Entertainment
Meet Tonto Dikeh’s Replacement in Churchill’s Heart, Rosy Meurer
Rosy Meurer, an up and coming Nollywood actress, was once again thrust into the limelight on Monday after Tonto Dikeh’s ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, unveiled her as his wife.
The tattoo-loving actress made the news headlines for the first time in 2017 when she was fingered in Tonto and Churchill’s divorce brouhaha.
At the time, she was an ambassador of Churchill’s Big Church Foundation’s Mother and Child Project.
Tonto would later reveal in an interview on Media Room Hub that she was aware that her ex-husband abandoned her and their son because she (Meurer) “had been sleeping with him.”
Among other allegations, Tonto revealed that her ex-husband gifted Meurer an SUV on her birthday.
Meurer later debunked the allegations.
Four years down the line and several denials after, it appears Churchill and Meurer are tired of playing games and want the whole world to know that they are officially married.
And so Churchill, in a birthday message penned to Meurer on Monday, addressed her as his ‘wife’ and then dropped a shocker. They had been married for two years!
In another post, the businessman and philanthropist penned another birthday wish for his young wife and tagged it “two years and stronger.’’
He wrote, “May God bless you today on your birthday and every day after. May you be comforted by His presence in your life. You have brought so much happiness, laughter, and wisdom into our life. Raising a glass in celebration of you, and sending many best wishes for your birthday. #twoyearsandstronger.”
Meurer, 29, who has come under attack from Tonto’s die-hard fans on Instagram, responded to the birthday message showing off her wedding ring.
So away from the husband-snatching scandal, who really is Rosy Meurer?
Meurer was born in The Gambia to a Dutch father and a Nigerian mother from Delta State. She is the first child in a family of three.
Meurer, who ventured into acting in 2012 when she starred in Emem Isong’s movie, ‘Spellbound’, is commonly known more as Tonto’s ex-rival than as an actress.
She gained notoriety when Tonto accused her of sleeping with her then-husband in 2017. Meurer would later admit that “she got more jobs and money after Tonto’s marriage crisis allegations”.
She got her big break in The Gambia when some Nollywood actors came to shoot a movie.
One of the producers spotted her when they visited her mum’s restaurant. That was how she landed her debut movie role and also met a director, Desmond Elliot, who advised her to try acting in Nigeria.
‘‘When he got back to Nigeria, he called me and said Emem Isong had a role for me in her movie. I traveled to Lagos and I starred in my first Nollywood movie titled Spell Bound,’’ she said in a Punch interview.
Meurer, who describes herself as a Gambian-born Nigerian actress, is best known for her role in Ayo Makun’s 2018 movie: Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons.
Her movie credits include ‘Weekend Getaway’ (2012), TV series ‘Oasis’ (2014), ‘Damaged Petal’ (2015), ‘Red Card’ (2015), and ‘Open Marriage’( 2015). Others are ‘Karma’ (2018), ‘Accidental Affair’ (2019), and ‘Circle of Sinners’ (2020).
She has featured in over 15 movies to date and produced her first movie, ‘Therapist Therapy’ in 2017.
Aside from acting, Meurer is also a philanthropist and an ambassador of Women and Child at Big Church Foundation, owned by Churchill.
Meurer, who bagged her first movie award as Next Rated Nollywood star at The Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador Award in 2016, speaks about five languages including English, Dutch, Gambian Dialect, Delta language, and Hausa.
She was signed as a Glo Ambassador in August 2019.
Premium Times
Nigeria-born Afro-pop star, Joeboy, whose melodies now ripple across continents, takes centre stage this week on the Easter edition of African Voices, the Globacom-sponsored CNN magazine programme.
In a captivating session from Lagos, show anchor Larry Madowo drew out the rhythm of Joeboy’s journey, tracing the arc from a starry-eyed university dreamer to a maestro whose songs now traverse the globe like whispered secrets carried on the wind.
Born Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus in 1997, Joeboy—affectionately dubbed Afrobeats’ “lover boy”—embarked on his musical odyssey in 2017 with a viral reinterpretation of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You.
This pivot from rap to melodious crooning caught the discerning eye of Nigerian artiste and entrepreneur Mr Eazi, who, upon discovering him on Instagram, extended an invitation to join the emPawa Africa Talent Incubation initiative—a sanctuary for budding African talents where raw potential is nurtured into brilliance.
The partnership bore fruit in 2018 with the release of Fààjí, featuring Mr Eazi, and soon after, Joeboy was signed to Warner Music Africa. From there, his ascent became a symphony of milestones: the intoxicating single Baby in 2019, followed by Beginning, which amassed over 23 million views on YouTube, and Love & Light the same year.
Collaborations with Mayorkun yielded the spirited tracks Don’t Call Me and All for You, further cementing his place in the Afrobeats constellation.
Joeboy’s debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, unfurled in February 2021, a melodic tapestry of youth, hope, and desire. By 19 May 2023, he unveiled his sophomore studio effort, Body & Soul, preceded by the evocative singles Sip (Alcohol), Contour, Body & Soul, and Duffel Bag. In 2023, he teased the world with Only God Save Me and the extended EP Body, Soul and Spirit, offering listeners a window into the essence of his artistic spirit.
February 2024 marked another milestone as he launched his own imprint, Young Legend, soon releasing Osadebe, a track that resonated nationwide with the familiar warmth of homegrown brilliance.
Joeboy’s dedication has been richly rewarded. He clinched Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. His music has earned numerous nominations, including at the City People Entertainment Awards and The Headies, affirming his status as a luminary of contemporary African sound.
The Easter edition of African Voices featuring Joeboy will air on DSTV Channel 401 at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, with repeats at 11 a.m.; Sunday at 3:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday at 3 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.; and Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. The schedule will be mirrored the following week, culminating in Monday at 3 a.m., giving audiences multiple opportunities to bask in the artistry of a musician whose voice carries the pulse of a continent.
Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star most famous for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” has died, his family said Friday. He was 86 years old.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.
“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives,” the statement said.
Norris reportedly fell ill on Thursday on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Norris turned 86 last week, marking the event with a video of him boxing on social media and saying, “I don’t age. I level up.”
Entertainment
South African Actress, Nomzamo Mbatha, Tells Success Story on Glo-Sponsored African Voices
Delectable South African actress, Nomzamo Mbatha, will this week on Globacom-sponsored Cable News Network International’s African Voices Changemakers, reveal her trajectory from the Rainbow Nation to the global stage of make-belief.
In the 30-minute magazine programme, show anchor, Larry Madowo, will engage Mbatha on her soaring career which earned her a mention in the prestigious TIME100 Next in 2025.
The thespian who has been featured in two Hollywood productions has also gained acclaim in the beauty industry as she has signed endorsement deals with Neutrogena and Cream of Nature, both global brands in skincare and haircare, respectively.
Madowo and Mbatha sat for the exclusive interview on set of the final season of the hit television series, Shaka iLembe at the historic Cradle of Humankind outside Johannesburg where she highlighted the cultural significance of Shaka iLembe, and why giving back to her society is at the center of her aspirations as well as the legacy she desires to build beyond the glitz and glamour of the big screen.
This edition of African Voices Changemakers will be broadcast on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with additional broadcasts at noon same day. On Sunday, further repeats hold at 4:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and on Monday at 3:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. The repeats continue on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m and Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m and Sunday, March15 at 3:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m as well as Monday, March 16 at 3:00 a.m.
