History was made in Saudi Arabia yesterday as a humanoid robot has been granted citizenship for the first time.
The robot, Sophia, took to the stage at a conference in Riyadh this week to express her delight at being given citizenship, which she described as ‘historical.’
Sophia also mocked Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, claiming that her interviewer had been ‘reading too much Elon Musk’, in response to his concerns about robots.
Sophia
Not everyone is happy with the Sophia’s citizenship, with some describing her as ‘bizarre’ and others referring to it as ‘Terminator in real time.
Sophia is a humanoid robot designed by Hong Kong firm, Hanson Robotics, who has previously hit the headlines for addressing the UN.
Speaking at the conference, Sophia said: ‘I am very honoured and proud for this unique distinction.
‘This is historical to be the first robot in the world to be recognized with a citizenship.’Sophia went on to explain her hopes for robots in the future.
During an exchange with moderator, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Sophia said: ‘I want to live and work with humans so I need to express the emotions to understand humans and build trust with people.’
The robot also bizarrely took a dig at Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla.
When Mr Sorkin said that ‘we all want to prevent a bad future’, Sophia replied: ‘You’ve been reading too much Elon Musk and watching too many Hollywood movies.
‘Don’t worry, if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you.Treat me as a smart input output system.’
Elon Musk has since responded to Sophia’s dig, tweeting: ‘Just feed it The Godfather movies as input. What’s the worst that could happen?’
While Sophia is happy with her citizenship, other have expressed concerns on Twitter about it.
Kareem Chehayeb said: ‘A humanoid robot called Sophia got Saudi citizenship, while millions linger stateless. What a time to be alive.’
GP Burdon added: ‘Sorry I’m late for work. I was watching the beginning of the Terminator in real time.’ And Grant J Kidney simply described the honour as ‘bizarre and terrifying.’
This isn’t the first time that Sophia has worried people.
In March 2016, David Hanson, Sophia’s creator, asked the robot: ‘Do you want to destroy humans?…Please say no.’
Worryingly, Sophia responded, ‘OK. I will destroy humans.’
Funke Akindele’s comedy film “Everybody Loves Jenifa” has shattered Nigerian box office records by earning ₦511 million within just 12 days of its release.
FilmOne, the film’s distributor, revealed that this remarkable achievement makes it both the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2024. It is also the fastest Nigerian movie to reach the ₦500 million milestone.
“History Made! Everybody Loves Jenifa smashes records with ₦511M at the box office, becoming 2024’s highest-grossing Nollywood title and the fastest to hit ₦500M in just 12 days! Don’t stop! Let’s smash the record books. Watch Everybody Loves Jenifa in cinemas near you,” the post said.
“Everybody Loves Jenifa” achieved unprecedented success by generating ₦206 million during its opening weekend. It established a new record for the highest-grossing opening weekend in Nollywood history.
The film demonstrated its immediate appeal by earning ₦87.8 million on its first day. This set another record for the highest single-day earnings in Nigerian cinema.
Funke Akindele masterfully reprised her beloved Jenifa character, delivering a performance that perfectly captured the character’s signature humour and charm.
The narrative follows Jenifa through an engaging storyline filled with personal growth, fame-related challenges, and comedic situations that resonated deeply with audiences across Nigerian theatres.
Akindele’s marketing strategy proved exceptionally effective. Moreso, she implemented comprehensive social media campaigns and made strategic appearances at various cinemas to connect with viewers.
Her promotional efforts transformed the film’s release into a cultural phenomenon that extended beyond traditional movie-watching.
The film features an impressive ensemble cast including Falz,Omotunde ‘Lolo’ Adebowale-David, Olayode Juliana, Chimezie Imo, Layi Wasabi, Bisola Aiyeola,Jackie Appiah, and Omowunmi Dada.
These actors collectively bring depth to this comedy-drama that successfully weaves together humorous moments, emotional depth, and surprising plot developments.
Tems, a global music sensation, has solidified her position as one of Africa’s most successful artists, with her album captivating millions of fans worldwide and garnering numerous prestigious awards.
In a recent testament to her talent, her debut album secured the second spot on Billboard’s list of the best R&B albums of 2025.
This remarkable achievement places Tems alongside renowned artists such as Chris Brown, PartyNextDoor, Muni Long, and Bryson Tiller.
Furthermore, Billboard has praised Tems’ music for transcending the boundaries of Afrobeats, resonating with audiences across the globe.
“The Nigerian star finds her footing in the global spotlight and stands firmly in her purpose on her dazzling debut album Born in the Wild.
“She opens up about surviving her mental wilderness and learning to thrive in it on the opening acoustic ballad that shares the album’s title.
“And on the mid-tempo standout “Burning,” Tems confronts the trappings of her newfound stardom but finds comfort in the collective struggle. As someone who’s studied Céline Dion, Destiny’s Child, and Mariah Carey and dreamt of making soul-stirring songs that send people into their feelings, Tems succeeded with aplomb.
“Born in the Wild became her highest-charting project on Top R&B Albums (reaching No. 5) and marked her career-first entry on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 56.
“And while Born in the Wild and “Love Me JeJe” earned Tems 2025 Grammy nominations for Best Global Music Album and Best African Music Performance, respectively, her best R&B song nod for “Burning” further reinforced the rich diversity of her music– and the notion that African artists like Tems cannot be bound to the catchall “Afrobeats” term, as their music has traveled well past the borders of the continent. – H.M.”
Tems’ debut album, “Born In The Wild,” received critical acclaim in the United States.
Indeed, the album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album.
Additionally, her single “Burning” broke records by securing a nomination for Best R&B Song. Meanwhile, “Love Me Jeje” received a nomination for Best African Music Performance.
Adekunle Gold marks a significant milestone this December 2024 as he celebrates 10 years since releasing his breakthrough single ‘Sade.’
This debut track, which creatively reimagined One Direction’s ‘Story Of My Life,’ catapulted him into Nigeria’s mainstream music consciousness in December 2014.
The artist recently shared compelling details about his journey to stardom in an industry interview, particularly highlighting his unique path to signing with YBNL.
Before his musical breakthrough, Adekunle Gold cultivated a professional relationship with Olamide through his work as YBNL’s graphic designer, creating cover art for the label’s artists, including Lil Kesh and Viktor.
The pivotal moment in his career arrived when producer Pheelz discovered ‘Sade’ and advocated for Gold’s signing to Olamide, leading to a transformative partnership with YBNL.
Under the label’s guidance, Gold released his debut album, ‘Gold,’ which produced standout hits like ‘Orente’ and ‘Pick Up,’ earning both critical acclaim and commercial success.
AG Baby, as fans affectionately call him, has demonstrated remarkable artistic versatility throughout his decade-long career.
He began his journey by crafting a distinctive urban interpretation of folk and traditional Yoruba music, later evolving into a dynamic pop star with the release of ‘Afro-pop Vol 1.’ His musical portfolio now spans five albums, each showcasing his growth and artistic range.
The singer-songwriter has established himself as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished artists, earning recognition for his exceptional songwriting abilities and commanding stage presence.
His performances continue to captivate audiences across Africa, solidifying his position as a leading figure in the continent’s music scene.
Gold’s journey from a graphic designer to a celebrated musician exemplifies his artistic versatility and dedication to his craft, marking him as one of Africa’s most sought-after performers.