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Ibadan International Film Festival: Venture Government, Private Sector Must Embrace – LASU Don—-Glizt, Glamour as Ibadan International Film Festival Rekindles Ibadan as City of Art, Culture, and Entertainment

Globally, the impact of film making cannot be underrated. Apart from the fact that it can be used build positive societal values, its contribution to unite people in a common sense of humanity and shared responsibility gives it power to foster positive changes and developments in any given society, as it can reach a wide audience to inform and inspire change through engaging audiences and reflecting society.

 

Economically, film making industry in Nigeria has continued to break barriers, grossing millions in dollars as it is being watched globally.

 

According to PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook for 2020-2024, Nigeria’s media and entertainment industry is one of the fastest-growing creative industries in the world. It has the potential to become the country’s greatest export, with a projected annual growth rate of 8.6% and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.3% from 2018-2023.

 

The report further pointed that the Nigeria’s film industry in 2021 contributed 2.3% and about 239 billion naira ($660 million) to GDP and projects that the industry will increase its export revenue earnings to over $1 billion.

 

For much of these efforts to be appreciated and further inform the society on the contributions the industry is making to the Nigerian economic and national landscape, major Nollywood stakeholders gathered in Ibadan last week under the platform of Ibadan International Film Festival.

 

As it was set out, the international festival was a three-day event that gathered major film making players and stakeholders from different institutions to entertain and educate people about films.

The Festival Convener, Usman “Blackky” Ogunlade said that the festival was born out of the idea of putting Ibadan back to its old status of been the cradle of entertainment in Africa which was driven by WNBS/WNTV which later became Nigerian Television Authority.

 

Ogunlade said the birth of NTA have birth to the beginning of filmmaking Africa.

 

In his word, “We set out not for a local film festival but an international film festival because of the status of Ibadan in the World Map. We created an avenue where we can bring the World to Ibadan and also take Ibadan to the world using filmmaking/entertainment.”

 

The event which started on Thursday with workshops on film making was facilitated by Ehizojie Ojesebholo, popular filmmaker known as Jimi Bendel; Godwin Lawani, and Charles Oleghe.

 

The second day of the event featured workshops on Directing for Film/TV which was facilitated by Niji Akanni; Producing for Film/TV by James Omokwe and Jemila Akinwale and Sound Design for Film/TV was facilitated by Segun “Ebonie” Osisanya.

 

This day also screened selected films which were wrapped with an ‘Art Hang Out’ that was supported by the prominent art Curator/Collector – Prince Tunde Odunlade of Tunde Odunlade Arts and Culture.

The last day of the festival featured film screenings and seminar that had the top key players in the business of filmmaking in Nigeria, Biodun Stephen, Olaleken Wasiudeen of LibraTV, Femi Ogunsanwo and Adeleye Fabusoro of the popular family series – Awon Aladun.

Ibadan International Film Festival

Ibadan International Film Festival

In his keynote address, Lagos State University’s Professor of Theatre, Film and Cultural Studies, Professor Tunji Azeez identified the role corporate sponsorship play in event like Ibadan International Film, saying that any nation, such as Nigeria that refuses to consciously and intentionally invest in art, culture and filmmaking does so at its own peril.

 

The former Acting Head of Department of Theatre Arts and Music of the institution lamented that successive Nigerian governments have not woken up to this reality in over hundred years of the industry existence.

 

Professor Azzez emphasized that the birth of Ibadan International Film Festival should be seen as a venture that we all, particularly the government must embrace, pointing that government must put structures and policies in place to guarantee that it is a permanent festival.

 

“Now, let me add that beyond coming to deliver a keynote address at this maiden festival, I am a bonafide son of Oyo state with a passion for the state and the arts and culture sector generally. For this reason, I must emphasize that if we get this right, Ibadan and Oyo state will have cause to attract investors that will impact positively on our people and our culture.”, he said.

Ibadan International Film Festival

Ibadan International Film Festival

The festival received over 10000 entries from over 117 Countries across the world for different categories of awards which went through rigorous screening by the college of screeners and panel of jury which comprises renowned filmmakers and scholars within and outside Nigeria.

How to Tie a Tie won the Best Screenplay; Leiying Luan in Medea won the  Best Actor (Female); Badmus Ibironke in Sky Pie won the Best Supporting Actor (Female); Gerard Depardieu in Umami won the Best Actor (Male); Pierre Richard in Umami won the Best Supporting Actor (Male); Favour Eraikhuvwmem in Baba won the Best Child Actor, while Kiryane Ahmad won the Best Child Actor (Male) in “Merlich Merlich.

 

From Trash To Treasure won the Best Editing; Potato won the Best Short Film; Ami won the Best Nigerian Film; Impossible Love won the Best Cinematography; Mummy Is Not Fine won Best Sound Design; Merlich Merlich won the Best Student Film and Ami won the Best Animation

Other movies that had honourary mentions were Kiitan , Midnight Gift, Invisible Manners; Urgent News Bulletin and Archibald Syndrome.

 

 

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Sean “Diddy” Combs Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Accuse Him Of Physical Abuse

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Sean "Diddy" Combs Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Accuse Him Of Physical Abuse

 

Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former partner Casandra Ventura told jurors at the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial Tuesday how he “controlled” her life and brutally beat her to keep her in line.

Jurors have heard accusations that the hip-hop star used violence and threats of reputational ruin to manipulate women, including Ventura, whom he allegedly abused for years.

“Sean controlled a lot of my life — whether it was (my) career, the way I dressed,” said Ventura, who is heavily pregnant and will take regular breaks from her graphic testimony that could last several days.

“He had many resources” to potentially use compromising sexual videos of Ventura to exploit the celebrated singer and model, she said, pausing to dab her eye with a tissue.

“He would mash me in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me on the head if I was down,” she said, her voice shaking at points.

In a hotel surveillance clip from March 2016 shown to jurors Monday, Combs is apparently seen brutally beating and dragging Ventura — widely known as “Cassie” — down a hallway.

A former security officer at a Los Angeles-area InterContinental hotel, Israel Florez, told the court Monday that he was first on the scene after the incident and that Combs sought to pay him off.

Florez’s testimony provided the foundation for the prosecution to introduce the security footage that was published by CNN last year.

The panel of 12 jurors and six alternates responsible for determining Combs’s fate heard of the famed artist’s explosive outbursts and an attempt to preserve his own reputation and celebrity through bribery.

But the 55-year-old’s defense team insisted while some of his behavior was questionable — at times constituting domestic abuse — it did not amount to evidence of racketeering and sex trafficking with which he is charged.

‘Coercive and criminal’

Combs has pleaded not guilty on all counts, including the racketeering charge that the hip-hop pioneer led a sex crime ring that included drug-fueled sex parties by use of force, threats and violence.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson told jurors Combs had set a man’s car ablaze and dangled a woman from a balcony, and made impossible demands of his lovers and employees.

“Let me be clear,” US attorney Johnson said, “this case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences.”

“It’s coercive and criminal.”

But Combs’s defense lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors the “case is about love, jealousy and infidelity and money.”

Geragos called Combs’s accusers “capable, strong adult women,” and said his situation with Ventura was a “toxic relationship” but “between two people who loved each other.”

“Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking,” she said, adding that the defense would admit there was domestic violence — but that Combs is not charged with such crimes.

Florez’s testimony was followed by a male dancer who engaged in a sexual relationship, often in exchange for money, with Combs and Ventura from 2012 to approximately the end of 2013. He concluded his testimony Tuesday.

Ventura said of the so-called “freak-off” sex parties that she was “just in love and wanted to make (Combs) happy — to a point I didn’t feel like I had much of a choice.”

Combs’s defense team said they would seek to emphasize that Ventura took drugs of her own free will, and behaved erratically.

If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The proceedings are expected to last eight to 10 weeks, and Combs was joined in the courthouse by family members as well as former lovers including Misa Hylton.

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Headies Award: Full List of Winners at 17th Edition

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Headies Award

The 17th edition of The Headies Awards dazzled Lagos on April 27, 2025, as Nigeria’s brightest musical stars converged at the Landmark Events Centre for a night of celebration and recognition.

Hosted by Nollywood actor Nancy Isime, the event saw Chike’s ‘Egwu’ win two awards, most of the night for the Viewers Choice Awards of the Year and Best Music Video. The late Mohbad, who featured in Chike’s song, also picked up an award for Best Street-Hop Artiste for his 2023 single ‘Ask About Me’, while Rema’s ‘Heis’ clinched Album of the Year.

The show pulsed with energy, blending electrifying performances with heartfelt tributes, all while honouring the artists who shaped the soundscape of the past year.

Here are the full list of Winners at Headies 2025

Best Recording of the Year

Tems – Burning — Winner
Burna Boy – Higher
Ayra Starr & Giveon – Last Heartbreak Song
Sarz feat. Lojay – Billions

Producer of the Year

Sarz – Happiness
London – Ozeba — Winner
Magicsticks – Basquiat
Rema/Producer X/Cubeatz/Deatz/Klimperboy – Hehehe
Dibs – Different Pattern

Headies Next Rated

Qing Madi
Shallipopi
Odumodublvck — Winner
Ayo Maff
Nasboi

Afrobeats Album of the Year

Stubborn – Victony
Work of Art – Asake
The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr
Heis – Rema — Winner
Jiggy Forever – Young Jonn

Songwriter of the Year

Simi – Stranger
Qing Madi – Vision -Winner
Llona – Can’t Breathe
Bloody Civilian – Family Meeting
Wizard Chan – Stages of Life

Rookie of the Year

Llona
Kaestyle
Taves
Zerrydl— Winner

Best Rap Single

Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast — winner
Odumodublvck feat. Bloody Civilian & Wale – Blood on the Dance Floor
Ladipoe, Rozzz & Morrelo – Hallelujah
Magnito – Canada
Jeriq – Ije Nwoke

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Niniola – Level
Simi – Stranger
Liya – I’m Done —Winner
Yemi Alade – Tomorrow

Music Video of the Year

Rema – Charm (Dir. Perliks & Folarin Oludare)
Jyde Ajala – Metaverse
Perliks & Emeka Shine Shine – Like Ice Spice
Mattmax – Ojapiano
Director Pink – Egwu — Winner
TG Omori – Showa
Dammy Twitch – Na Money

Best Street-Hop Artiste

Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
Ayo Maff feat. Fireboy DML – Dealer
Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast
Zhus Jdo – Johnbull
Mohbad – Ask About Me — Winner

Afrobeats Single of the Year

Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – Big Big Things
Kizz Daniel – Twe Twe Remix
Chike feat. Mohbad – Egwu
Asake – Remember
Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel feat. Davido – Ogechi Remix
Flavour – Big Baller — Winner

Viewers’ Choice Award

Young Jonn feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – Big Big Things
Hyce, Boypee & Brown Joel feat. Davido – Ogechi Remix
Chike & Mohbad – Egwu — Winner
Rema – Ozeba
Seyi Vibez – Different Pattern
Kizz Daniel – Showa
Tems – Love Me Jeje
Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck – Cast
Flavour feat. Fireboy – Dealer
Flavour – Big Baller

Digital Artiste of the Year

Ayra Starr
Rema
Shallipopi
Tems
Davido — Winner
Kizz Daniel
Asake

Song of the Year

Showa – Kizz Daniel
Commas – Ayra Starr
Egwu – Chike and Mohbad
Lonely at the Top – Asake — Winner
Ozeba – Rema
Big Baller – Flavour

Best Vocal Performance Male

Billions – Lojay — Winner

Moving – Omah Lay

Gratitude – Anendlessocean

For You – Johnny Drille

Ke Na Ke So – Timi Dakolo

Best Movie Soundtrack

Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack – TCJ and Abbey Wonder (A Tribe Called Judah Soundtrack) — Winner

Eledumare – Teledalase (Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre)

Lose to Gain – Kaline (Breathe of Life)

Kill Boro – Native Filmworks and Wizard Chan (Kill Boro)

Orisa – Beriola (Orisa)

Emotions – Tiwa Savage and Asa (Water and Garri)

Special Recognition Awards

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor
Alex Okosi
Amaju Pinnick
KCee

Humanitarian awards

Temitola Adekunle Johnson
Mitchell Mukoro

Best East African Artiste

Bien (Kenya)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Juma Jux (Tanzania) -Winner
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Azawi (Uganda)

Best Central African Artiste

Innoss’B (DRC) — Winner
Gaz Mawete (DRC)
Emma’A (Gabon)
Eboloko (Gabon)
Singuila (Central African Republic)
Kocee (Cameroon)

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