Our correspondent reports that the earnings are over 416 million naira more than in 2022 with a seven per cent year-on-year increase in market share.

However, while 2022 gross was earned from 64 locations, there was a total of 70 locations in 2023.

According to data insights from The Industry, a journal by film insights publication, In Nollywood, over 14 per cent of the total gross was earned by Funke Akindele’s `A Tribe Called Judah’, which has become the first Nollywood film to hit one billion dollars in the cinema.

The journal noted that the revenue growth, mostly hinged on increased ticket prices, is not happening at the same pace as admissions growth, which is still significantly low.

Inspite of the success of ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, Akindele’s previous film, Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020) currently holds the record for the most admissions recorded for a Nollywood film at 449,901.

The project was largely responsible for bringing the audience back to Nigerian cinemas after lockdown and converting new audiences.

“If released in the same period as A Tribe Called Judah, with average ticket price at N3,700, it’d have made over N1.6bn which raises the question of ticket prices and actual cinema habit growth, despite yearly increase in gross revenues.

Ticket prices are at N7,000 in most cinemas in city centres.

“In a similar context, the first Black Panther movie, released in 2018, had over 200,000 admissions more than Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

“The latter went on to break the record for the first film to gross one billion naira in West Africa, a feat aided by increased ticket prices and more screening locations.

“The former grossed over 800 million naira at the time. In 2018, there were 48 locations, the number grew to 64 by 2022,” the journal stated.

It also stated that cinemas have been hanging on by raising prices at a wild rate, causing audiences to think through their decisions more intently than before.

Our correspondent reports that nine other films, grossed over 5o million naira in the cinemas in 2023.

They are Malaika, Ada Omo Daddy, Orisa, Merry Men 3, Kesari, Something Like Gold, The Kujus Again, Afamefuna and A Weekend To Forget.

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Already, the selection has garnered overwhelming support from the Nigerian movies industry and movie lovers.

Speaking to our reporter in Abuja on the selection, the movie Director, C.J ‘Fiery’ Obasi described the film’s Oscars journey as key for Nigeria’s perception on the global scene.

According to him, Mami Wata’s selection by the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC), as Nigeria’s entry for the 2024 Oscars is significant.

“It is significant for what it symbolises as far as how we want to be represented, perceived and the images we want to put out of ourselves, our stories and tradition to the rest of the world.

“It is the beginning of a new conversation, and a call to arms and support for all who dream and aspire for a new narrative around us, and around our stories.

“This is cinema, but this transcends cinema. This is a fight for our identity, and a seeking of meaning and balance, in a world where chaos and confusion increasingly thrives,” he added.

Obasi’s ‘Mami Wata’ weaves a compelling narrative, showcasing the story of a West African goddess and her diminishing influence in a struggling village, depicted with striking poignancy in a captivating black and white visual palette.

It was reported that the film, which had its theatrical releases in Nigeria and other countries, won the Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival 2023 for its vivid black-and-white cinematography.

The 96th Oscars will take place on March 10, 2024.

The show will air live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation, Hollywood.

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Our correspondent reports that these films are part of the growing content docket spread across several streaming platforms, which have launched in Nigeria.

Netflix and Showmax joined home-based IrokoTV and in the last quarter of 2021, Amazon officially launched in the country and has begun commissioning its own slate of content.

Film business journal, The Industry by Inside Nollywood, has reported a decline in Nollywood’s cinema market share in the first half of 2022.

It dropped from 39.3 per cent in the same period of 2021 to 28.5 per cent in 2022.

The journal notes that “with the introduction of streaming, it is cheaper to bundle all your Nollywood gamble on one platform, which costs less than N5, 000 monthly than go through traffic and spend at least N2, 000 per film (outside other costs).

“The audience is afraid to keep gambling and the economy does not make it easier to throw more money to the wind.

This is why when they find a film that is way less disappointing, they reward it with loyalty, hoping stakeholders in the industry will take hints,” it added.

Speaking on the data, co-publisher of the Inside Nollywood journal Anita Eboigbe told our correspondent, “there are two issues here.

”The first is that the general film admissions is not growing. For the last three years, except 2020, about 1.5 million tickets have been sold in the first half of each year.”

“It is a stagnant number annually with slight variations in market shares between the players.

“The second is the shrinking market share by Nollywood which is alarming given that it defeats the multiple sources of income debate and further slows down the process of customer acquisition for films in Nigeria,” she said.

Eboigbe added that among filmmakers, there is a slow disenchantment with the cinema distribution process.

“The primary reason is that the returns are not what they are hyped to be and secondly, they do not seem to be improving anytime soon. Yet, distributors and exhibitors do not seem alarmed enough to aggressively do something about it.”

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The Manchester United star player has become the only person on Instagram to cross the gigantic milestone, garnering the love of people around the world.

Celebrating the achievement, the 37-year-old Manchester United Star player, took to his Instagram handle on Tuesday, to send a special message for his fans and admirers.

“Hi Guys! 400 million! Wow! What a number!” began an ecstatic Ronaldo.

He continued, “Well it’s fantastic! What a moment for me. You know, without you this would have been impossible so, from the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you.

“Keep going like that. I will share my life with you, all the things with you because you deserve it,” he gushed.

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Twerking is a sexually suggestive dance characterised by rapid, repeated hip thrusts and shaking of the buttocks especially while squatting.

This type of dance came out of the bounce music scene of New Orleans in the late 1980s.

Davido and his second baby mama, Amanda, threw a lovely and quiet birthday party for their daughter, Hailey to mark her birthday in Atlanta, Georgia.

The singer was seen in a video shared online, spanking his daughter after she jumped and twerked while her guests cheered on.

Many applauded him for being a good dad who is trying to correct his daughter.

Below are some of the reactions:

@temilolasobola wrote; ‘The Yorubas will say ika o je se tie be’

@strut_those_heels wrote; ‘Lol this world. U pay ppls daughters to do the same. U get them pregnant and leave them, the revolving belt is coming ooh’

@official_kenny111 wrote; ‘Davido is such an amazing father but as a husband, nahhhhhh’

@danhausawa_dh wrote; ‘Good dad. He did the right thing’

@_queen_berrywiz wrote; ‘The comment section how can you compare a child to a lady may God help una‘

@giftbymo_wrote; ‘Some of you are just mad!these ppl who are twerking,have a choice,why are you not also doing it?leave him to correct her n mind your fucking business,comparing a child to Adults!’

@usmanashafe wrote; ‘HIS DAUGHTER, HIS MF RULES’

Meanwhile, some others were not shocked by the little girls performance saying Davido’s music encourages most twerkers.

@Titi-o said; “Oh he knows twerking is bad but he will be celebrating naked and twerking women”.

“E shock you?? help me ask o. isnt that what they promote in their videos for kids to watch. Abi he was thinking its only our children that will see it? what goes round comes around!

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Bose is the talent manager and co-founder, Spaceship Collective which represents Afrobeats superstar and Grammy award winner Burna Boy as well as Buju.

According to Billboard, its 2021 International Power Players list aims to recognise “industry leaders — nominated by their companies and peers and selected by our editors — with primary responsibility outside the United States.

“Honourees include label executives, music publishers, independent entrepreneurs, artist managers and concert promoters.”

Also on the list is another Nigerian Obi Asika, co-head of U.K. office, UTA.

Describing Bose, Billboard wrote:

“Amid the pandemic, Ogulu co-executive-produced, released and promoted the “Twice As Tall” album from Nigeria’s breakout global star Burna Boy (aka Damini Ogulu).

He is signed to Bad Habit/Atlantic in the United States and Warner Music International for territories outside of Africa.

Twice As Tall won best global music album at this year’s Grammy Awards.

Bose has set up a publishing company through Spaceship Collective to enable Africans to own their own catalogues “so that the authenticity of our stories, our glory, our culture is sustained,” she says, “and we are empowered.”

In her response to the recognition on her social media platform, Bose said, “Honored to have made it to Billboard’s 2021 international power player list. Looking forward to breaking down more doors.”

Billboard is an American magazine and website that produces news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music industry.

It is known for its music charts, including the Hot 100, Billboard 200 and Global 200, tracking the most popular songs and albums in different genres.

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Tiwa was rumoured to be pregnant with another baby for one of Davido’s huncho, but has come out now to dispel the rumours.

The rumour was believed to have started after Tiwa’s Instagram live performance for the movie ‘Coming To America 2’ after party.

The single mother of one, recently on her instagram, posted pictures of her hot summer body with the caption “Pregnancy where???’’ to further dispel the rumours.

Tiwa, who the New York Times described as the Queen of Afrobeats, made an American album debut, with the release “Celia,” in Aug. 28, 2020 but her fourth full-length album in Nigeria,

“Tiwa has this natural tone in her voice that makes you feel like you’re listening to a friend. It feels comfortable and feels wholesome and homey. And she sounds kind when she sings.

“My favorite singers have softness to their voice that doesn’t, you know, smash you in the face.

“It just sits with you and talks to you in a kind and soft way. That’s how I hear her voice,” The New York Times said.

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In a list, which includes big wigs like Apple, Twitter and Stripe, the firm makes history as the only African company to make it this year.

The list was divided into 5 categories; Pioneers, Leaders, Innovators, Disruptors and Titans.

TIME reports that the fintech company was chosen for its efforts in recharging retailers after the pandemic slowed travel in Nigeria.

Flutterwave co-founder and CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, explained that the digital payment provider launched a free promotion called “keeping the lights on.”

When pandemic lockdowns hit brick-and-mortar businesses in Africa, the digital-payment service was able to rapidly set up digital storefronts for 20,000 customers, throwing them a lifeline.

Agboola, compares the infrastructure of digital transactions across nations and platforms, “you don’t want to think about it, you just want it to work.”

Agboola called the free campaign “keeping the lights on.”

It would be recalled that Flutterwave hit tech-unicorn status in March when it secured 170 million dollars in Series C funding from global investors, valuing the company at more than one billion dollars.

TIME gathered nominations from its global network of editors and correspondents, as well as industry experts, to compile the list.

Health care, entertainment, transportation, technology, and a variety of other industries are among those represented.

The relevance, impact, innovation, leadership, ambition, and success of each company were then evaluated.

Other companies listed under ‘Pioneers’ include Rihanna’s SAVAGE X FENTY, Bumble, Beyond Meat, Hello Sunshine, Strava, Klutch Sports Group.

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