Entertainment
Funke Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ Smashes Nollywood’s Billion-Naira Record
Funke Akindele’s newest film, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, has made history in Nollywood, becoming the first-ever movie to surpass a billion naira at the box office.
This incredible feat not only establishes the film as the highest-grossing Nollywood production but also secures Funke Akindele’s position as the top-grossing director in Nollywood history.
The movie’s earnings continue to soar, solidifying its record-breaking status.
In an unprecedented three-week period following its release, Funke Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ stormed into the record books, becoming the fastest Nollywood film to soar past the billion-naira mark.
Film One Studios, in a press release on January 4, 2024, officially confirmed this groundbreaking achievement attributed to the holiday blockbuster.
Kene Okwuosa, the Group CEO of Film House Group, hailed the milestone, stating, “We are witnessing a golden era for Nigerian cinema, and Funke Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ reaching the 1 billion Naira mark is an indication that the creative industry.”
The movie made its nationwide debut in cinemas on December 15, 2023 raking in an impressive ₦113.3 million during its opening weekend, claiming the top spot as the highest-grossing Nollywood film launch of the year.
The movie swiftly became a nationwide sensation, drawing sold-out audiences and expanding its presence to the United Kingdom.
Closing out 2023 with a whopping ₦854.3 million in total earnings, as reported by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the film not only clinched the title of the highest-grossing Nollywood movie for 2023 but also ascended to the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever.
‘A Tribe Called Judah’ made headlines by swiftly surpassing the admission records set by blockbusters like ‘Sugar Rush’ (229,060) and ‘King of Boys’ (220,565) within just three weeks of its release.
By December 30, within its first fifteen days, the film had already amassed a remarkable N780 million, maintaining an exceptional daily gross ranging between N55 million to N75 million throughout the festive season.
Within the initial 48 hours of its release, the movie recorded an astounding N60 million in earnings.
Funke Akindele, renowned as the box office queen, has previously tasted success with films like “Omo Ghetto: The Saga,” grossing N636 million in 2020, and “Battle on Buka Street,” which earned N668 million in 2022.
The unprecedented billion-naira achievement, previously claimed by Hollywood’s “Black Panther 2” at N1.04 billion, signifies a momentous milestone for the Nigerian film industry.
In ‘A Tribe Called Judah,’ the narrative revolves around five brothers: Jide Kene Achufusi as Emeka Judah, Timini Egbuson as Pere Judah, Uzee Usman as Adamu Judah, Tobi Makinde as Shina Judah, and Olumide Oworu as Ejiro Judah.
The plot follows their journey as they unite to execute a company heist aimed at saving their mother, portrayed by Akindele in the role of Jedidah Judah.
Eloswag, a former contestant on Big Brother Naija Season 7, has broken his silence following the release of his private video online.
The reality star reportedly uploaded a clip featuring himself and an unidentified woman on his Snapchat account at approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday.
Though Eloswag swiftly deleted the video, it had already caught the attention of the internet.
The explicit content quickly gained traction after being reposted by the controversial gossip blog, Gistlover, sparking widespread conversations across social media platforms.
In response to the incident, Eloswag took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration and consider possible legal action.
In a now-deleted post, he wrote, “I mistakenly posted a video on my Snapchat by 3am and deleted it immediately, guess who has the video? GISTLOVER? How? Please, can I sue? Because it doesn’t make sense.”
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The reality star’s reaction highlights the challenges celebrities face when intimate content finds its way online.
While some supporters have shown empathy, others have engaged in heated debates about the responsibility of public figures in handling their digital content.
Eloswag’s predicament places him alongside other Nigerian celebrities who have dealt with similar scandals, such as Moyo Lawal, Tiwa Savage, Oxlade, and James Brown, whose private videos have previously surfaced online.
Legal experts have weighed in on Eloswag’s potential case, noting that while pursuing legal action against individuals or platforms that share such content can be complex, it is not impossible.
The development has reignited discussions on digital privacy and the ethical responsibilities of content-sharing platforms.
As Eloswag’s fans and critics await further updates, the incident underscores the precarious nature of online privacy and the far-reaching consequences of a single momentary lapse.
Nigeria’s Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has claimed the No. 2 spot on the Miss Universe Pre-Arrival Hot Picks, solidifying her position as a top contender in the upcoming November 16, 2024, pageant.
As excitement builds for Miss Universe 2024, Adetshina’s ranking has sparked national pride and optimism in Nigeria, with many hopeful she could secure the title.
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Adetshina arrived in Mexico last month to prepare for the competition and has since captured widespread attention.
However, her path to Miss Universe has been marked by challenges.
Initially competing as Miss Taraba in Miss Universe Nigeria, she withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant following online backlash regarding her nationality and accusations of fraud by the South African Home Office.
This setback, however, did not deter her ambitions.
Her current standing as a top pick underscores her growing international recognition and support, positioning her as a formidable contender ahead of the competition.
Many have taken to social media to voice their support, with some declaring her Nigeria’s best chance yet to secure the Miss Universe crown.
Nigerians have been ranked among the top social media users globally, with 2024 data positioning the country fifth in the world for average daily time spent online.
According to figures from Cable.co.uk and We Are Social, shared by World of Statistics on X, Nigerians spend an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes per day on social media.
Leading the global list is Kenya, where users spend the most time on social media at 3 hours and 43 minutes daily. South Africa follows closely with 3 hours and 37 minutes, Brazil with 3 hours and 34 minutes, and the Philippines at 3 hours and 33 minutes.
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With an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes, Nigeria ranks just behind these top four countries in social media engagement.
Other nations with notable social media usage include Colombia at 3 hours and 22 minutes, Chile and Indonesia both at 3 hours and 11 minutes. Completing the top ten are Saudi Arabia and Argentina, with daily averages of 3 hours and 10 minutes and 3 hours and 8 minutes, respectively.
By comparison, some countries report lower social media usage. Ghana averages 2 hours and 43 minutes, Egypt 2 hours and 41 minutes, and Thailand 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Among European countries, social media engagement is generally lower, with Portugal averaging 2 hours and 23 minutes, Romania 2 hours and 20 minutes, and Italy 2 hours and 17 minutes, highlighting significant regional variations in social media usage.
Full list:
Kenya – 03:43
South Africa – 03:37
Brazil – 03:34
Philippines – 03:33
Nigeria – 03:23
Colombia – 03:22
Chile – 03:11
Indonesia – 03:11
Saudi Arabia – 03:10
Argentina – 03:08
Mexico – 03:04
Malaysia – 02:48
Ghana – 02:43
Egypt – 02:41
Thailand – 02:30
Bulgaria – 02:26
Vietnam – 02:23
Portugal – 02:23
Romania – 02:20
Italy – 02:17
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