Davido says he was the first Nigerian artiste to make $1m off the ‘pon pon’ variant of Nigerian pop music.
When asked if he made the sound popular, Davido said: “I mean, I was the first to make a million dollars off it.”
‘Pon Pon’, a sound embraced by Tekno, Runtown, and Mr Eazi, gained prominence in the ever-evolving Nigerian music scene in 2017.
Characterised by soft synths, ‘pon pon’ gets its influence from hiplife, Afrobeats and Afro-pop.
In 2017, Davido threw a subliminal shot believed to be directed at Wizkid, urging him to embrace the new wave.
“Nah pon pon sound they reign now oo!! No Jonze, all other sounds nah the least for now,” he had said on Snapchat about a month before the release of Wikid’s ‘Sounds From The Other Side’ EP.
The pair has since settled their differences, and featured in each other’s end of year concert.
Davido was asked about a possible collaboration with Wizkid during the SoundCity FM interview and he said: “I feel like if it will happen, it will happen naturally.
“If we plan it, we might not do our best. Whenever the time is right, it will happen.”
When queried on the lack of female presence in his burgeoning Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) record label, he said: “If there was a female, we will be too overprotective.”
Davido won three plaques at the recent Headies awards.
Femi Kuti has expressed his views on the mass emigration trend, which Nigerians popularly call the “japa trend,” and has urged Nigerian youth to fight for a better country.
During the 2024 Celebration Festival, Kuti emphasised that he would not relocate to another country, noting that citizens of other nations had to fight for their own freedom.
He began, “People have asked me, ‘Shey you no go japa?’ japa to where?”
“Let me tell you about Europe; you see Europe and what made it great. Do you think they ran away? No, they fought; Europe fought hundreds of civil wars; dem just dey kill themselves. America had one of the worst civil wars in history, which is why till today Americans still carry guns,” he added, describing the past of some of the nations where Nigerians frequently relocate.
“Japa to where? … Made is a British citizen. Where is he? He is in Nigeria. He cannot be anywhere else. Who born am? Na monkey born am?…”
Femi Kuti called on Nigerians to acknowledge their duty to defend and improve their own nation.
“We must understand that we have to stay here and fight for a better country that we love. We did not build the Fela Shrine in Los Angeles or in London; we built it in Africa. Get your senses together because this country depends on you,” the singer continued.
“Made is a British citizen but where is he? He is in Nigeria, and he cannot be anywhere else. What does he want to do there? If they call him for work, he’d go there to play and come back. Who would take over the shrine? I want to retire.”
Omoni Oboli’s new film, The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3, earned ₦10 million in voucher sales just two days after its release. The director made the announcement in a joint post with Nile Entertainment, the film’s distributors.
This rapid success highlights the growing anticipation for Oboli’s work. The Uprising is already drawing attention across the country for its timely themes and engaging plot.
Nile Entertainment expressed excitement over the early sales figures, attributing the film’s success to its strong storyline and Oboli’s established reputation.
“My people, We have sold N10 million on our vouchers alone and counting. This is massive! You made this happen! Because of you, so many people will get to watch THE UPRISING for free!!! Thank you my Besties and everyone for showering The Uprising: Wives on Strike3 film the love that it deserves,” the post said.
Earlier this month, Nile launched a voucher system to allow cinema lovers to pre-order tickets before the premiere of The Uprising. This move helped build anticipation among fans eager to secure their seats ahead of showtime. As a result, the film’s initial sales surged quickly.
The Uprising is a satire that tells the story of a female local government official. She finds herself caught in a web of turmoil, juggling the challenges of her new authority with the complexities of her personal life. The film presents a powerful narrative, blending humor with important social commentary.
Adding to its appeal, Wives on Strike 3 features an impressive ensemble cast.
Leading the lineup are Chioma Akpotha, Uche Jombo, OmoniOboli, and Ufuoma McDermott. These celebrated actresses bring depth and energy to their roles.
Hilda Dokubo also joins the cast, further boosting the film’s star power. Additionally, rising stars like Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, popularly known as KieKie, and May Yul-Edochie deliver standout performances.
Nigerian rapper Falz has clarified that he was not pressured to study law due to his father’s success in the field.
Falz revealed in an interview with Chude Jideonwo on the “With Chude” podcast that his father, Femi Falana SAN, helped and fought for people who inspired him. This experience motivated him to pursue a legal career, contrary to popular belief.
He said,
“I won’t say it was pressure but when I was super young, it was like, ‘These people have to be something’ because I was already getting that reaction everywhere I went. And if I ever mentioned my name, people would be like, ‘Which Falana? Is it Femi Falana? Oh wow.'”
“Everyone sort of had a story about how my dad came to their aid at some point in time and how he fought for them and was there for them. At that time it was me taking everything in, like, ‘this is something’. So at that point in time, I wasn’t pressured; I aspired to emulate what he was doing,” he added.
This recognition made a deep impact on him, and he decided on his own to study law. Although he pursued a legal education, he practiced law only for a short period.
His decision to enter the field came from personal motivation. Despite his brief time practicing, the experience left its mark. Indeed, it shaped his perspective and contributing to his overall journey.
“I did practice law for a short period of time. Very short, almost two years. I worked at the Ministry of Justice during my youth service, which was like 2012 or so, then in 2013 I was at my father’s firm and 2014 was when things started to pick up for me so I started going out of practice,” he added in between laughter.