Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has expressed her outrage over the abduction and murder of Christiana Idowu by Adeleye Ayomide. Christiana is a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
On September 5, 2024, Ayra Starr took to X, passionately calling for better treatment of women in society and demanding justice for the slain student. Her message emphasized the need for immediate action to address violence against women and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.
She wrote, “Stop killing us! Stop raping us! Women deserve better #JusticeForChristianah.”
The 300-level student from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Christiana Idowu, was abducted along the Ikorodu-Yaba Road in August 2024.
Christiana Idowu
The kidnappers contacted her parents using her WhatsApp account. This prompted her parents to report her missing on August 19, 2024. They sent pictures of Christiana in captivity through WhatsApp’s “view once” feature, demanding ₦1.5 million in ransom. Her parents managed to raise ₦350,000, which they transferred to a betting account as instructed by the kidnappers.
After receiving the money, the kidnappers asked for a copy of the sender’s bank statement. On August 23, Christiana’s family complied, but the kidnappers cut off all contact shortly after. Investigators traced some of the ransom money to Christiana’s GTB account. Then, someone transferred this money to a Wema Bank account. The account belonged to Adeleye Ayomide, a 200-level student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). Investigators identified Ayomide as the primary suspect.
Adeleye Ayomide, the primary suspect.
On September 3, 2024, police arrested Ayomide, who confessed to killing Christiana and burying her body at his family home.
Davido’s “Na Money” music video, featuring Angélique Kidjo and The Cavemen, has earned the prestigious Best Costume/Styling (Craft) award at the 12th Berlin Fashion Film Festival.
The vibrant video is directed by Dammy Twitch and produced by Blessing Uzzi. The video captivated audiences with its colourful costumes, cultural depth, and breathtaking visuals. This celebrates African heritage with impeccable creativity and style.
The win underscores the team’s exceptional attention to detail in showcasing the beauty of African fashion and culture. From the elaborate traditional attire to the contemporary designs, the video seamlessly blends visual artistry with the powerful Afrobeat sound of the track.
This recognition cements “Na Money” as a benchmark for combining music and fashion in innovative storytelling.
The Berlin Fashion Film Festival celebrates fashion and film annually.
It has recognized outstanding talent since its establishment. The festival is part of the larger Berlinale, a global cinema event dating back to 1951.
It focuses on creativity and craftsmanship in filmmaking. The festival highlights emerging talent across various artistic disciplines. It awards prestigious honours like the Golden Bears.
The event attracts filmmakers, designers, and film enthusiasts from around the world. The festival provides a platform for innovative storytelling through visual media.
Recognizing creative excellence supports artistic development. The award represents a significant achievement for artists and creators. For Davido and his team, this recognition underscores their contribution to global cultural representation.
The festival continues to be an important stage for showcasing innovative artistic expressions.
The video’s dynamic visuals and cultural richness not only earned industry accolades but also resonated with fans worldwide.
To experience the award-winning brilliance firsthand, watch Davido’s “Na Money,” featuring Angélique Kidjo and The Cavemen, now.
Let the stunning visuals and captivating storytelling take you on a journey through Africa’s vibrant cultural tapestry.
Explore the full list of winners on the festival’s official site and join in celebrating this milestone for African music and fashion.
Reginald Jumbo’s compelling short film “The Interrogation of Lotanna” has earned prestigious recognition with six nominations at the upcoming 2025 Film Joint Awards.
The nominations span major categories. They include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Indigenous Film (Nigeria), Best African Film, and the Best Jury Award for Outstanding Storytelling.
The FilmJoint platform stands as a vital global initiative that connects short filmmakers with international audiences. They provide them with a stage to showcase their creative works.
Through its annual awards ceremony, FilmJoint celebrates exceptional short films that advance African cinema’s artistic and cultural landscape.
Producers Ibukun Serah Adetoyinbo and Oreoluwa Obadofin bring to life a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of civil unrest.
The plot follows Captain Ardo, a military commander tasked with suppressing an eastern rebellion led by the elusive Zuru Nkwu.
After months of fruitless searches, intelligence leads Ardo to interrogate a suspect named Lotanna. Despite enduring severe torture, Lotanna steadfastly maintains his innocence throughout the ordeal.
The film showcases powerful performances from an ensemble cast. The cast features William Chinoyenem, Cassey Oritsejolomi, Anthony Nwahiri, Francis Sule,Michael Embraiz, and Mr. Rala.
Each actor brings depth and authenticity to their respective roles, contributing to the film’s emotional impact and storytelling prowess.
These nominations underscore the film’s artistic merit and its significant contribution to African cinema. The recognition from the FilmJoint Awards particularly highlights the film’s excellence in storytelling, direction, and performance.
Meanwhile, it also acknowledges its cultural significance as both a Nigerian and African production. The winners will be revealed at the 2025 FilmJoint Awards ceremony, where “The Interrogation of Lotanna” stands as a strong contender across multiple categories.
On November 18, 2024, fans woke up to the shocking news that Wizkid’s latest single, “Kese (Dance)”, had suddenly vanished from the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100.
Just days ago, the song had been proudly sitting at the number one spot. This abrupt drop sparked widespread speculation, with many fans and industry insiders suspecting that Apple Music had penalized the track for streaming manipulation.
Such drastic deductions often indicate stream deductions or “chart-drinking,” which are common penalties that Apple Music enforces against artificial streaming boosts.
Adding fuel to the controversy is Wizkid’s “Kese (Dance)”, released on November 15, 2024, as the second lead track from his forthcoming album “Morayo”.
Within hours of its release, “Kese” soared to the top of the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100, demonstrating Wizkid’s enduring popularity and dominance on the charts.
However, the unexpected removal of the song from the charts sent shockwaves through social media, leaving fans divided. Some believe Apple Music may have acted to curb stream farming, while others argue it might simply be a technical glitch.
Historically, Apple Music has taken stringent measures to crack down on streaming manipulation, especially against high-profile artists.
This latest move, if confirmed as a penalty, would be one of their strongest actions yet against stream farming. However, the possibility of a glitch cannot be entirely dismissed, as similar occurrences have happened before.
Fans now eagerly watch to see if “Kese (Dance)” will rebound to its previous chart-topping position. A quick recovery would lend credence to the glitch theory.
Meanwhile, a continued absence would suggest that Apple Music has indeed taken a firm stance against streaming irregularities—even against a major act like Wizkid. For now, all eyes remain on the charts to see how this drama unfolds.
