMAs nominations. Introduced in 2023, the category had three winners across its three editions: Rema and Selena Gomez won the inaugural award for “Calm Down” in 2023, while South African star Tyla won in 2024 for “Water” and again in 2025 for “Push 2 Start.” That means Tyla currently has two MTV Video Music Awards, both for Best Afrobeats.

For Nigerian music fans, Rema remains the Nigerian artist to have won the Best Afrobeats VMA, making history with Selena Gomez in 2023. This year, Burna Boy and Tems carry the Nigerian flag in other genre and collaboration categories instead.

Tyla poses with her Moon Person trophy after winning Best Afrobeats at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. Photo Credit: MTV/Instagram

Best Afrobeats is not the only category missing from this year’s announcement. Also absent are Best Rock, Best Pop Artist, Push Performance of the Year, Best Album, Video for Good, Best Long-Form Video, Best Group and Song of the Summer. Meanwhile, Best Dance returns to the VMAs slate for the first time in seven years.

Madonna leads the 2026 nominations with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each earn seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson receive five apiece.

Here is the complete list of nominees for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.

Video of the Year

• Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
• Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”
• GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean”
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• Sabrina Carpenter — “Tears”
• Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

Artist of the Year

• Ariana Grande
• Bruno Mars
• Madonna
• Morgan Wallen
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

• BTS — “Swim”
• Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
• HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI — “Golden”
• Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”
• Olivia Dean — “Man I Need”
• PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
• RAYE — “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”

Best New Artist

• Bella Kay
• CORTIS
• Magnus Ferrell
• Malcolm Todd
• Myles Smith
• Sienna Spiro
• Stella Lefty

Best Collaboration

• Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice — “Chains & Whips”
• French Montana and Max B — “Ever Since U Left Me”
• Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”
• PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
• Shakira and Burna Boy — “Dai Dai”
• Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye — “Hard Part”

Best Pop

• Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
• Charli xcx — “SS26”
• LISA — “Dream” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
• Olivia Rodrigo — “drop dead”
• Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”
• Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
• Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Hip-Hop

• Cardi B featuring Kehlani — “Safe”
• Don Toliver — “E85”
• Drake — “Janice STFU”
• Megan Thee Stallion — “LOVER GIRL”
• Travis Scott — “DUMBO”
• Tyler, the Creator — “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE”

Best R&B

• Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”
• Chris Brown — “It Depends/Obvious”
• Dave and Tems — “Raindance”
• Justin Bieber — “YUKON”
• Kehlani — “Folded”
• Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis — “Is It a Crime”

Best Alternative

• Geese — “Taxes”
• mgk and Fred Durst — “FIX UR FACE”
• Noah Kahan — “The Great Divide”
• Olivia Rodrigo — “the cure”
• SOMBR — “Homewrecker”
• Tame Impala — “Dracula”
• twenty one pilots — “Drag Path”

Best Dance

• Bebe Rexha and Faithless — “New Religion”
• Harry Styles — “Aperture”
• Lady Gaga and Doechii — “RUNAWAY”
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
• Slayyyter — “DANCE…”
• Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”

Best Latin

• Anitta with Shakira — “Choka Choka”
• Bad Bunny — “NUEVAYoL”
• Fuerza Regida — “TU SANCHO”
• KAROL G — “Papasito”
• Rosalía featuring Yahritza Y Su Esencia — “La Perla”
• Ryan Castro, Kapo and GANGSTA — “LA VILLA”
• Shakira and Burna Boy — “Dai Dai”

Best K-Pop

• BLACKPINK — “JUMP”
• BTS — “SWIM”
• CORTIS — “REDRED”
• KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”
• LE SSERAFIM featuring j-hope of BTS — “SPAGHETTI”
• LISA — “Dream” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi

Best Country

• Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”
• Kacey Musgraves — “Dry Spell”
• Lainey Wilson — “Somewhere Over Laredo”
• Luke Combs — “Back in the Saddle”
• Shaboozey — “Cowgirl”
• Stella Lefty — “Boston”
• Tucker Wetmore — “Brunette”

Best Direction

• Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
• Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”
• GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean”
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”
• Taylor Swift — “Opalite”

Best Art Direction

• Charli xcx — “SS26”
• Lady Gaga and Doechii — “RUNAWAY”
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
• SOMBR — “My Body Isn’t Ready”
• Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Cinematography

• A$AP Rocky — “PUNK ROCKY”
• Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
• LISA — “Dream” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• Shaboozey — “Cowgirl”
• Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Editing

• Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
• Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”
• LISA — “Dream” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”
• Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Choreography

• GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean”
• Harry Styles — “Dance No More”
• KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”
• Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Visual Effects

• Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”
• JISOO and ZAYN — “Eyes Closed”
• Madonna — “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson — “Stateside”
• RAYE featuring Hans Zimmer — “Click Clack Symphony”
• Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

The post Burna Boy and Tems Score Three Nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs | See Full List appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Tyla poses with her Moon Person trophy after winning Best Afrobeats at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. Photo Credit: MTV/Instagram

MTV officially unveiled the full list of nominees for the 2026 Video Music Awards, and a major shift in the line-up has quickly become one of the biggest talking points across the global music industry. Organisers have omitted the Best Afrobeats category from the ceremony. The decision marks the end of a short-lived three-year run for the dedicated genre award, leaving the music community to unpack what this change means for African representation on major international stages.

The category was first introduced in 2023 to celebrate the explosive global rise of African sounds. Across its three editions, the Moon Person trophy went to two acts who made history in the space. Rema and Selena Gomez took home the inaugural award in 2023 for their massive global crossover hit “Calm Down“. South African star Tyla followed with remarkable back-to-back victories, claiming the award in 2024 for her viral phenomenon “Water” and again in 2025 for her single “PUSH 2 START“. Rema and Tyla now stand as the only two artists to ever hold the honour.

Tyla arrives on the red carpet at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards before winning Best Afrobeats for Water. Photo Credit: Billboard/Instagram

MTV has offered no public commentary or formal statement detailing why the category was dropped. However, the move is part of a sweeping structural shake-up of the event. A total of nine categories were quietly retired for the 2026 ceremony, including mainstays like Best Pop Artist, Best Rock, Best Group, Push Performance of the Year, Video for Good, and Album of the Year.

The discontinuation also lands in the middle of a broader, ongoing industry debate about how Western awards bodies classify non-Western music. Throughout her wins, Tyla openly pointed out that her sound is built on Amapiano, Pop, and R&B, highlighting how placing the continent’s vastly different styles under one blanket “Afrobeats” label can be limiting. While dedicated categories guarantee visibility for rising talents, industry critics have long argued that isolating African music into a single regional bracket acts as a glass ceiling rather than true integration.

Despite the loss of the standalone field, African heavyweights continue to compete directly inside the mainstream, non-regional categories for 2026. Burna Boy secured two nominations for “Dai Dai“, his global collaboration with Shakira for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, landing in both Best Collaboration and Best Latin. Meanwhile, Tems earned a nomination in Best R&B for her feature on British rapper Dave‘s single “Raindance“. The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place live on Sunday, 27 September 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on CBS and MTV while streaming on Paramount+.

Tyla poses with her Moon Person trophy after winning Best Afrobeats at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. Photo Credit: MTV/Instagram

The post MTV VMAs 2026 Removes Best Afrobeats Category After Three Years appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.