Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Nigeria’s Box Office Records N346.6m Revenue in March
The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) on Monday said that it generated N346.6 million from tickets sold across the country in March.Mr Patrick Lee, CEAN’s National President, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.Lee said that the figure represented 45 per cent increase compared to 189 million realised in March 2021.
He also said that there was a seven per cent improvement in ticket sales in March, as N301. 48 million was generated in February.He listed the highest grossing films in Nigeria in the month of March as : “The Batman”; “Uncharted”; “The Contractor”; “A Simple Lie” and “Turning Red”.“For the month of March 2022, we have N346,607,688.00 ticket sales, this is quite encouraging compared to what we had in February, N301,480,148.00.“The Batman sold the highest number of tickets accounting for 39 per cent of box office revenue for the month of March.“Comparatively, 2022 has continued to record higher box office revenue than 2021, March shows a 45 per cent improvement from 2021 performance and a 7 per cent growth from February 2022.“Of the 41 films shown in Nigeria cinemas in the month of March, hollywood accounted for 75 per cent of revenues despite having only 14 titles,” he said.Lee noted that the films to be out for the month of April were: I’m Nazzy, Sonic The Hedgehog, Saint Mark, Morbius, Bad Guys, King of Thieves and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. He said others were: The Blood Covenant, Twenty Nine, Ben from Downstairs, The Lost City, Rainy Day, The Man for the Job, Memory and Downtown Abbey: A New Era and A Hunt for Joe.
“As we say goodbye to the first quarter, we can’t wait to unravel the package for the second, beginning with a promising delivery of Marvel’s new superhero flick, “Morbius”.“It’s trailer suggests a blend of action, sci-fi, triller and horror; we are keen to see how moviegoers from our region would respond. Horrors have not realised the best figures at the Nigerian box office,” he said.(NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Spotify Spotlights Fola, Thakzin as Africa’s Next Music Icons

Spotify has announced Nigerian Afrobeats talent, Fola and South African Afro House DJ and producer, Thakzin, as part of its RADAR Africa initiative.
According to the streaming platform, these artistes have promoted and shaped Sub-Saharan Africa’s music scene.
Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, said this in a statement on Thursday.
According to her, the platform is committed to discovering and amplifying emerging voices in championing boundary-pushing artistes shaping the sound of tomorrow.
Okumu said that Spotify Radar was not just a platform, but a launchpad.
“It reflects Spotify’s commitment to empowering local artistes across Sub-Saharan Africa and delivering the best listening experience in the region.
“From Lagos to Johannesburg, RADAR celebrates the diversity of talent on the continent, offering artistes equal access to global audiences.
“At Spotify, we believe in the power of African storytelling through music,” she said.
She described FOLA and Thakzin as incredibly unique artistes who represent the spirit of RADAR.
“By amplifying their journeys, we hope to inspire more creators across the continent to believe in their vision and reach for bigger stages,” she said.
Fola, born Folarin Odunlami, first caught attention with his freestyles on social media, quickly making a name for himself with his blend of Afrobeats rhythms and soulful storytelling.
His breakout EP ‘What A Feeling’, featuring the Bella Shmurda-assisted hit, “Who Does That”, laid the foundation for a fast-rising career that now includes collaborations with BNXN, Magixx, and BhadBoi OML.
“Looking at where I’m coming from, I see every opportunity as a blessing. So, it’s a blessing to have been selected, just like others before me.
“I want my fans to know that in the midst of all the noise, I made something they could truly connect with, feel and share with those who mean something to them.
“I want everyone who listens to at the very least, recognise that they’re witnessing the early days of something truly special,” Fola said.
On the southern tip of the continent, Thakzin’s journey began in Ivory Park, Johannesburg, where early jazz and kwaito influences.
Also, a deep respect for traditional percussion shaped his signature sound.
With co-signs from Black Coffee and international tastemakers like Laurent Garnier, his genre-defying approach to Afro House, heard in his 2023 anthem, “The Magnificent Dance”.
Following the release of Magnificent Dance, his version of ‘Horns In The Sun’, by DJ Kent, became a viral hit across South Africa and gained global traction, potentially surpassing the success of ,Magnificent Dance’.
Thakzin’s sound is rooted in African spirituality and healing, inspired by the rhythmic power of traditional drums.
Shaped by a musical upbringing and guided by his father, a keyboardist, he blends rich harmonies with percussive elements to create an immersive Afro-house experience.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Popular Chinese Singer Executed by Firing Squad over Murder of Girlfriend

Popular Chinese actor and singer, Zhang Yiyang has been executed for the murder of his underage girlfriend.
Zhang Yiyang became the first ever Chinese celebrity to be executed by firing squad.
The Intermediate People’s Court of Xianyang in North Shaanxi Province made the report of his execution public in July 2025.
According to the report, the actor was executed on December 18 2024 for attacking his 16-year-old girlfriend with a knife in 2022, cut her left carotid artery, jugular vein, trachea and esophagus, which after massive bleeding led to her death.
Zhang started dating the victim in September 2021, before the victim proposed breaking up after a dispute.
After the murder, he took away the deceased’s mobile phone, discarded the knife and other weapons and related items in a reservoir to destroy evidence.
On the following day, he attempted to commit suicide at a hotel but was discovered by one of the hotel workers, who reported to the police.
His popular songs include ‘I Only Care About People Who Care About Me’, ‘So Care About You’ and ‘Crying Man’.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Why Igbo Men Struggle in Politics – Pete Edochie

Veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, has stirred controversy with a bold statement about Igbo politicians, claiming they are not adept at navigating the Nigerian political landscape.
In a recent interview, Edochie argued that the average Igbo man lacks the temperament required for politics, which often involves a degree of “treachery” and strategic compromise.
“An Igbo man is not a good politician.
And I will tell you why: people who are used to politics or the treachery that characterises politics can overlook a lot of things. But the Igbo man is not constituted to condone treachery a second time,” he said.Edochie emphasized that once an Igbo man is betrayed, he is unlikely to forgive or reconnect with the offender, which, in his view, hinders long-term political alliances.
“If you hurt the Igbo man once in politics, he will never give you an opportunity to hurt him again. He will recoil. That’s the average Igbo man.”