Ridoola's blog

Celebrities and people from all walks of life celebrated Boxing Day in praise. In the true spirit of Christmas, top Nigerian gospel acts put in powerful performances at the Simpli Praise 2021. Held at the Muri Okunola Park on Sunday, December 26, 2021, the Gospel Concert which was organised by Simpli Mi homes and produced by Yaw Naija Production had the likes of gospel musicians; Tope Alabi , Eben , Bj Sax , Ada Ehi, Bukola Bekes , Akpororo and many others performed beautifully and God’s presence was indeed present at the live concert. Some of Nigeria's best gospel acts performed at Simpli Praise 2021 Celebrities, families, friends and people from all walks of life gathered to praise and worship God for a wonderful and blessed year as it was a free event. Simpli Praise 2021 is one of the packages of Edna Ubebe who through her foundation gave grants of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000) to over 200 widows. Simpli Praise 2021 is an annual gospel concert Her Royal Highne...

2021 was a massive year for Afrobeats artists across the globe. The crossover smash of Wizkid and Tems ’ “ Essence ” helped push African music to the forefront of conversation around the globe, but massive songs from Joeboy , Davido , Fireboy DML , and others kept the momentum going strong. To end the year, Audiomack has put together a playlist of the top 21 Afrobeats artists of 2021, based on their global streams. Olamide Joeboy Burna Boy Davido Omah Lay Wizkid Bella Shmurda Naira Marley Fireboy DML Kizz Daniel Seyi Vibez Mohbad Zinoleesky Chiké Buju Barry Jhay Rema Timaya CKay Balloranking Patoranking Check out the playlist and remember to support your favorite Afrobeats acts right on Audiomack . ---- #FeaturebyAudiomack ridoola.blogspot.com

Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, learn from the ‘Yaba Buluku’ boys, Focalistic, Gyakie, Master KG and more. Earlier in 2021, a controversy rocked the African continent: Pancho C.Y International, used his Francophone Cameroon sentiment to create an anti-Nigerian storm . Should Cameroon ban Nigerian music? | Pulse Facts Only At the time, this writer noted that the anti-Nigerian sentiment wasn't just a Cameroonian thing. In the preceding years, Nigeria and Ghana had clashed on subtle issues like the superiority of Jollof rice and music; the origin of Afrobeats and influence. Uganda infamously jailed Tems and Omah Lay in December 2020. Xenophobia was the order of the day in 2019 South Africa. Like clockwork, we are back again. A few days ago, celebrated Nigerian superstar, Shatta Wale, once again stirred the hornet’s nest with some anti-Nigerian comments. The long and short of which was: Nigerians don’t support Ghanaian music , but Ghanaians support Nigerian music. While some part...

The legendary actor is now officially divorced from ex-wife only ten years later. Arnold Schwarzenegger is now officially divorced from Maria Shriver only ten years after the couple separated in 2011. The couple separated in 2011 when Shriver filed for divorce after Schwarzenegger allegedly cheated with the family’s nanny. The former Governor of California cheated with Mildred Baena in 1997 who he allegedly had a son with. Shriver cited “irreconcilable reasons” as the reason she filed for divorce which took so long to dissolve due to the couple’s many assets that required diplomatic dividing among both parties. The actor admitted that he told his wife about his infidelity when questioned after she filed for a divorce in 2011 to dissolve their 25 year old marriage that had produced 4 children. "After leaving the governor’s office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger had said when he was questioned about the matter by the Los A...

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the 2022 Appropriation Bill and the 2021 Finance Bill in keeping with the tradition of restoring a predictable January to December fiscal year, as provided for in the nation’s Constitution. The President signed the documents in the Presidential Villa in the presence of Senate President Ahmed Lawan , Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila , and other members of the Federal Executive Council. Speaking at the event, the president said the 2022 Budget, just signed into law, provides for aggregate expenditures of N17.127 trillion, an increase of N735.85 billion over the initial Executive Proposal for a total expenditure of N16.391 trillion. The president explained that N186.53 billion of the increase however came from additional critical expenditures that he had authorised the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to forward to the National Assembly. He said: ”The Minister will provide the public with the det...

Chinese social media has criticized the car company over the features of a model used in an ad. Mercedes Benz was forced to remove videos of a new ad it posted on the Chinese social media website Weibo after it faced backlash about its portrayal of a model that appeared in the ad. Chinese netizens on the website accused the ad of depicting Western stereotypes of Asian-looking features, causing a lot of backlash for the car company in China. This latest accusation is following a trend that has started in the country that criticizes Western companies portrayal of Asian features or qualities. The Communist Party publication, Global Times described the car company’s portrayal of the model’s makeup in the ad in sharp terms, saying that “The makeup of the female model looked like slanted eyes and once again aroused a heated discussion from netizens with many blaming that the makeup reflects Western stereotypes about Asian people,”. The situation with the Mercedes is following a trend on C...

The Federal Government says the second Niger Bridge under construction is currently at 78 per cent completion and is expected to be delivered by November 2022. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed , disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos at a media briefing. He said the ongoing work on the bridge consisted of the construction of a 1.59kilometre bridge and 10.3kilometre approach roads. “The total length of the Main Work is 11.90km while the bridge and approach roads are 2×3 lane expressways. “Other ancillary works include the construction of two secondary bridges at Oko Amakun (21.70m) and Atani Road (21.70m). “Also to be constructed is a new cloverleaf interchange at Onitsha-Owerri Road while several culverts and drainage structures will also be constructed,’’ he said Mohammed said various highways and bridge projects at various stages of completion were ongoing across the six-geopolitical zones of the country. He said the 360-meter bridge at Ikom in Cross ...

The National Reconciliation Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says aggrieved members of the party are cooperating with the committee towards an amicable reconciliation ahead of the Party’s National Convention. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Nov. 23, President Muhammadu Buhari gave the go ahead for the party to hold its national convention in February 2022 to elect national executive officers. The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu , gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Keffi Nasarawa State. He said the committee had started reaching out to the hotspots, assuring that it will not relent until significant result was achieved. NAN reports that the Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, Gov. Mai-Mala Buni , had set up a nine-member reconciliation committee, to reconcile aggrieved members. Adamu assured aggrieved party members of equal opportunity and fair hearing. ”...

The Federal Government has listed 100 major achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2021. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the list in Lagos at a media briefing to showcase the achievements of the administration during the outgoing year 2021. Mohammed said in spite of daunting challenges, the Administration, made tremendous progress in 2021 in fighting insecurity, growing the economy and reforming the oil and gas sector to spur more investments. Mohammed said the Buhari government is emplacing world class infrastructure and providing social safety net for the poor and most vulnerable in the society. He said the administration was equally taking advantage of the huge opportunities offered by the Information and Communications Technology Sector. Other areas in the listed achievements included mining, aviation, water supply scheme, agriculture, jobs creation, immigration services, Police reforms and Foreign Direct Investments. The mi...

The passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill and its signing into law as Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by President Muhammadu Buhari is one of Nigeria’s greatest achievements in the past several decades. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed , stated this at a media briefing on Thursday in Lagos. Mohammed said the feat recorded in a sector very critical to the nation’s economic well-being was also one of the greatest achievements of the Buhari administration in 2021. He said the PIA was a landmark achievement which many had described as “the most profound event in the Nigerian oil and gas space in the last 20 years.” According to the minister, the PIA was envisaged to foster investment in the petroleum and gas industry and delineate responsibilities to the various institutions. He said its key objectives included establishment of a commercialised National Oil Company (NNPC Ltd.) and entrenchment of accountability and good governance. Mohammed said PIA would a...

Tega received severe backlash from fans over her relationship with fellow housemate, Boma. Former Big Brother Naija housemate Tega Dominic has vowed to retaliate against those critics who have continued to troll her. The reality TV star took to her Twitter page on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, where she lamented about fans who think they can control celebrities’ lives. "It’s funny how some fans think they have so much control over their favs lives, causing chaos everywhere," she tweeted. twitter.com "No fan should come to my DMs asking me shit about anybody again, if you are not about & then don’t try it.. Don’t even think you can troll me coz I go give you back,LW." Recall the married housemate has been the subject of persistent backlash even weeks after her time on the reality show ended. While in the house, Tega incurred the wrath of sanctimonious fans of the show for getting intimate with co-housemate Boma Akpore. The pair debunked claims that the...

The Bishop has laid into Buhari at every opportunity since 2015. The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has been one of President Muhammadu Buhari's fiercest, harshest and consistent critics. But he says there's no hard feelings between him and the nation's number one citizen; and that the president still picks his calls. “If I pick up my phone and call Mr. President now he will pick it up. The other time he missed my calls, he called me back and we greeted each other. “But you know some people cry more than the bereaved," the Bishop stated during an exchange with journalists at the St Bakhita Catholic Secretariat, Sokoto. Kukah also said his criticisms of the president have been nothing personal. “All what I have been clamouring for are not personal. There are two issues that bothered me with this administration. One is the quantum of loss of lives and I don’t think there is anybody who is happy about this. “The second is the allocation...

9ice and Sunkanmi have a daughter together. Nigerian singer Alexander Abolore Adegbola Akande also known as 9ice has celebrated his second wedding anniversary with his wife, Sunkanmi. The music star took to his Instagram page on Thursday, December 30, 2021, where he penned a cute note to celebrate their anniversary. "Happy anniversary my love A decade of friendship 2 years married Forevermore to go," he wrote. www.instagram.com Happy anniversary to the Akandes from all of us at Pulse. 9ice's marriage with Sunkanmi was rocked in an infidelity scandal in 2020. This was after he released a video where he appealed to the public to beg his wife for forgiveness after admitting to cheating on her. A video of the singer with a lady simply identified as Tiwalope in a compromising position broke the internet days before his open confession. ridoola.blogspot.com

The film's performance is the best opening of any Nollywood film this year. Christmas in Miami, the latest film in the Akpos franchise created by comedian Ayo Makun , has raced to N100.7 million in its opening week at the box office. The comedy film made a total of N100,695,675 as its 7-day gross, according to figures compiled by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN). The film was screened in 61 locations and watched by more than 49,000 viewers since its December 24, 2021 release. The film's performance is the best opening of any Nollywood film this year, and finished the week second only to Disney's Spider-Man: No Way Home which ended its second week in Nigerian cinemas with a 7-day gross of N172.3 million, and N451.4 million in total. The Aki and Pawpaw nostalgia project by Play Network Studios finished the week in third place, sweeping N29.7 million at the box office to end up with N80.4 million after two weeks of screening. Christmas in Miami is th...

Kalu marries filmmaker Nicolette Ndigwe. Nigerian actor Ifeanyi Kalu has tied the knot. The movie star got married to his heartthrob, Nicolette Ndigwe on Thursday, December 30, 2021. The traditional marriage took place at Nwangele local government area in Imo State. www.instagram.com The ceremony was attended by family and close friends of the couple. www.instagram.com Congratulations to the couple from all of us at Pulse. Nicolette is a filmmaker and poet. Kalu is a Nigerian television and film actor, model and fashion designer. He is best known for his role in the movie 'Lagos Cougars.' ridoola.blogspot.com

The aide believes Gov Okowa is surrounded by some persons who have made him nepotistic in his dealings. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has sacked Latimore Oghenesivbe , his Executive Assistant on Communications after the latter accused him of unfair treatment in a Facebook post. Oghenesivbe had in the post titled ‘Tribal Bigot’ alleged that the governor had been subjecting him to unfair treatment since he’s been working with him. He added that he had been denied certain benefits that accrued to others in the media department of the state government. He disclosed that out of the recent N25m released by the governor to his media team, he received only N50,000 with two 25kg bags of rice. Oghenesivbe believed Okowa is surrounded by some persons who have made him nepotistic in his dealings. However, in a letter dated December 29, 2021, and signed by Patrick Ukah , the Secretary to the State Government, the governor expressed displeasure over Oghenesivbe’s conduct. The govern...

Okoye says online beggars are gullible to Internet fraudsters. Peter Okoye of the music group Psquare has slammed online beggars. The music star made this known while reacting to a post by a follower on Twitter begging for five hundred thousand naira. "I need #500k before next year @davido @officialnairam1 @realFemiOtedola @AlikoDangote @PeterPsquare @rudeboypsquare lets God use for me," the tweet read. twitter.com While reacting to the tweet, the singer said tweets like that make people gullible to fruadsters. "Now! Tweets like this is what this fraudsters are after off. They see how desperate you come online and beg for Money or giveaway and they will take advantage of you! By claiming it’s me and you will fall for it! Stop the fucking online begging! Irritating," he tweeted. ALSO READ: Stop begging celebrities for money on social media twitter.com This is not the first time Peter Okoye will be calling out an online beggar. He and several other ce...

Saskay is Pulse's second hottest female celebrity for 2021. Former Big Brother Naija housemate Saskay has lamented about the responsibilities of becoming a celebrity. The reality TV star expressed her worries via her Twitter page on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. "Earlier this evening, I tried to make an ig post and it wasn’t working the way I wanted it to. I got frustrated and broke down crying. That was when I realized how sad and scared of this new life I am. Shoutout to everyone trying something new. It’s okay to be sad, tired or," she tweeted. twitter.com "frustrated sometimes. It’s okay to feel weak and fall The most important thing is getting up and trying again. ‘Nothing great was ever done without much enduring. Estoy aqui para ti, mi amor." twitter.com Saskay is not the first reality TV star turned celebrity who has found settling into their new status a bit difficult. www.instagram.com It would be recalled that Sammie had lamented about...

Ubi and Nicola welcomed their son in 2019. Nigerian music mogul Ubi Franklin has been spotted in Asaba, Delta state with his third baby mama, Nicola Siyo. The founder of TripleMG Records was spotted with the mother of one of many kids and their child. Nicola took to her Instagram page where she shared photos of herself, Ubi and their son as they boarded a private jet. www.instagram.com She went on to caption the photos with a South Africa word 'Abazali…no' which means 'Parents' in English. Nicole is the mother of Ubi's third child, Shiloh. They welcomed Shiloh in 2019. Ubi and Nicola have not always seen eye to eye as they once dragged each other on social media. The music mogul has a son, Jayden, with his ex-wife, Lilian Esoro. Ubi Franklin [Instagram/UbiFranklinTrileMG] His fourth baby mama is Sandra Iheuwa and they have a daughter, Ariella , together. His first child, Zanetta , is from a relationship which many speculate was before his marriage ...

Johnnie Walker continues to harness the power of creativity to inspire young Africans and awaken a generation of giants, as it brings to life the ‘Keep Walking’ movement at Burna Boy’s “The Live Experience” which was held recently in Lagos. The electrifying concert had The African Giant Himself sharing the stage with other top talents to dish out top tier afro-fusion performances, thrilling music fans to an immersive and unforgettable music experience as they sipped on the distinctive flavours of Johnnie Walker Whisky and its signature Highball cocktail serves. #NoLabels: Burna Boy's concert was truly remarkable! #NoLabels: Burna Boy's concert was truly remarkable! #NoLabels: Burna Boy's concert was truly remarkable! #NoLabels: Burna Boy's concert was truly remarkable! As expected, Johnnie Walker made a big statement at the concert, the brand adorned the concert arena with inspiring “No Labels” quotes by Burna Boy and Mama Burna . These and other eye-catc...

While it was tough to rank certain EPs ahead of full length albums, some EPs made powerful cases for inclusion. It’s been a great year for Nigerian music. In 2020, Nigerian music went back to being a body of work market , with EPs forming the epicentre of Nigerian album experience. In 2021, the quality might have remained equally excellent, but the consistency at putting out bodies of work at all levels, has even inspired a conversation around certain categories at the Headies. While it was tough to rank certain EPs ahead of full length albums, some EPs made powerful cases for inclusion. In 2020, all the big six Nigerian artists released full-length albums, and it inspired full-length album releases from all angles. This year, album releases have been sparse. We’ve seen more EPs. Customarily, #PulsePicks is our year-end medium to celebrate excellence across different aspects of Nigeria. The fiffth installment on the music segment #PulsePicks follows this criteria; Critical acclaim...