Entertainment
2023 AMVCA’s Top Four Female Nominees
The Nigerian film and movie industry and the continent at large are gearing up for another exciting edition of the prestigious Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA) organized by MultiChoice. This year’s nominees list is a testament to the growth of the film and movie industry in Nigeria. Among the nominees are some A-list female acts who are no strangers to the AMVCA stage. Listed in no particular order here are four female nominees to watch out for.
Funke Akindele
Funke Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa, has made her mark on the big screen. She won the Best Actress in a Comedy award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for her lead role in the show Jenifa’s Diary. She repeated the feat in 2020 and earned nine nominations in 2022, including Best Actress for her movie ‘Omo Ghetto’. This year, Funke Akindele’s ‘Battle on Buka Street’ has garnered ten nominations, surpassing her previous record.
Mercy Johnson
Mercy Johnson’s career in the Nigerian film industry speaks for itself. She has been recognized for her onscreen talent with multiple AMVCA nominations, dating back to 2013 when she was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy, alongside Funke Akindele. In 2022, she was nominated for her role in the movie ‘The New Normal’ as Best Supporting Actress. This year, she is a contender in the category for Best Actress in a Comedy/TV Series.
Osas Ighodaro
Osas Ighodaro, a former beauty queen and winner of the Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 8th edition of the AMVCAs, has been in the acting industry since 2014. She also co-hosted the 2014 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards. This year, she is gunning for a consecutive grab. Osas is a contender for the Best Actress in a Drama, Movie, or TV Series category for her performance in the movie ‘Man of God’.
Bimbo Ademoye
Bimbo Ademoye is a rising star in the Nigerian movie industry, known for her versatile acting skills and ability to take on multiple roles. She has been nominated for three awards at the 9th Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA), including Best Actress in a Comedy, Best Online Social Content Creator, and Best Actress in a Drama. She began her acting career in 2014 with the short film ‘Where Talent Lies’ and was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy/TV Series at the AMVCA in 2018 and 2022 for her roles in the films ‘Backup Wife’ and ‘Breaded Life’, respectively.
Other returning AMVCA nominees to watch out for include Sola Sobowale, Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, and Toni Tones. Voting has commenced. Visit Africa Magic website– www.africamagic.tv/amvca to vote for your favourite nominee(s).
The AMVCA 9 will be a three-day event from May 18-20, 2023, celebrating the talents of African film production, culture, fashion, music, and more. The awards are proudly brought to you by Africa Magic in Association with Multichoice and sponsored by Amstel Malta and Zagg Energy Drink. Join the conversation using the hashtag #AMVCA9 and follow @africamagictv for live tweets.
Entertainment
Genevieve Nnaji Returns to Acting in BBC Series ‘Wahala’
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Genevieve Nnaji, is making her return to television in “Wahala”, a new six-part drama produced by BBC Studios.
The series is based on the novel “Wahala” by Nikki May and will air on BBC One, with episodes also available on BBC iPlayer.
It is adapted for television by BAFTA-nominated writer, Theresa Ikoko.
BBC confirmed the cast on Tuesday, announcing a female-led ensemble that includes Adelayo Adedayo, Deborah Ayorinde, Cush Jumbo, and Susan Wokoma, alongside Nnaji.
Set in London, Wahala follows four Nigerian-British women whose close friendship is tested as they navigate work, relationships, and family life. Their lives begin to shift when hidden secrets from the past resurface, bringing betrayal and tension to the surface.
Speaking about the project, Nnaji said: “I’m very happy to be joining Wahala and to be working with such a brilliant team. It’s an intriguing story, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Entertainment
Nollywood Actor, Alex Ekubo, Dies at 40
Popular Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, is dead. He was 40.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleagues, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Godwin Nnadiekwe, who claimed to be his ally.
Sharing on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.”
Meanwhile, Ninalowo, who is now in the United States, also mourned on his page, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”
Nnadiekwe, on the other hand, shared, “I’m struggling to find the words. This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I’m lost for words because this wasn’t the plan, Alex Ekubo. To think you already prepared your Will — It’s heartbroken, I can’t quite describe. Rest well, my friend.”
As of the time of filing this report, his family has not issued a statement on his death.
Recall that fans across social media recently expressed concerns for Ekubo following his first public appearance after months of social media silence.
The light-skinned movie star had been absent from Instagram since December 30, 2024, sparking speculation about his well-being.
However, a recent video that surfaced online brought him back into the spotlight, though it also raised further questions.
In the viral clip, Ekubo was seen interacting with a group of children, appearing noticeably slimmer and subdued.
The video, posted by user @AsakyGRN on X (formerly Twitter), was captioned, “Alex Ekubo spotted for the first time since disappearing from social media.”
The footage triggered a wave of emotional reactions from fans, many of whom noted a significant change in his appearance and questioned his wellbeing.
Before his demise, the actor dismissed marriage in favour of his quest to earn more money in the film industry.
In January 2023, his then-lover, Fancy Acholonu, in an interview, revealed that she dated the late actor for five years without them having any intimacy.
The US-based model also called off her wedding to Ekubo in December 2021, after apologising to the film star a year later for calling it off.
Acholonu affirmed her love for the actor, saying that “like our shirt says, Nothing makes sense when we’re apart @alexxekubo you still have my heart.
“I miss you, I love you, and I’m truly sorry for all the hurt & pain you and your family went through with our breakup.”
She noted that her actions were out of character, and she has realised she could have controlled her emotions and not been so overreactive.
However, in a post on his Instagram page, Ekubo implied that he was aware that some people were curious about why he has not yet been married.
The film star said he was more interested in making money. He urged people not to bother about his marital status.
The Punch
Entertainment
I’m Done with Women, Media Personality Frank Edoho Declares
Media personality, Frank Edoho, has sensationally declared that he will never commit to a woman again.
In a recent exchange on his X account, the presenter confirmed that he is currently single when asked by a follower.
He added that he has had enough of commitment and does not intend to pursue it in the future.
“Yes. I have had my share. Never getting committed again. Ever,” he wrote.
Edoho followed up with a post addressing the dynamics of forgiveness in marriage, particularly when a wife cheats.
Best known for hosting the long-running game show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’? Edoho stated that some men who choose to forgive their cheating partners often face continued infidelity, deep resentment, and extreme disrespect from their spouses, ultimately realising the relationship had ended long before the act of cheating.
“If a Wife cheats & she asks her Husband to forgive her and he does — she will not only continue cheating but she will also resent the Man for forgiving her & disrespect him in extreme ways until he gets the ultimate message — she checked out of the marriage way before she cheated,” he concluded.






