Entertainment
Encomium as Wizkid turns 32
Eunice Oluwafunmilayo
As Wizkid turns 32 on Saturday, his fans have taken to social media to show their love as they wish him a happy birthday.
Wizkid, real name Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, entered the Nigerian music scene in 2011 and has been making waves ever since.
The Grammy Award winner, often known as Big Wiz, has made a number of noteworthy contributions to both Nigerian and international music.
His supporters, known as Wizkid FC, celebrated the star on Twitter with the trendy hashtags #WizkidAt32 and #Machala.
A fan, @lagossultan, said, “Nigeria have crude but Wizkid is Nigeria’s biggest export.
“Happy life anniversary to the GOAT (Greatest of All Times) of afrobeat. Biggest African musical artiste ever.”
Another fan, @ceejayok26, tweeted, “32 looks good on you Big Wiz. May the oil on your head never dry. Cheers to more life and good music.”
Praying for the singer, @wizjnr9 tweeted, “Happy birthday to the greatest African artist of all time, Big Wiz. Wishing you the best in life. #WizkidAt32”
“Happy Birthday Big Wiz. More wins, keep soaring higher in good health and sound mind. #Machala #WizkidAt32,” @edthesongwriter prayed.
A disc jockey, @djjamzy_, tweeted, “If you’re playing at a party and the party is boring and you want them to start turning up, just play a Wizkid song and see the reaction of the crowd. Happy birthday Big Wiz. Keep making Nigeria global. God bless you. #WizkidAt32”
Hailing Wizkid for his young look, @kimberly_donne wrote, “Happy birthday Big Wiz, 32 looking like 16; forever young
“As for your birthday present, you’ll get it when you get on a collaboration with Nicki Minaj. Long live the King of AfroPop.”
Entertainment
‘I’ll Control Him’ — Ayra Starr Reveals What Happens If She’s Richer Than Her Partner
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has sparked a debate over money and power in relationships after revealing how she would behave if she were financially richer than her male partner.
The “Bloody Samaritan” hitmaker shared her views on financial disparity in relationships while speaking on an episode of the Wahala podcast.
SEE ALSO: Ayra Starr Breaks Records, Hits One Billion Views On YouTube
Ayra Starr said that if she dates a man who is not as wealthy as she is, she would naturally have control over him because of her financial advantage.
According to the singer, however, being richer than her partner would not mean he would be exempted from providing for her.
“If I date a man who I am richer than, I will control him. But even if I am richer, he will still be providing, and I won’t let him know I have a lot of money,” she said.
Ayra Starr also disclosed that she would deliberately keep the extent of her wealth away from such a partner, meaning he would not necessarily know that she has substantial financial resources.
Her comments have since generated mixed reactions from members of the public.
While some people agreed with the singer’s position, arguing that “it is a man’s job to provide” regardless of how much his female partner earns, others criticised her stance.
Critics particularly questioned her decision to hide her financial status from a future partner, arguing that openness about finances is an important part of a relationship.
The singer’s comments have consequently reignited conversations about financial power, control, transparency and traditional gender expectations in relationships.
The debate also comes amid growing conversations about changing gender roles, as more women attain financial independence and, in some cases, earn significantly more than their male partners.
Ayra Starr, who has established herself as one of Nigeria’s prominent Afrobeats artistes, continues to attract attention both for her music and her outspoken comments on issues surrounding relationships and society.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele, Ex-Husband JJC Skillz Reunite in Paris, Spark Reactions
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, and her former husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, have sparked reactions online after they were spotted together in Paris, France, during a family holiday.
The former couple were seen spending time with their twin sons while exploring different parts of the French capital.
In a video shared by JJC Skillz on Snapchat on Wednesday, Akindele and her ex-husband were seen with their children at what appeared to be a shopping centre in Paris.
SEE MORE: Nollywood Mourns as Veteran Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66
The video was captioned, “Family time.”
In another clip, JJC Skillz asked Akindele, “Mama Ibeji, are we playing games?”
She replied, “Yess ooo.”
The former couple were also reportedly spotted at the Eiffel Tower, according to videos shared online.
Akindele also shared a video showing herself, JJC Skillz and their children at a PlayStation section of what appeared to be a mall in Paris.
The family outing comes after Akindele and her children travelled to the United Kingdom for a holiday following the completion of her latest cinema project, The Four.
Akindele and JJC Skillz got married in London in 2016 and welcomed twin boys in 2018.
However, in June 2022, JJC Skillz announced their separation in an Instagram post, citing
“irreconcilable differences.”
Despite their separation, the former couple have continued to maintain a relationship centred around their children.
Their latest reunion in Paris has attracted attention online, with the videos showing the pair enjoying family moments with their children.
The Paris outing is also not the first time Akindele and JJC Skillz have been seen together publicly since their separation.
In 2023, the former couple were spotted together at the Lagos premiere of their movie, She Must Be Obeyed. They were seen dancing and embracing as they joined other celebrities at the event.
JJC Skillz also directed the movie.
Entertainment
Billionaire Okoya’s Son Quits Music, Reveals Why He’s Leaving
Nigerian Afrobeats singer Raheem Okoya, popularly known as Siraheem, has announced his decision to stop releasing new music, citing the difficulty of balancing his music career with other commitments.
Siraheem, the son of billionaire industrialist Rasaq Okoya, made the announcement in a statement shared on his official Instagram page on Wednesday.
The singer said his journey into music began as a hobby with friends before gradually developing into a serious career.
SEE MORE: ‘Gospel Music Has Power To Transform Nigeria’ – Pastor Declares
“My career began simply, music was a hobby I made with my boys as a means of bonding and connection before it was anything else,” he said.
According to Siraheem, sustaining his music career alongside his other responsibilities had become increasingly difficult over the past year.
“Over the past year, holding that alongside my other commitments has grown harder. I’ve always believed in giving everything my best and I no longer feel I can give this craft the effort, patience, and dedication it truly deserves,” he said.
Explaining his decision, the singer said he owed his fans and colleagues a professional conclusion to his current chapter.
“So I owe it to my true fans, and to my colleagues in this industry a professional exit, I have decided to stop putting out new music,” he stated.
However, Siraheem stressed that his departure from music would not end his creative pursuits. He revealed plans to diversify into other fields and pursue new ventures.
“To my fans the ‘Siraheem music’ era may be closing, but the creative in me is still hungry for new challenges, still reaching. The future stays positive. I have plans to diversify my creative palette into other fields and I will be back with new ventures,” he said.
The singer also left the door open for a possible return to music, particularly with songs he has already recorded.
Siraheem said music remains therapeutic to him and disclosed that he had spent the past year working on what he considered his best material yet.
“Music still remains therapeutic for me. With time, maybe the album finds its way into the world somehow after all,” he said.
Siraheem began releasing music professionally around 2022 and gained attention with songs including Bad Bitch Syndrome, Kowope, SOWETO and TRU$T FUND.
His debut project, By The Order Of The City, an eight-track project, was released on May 1, 2026.
Despite announcing his exit, Siraheem did not completely rule out a comeback.
“Who knows what the future still holds. Never say never,” he said.
He also thanked his fans and collaborators, Mr Fantasy and Mr Miyagi, for supporting him during what he described as an unforgettable year.





