City Lagos Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italy’s Coccinelle Film Sales has acquired world rights to Nigerian director Babatunde Apalowo’s gay-themed drama “All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White,” ahead of the film’s Berlin Film Festival launch.  “All the Colours” is the feature film debut of Apalowo, who was born in Ogbagi-Akoko, Nigeria, and is U.K.-based. Pic is world premiering in Berlin’s Panorama section. Apalowo also wrote and produced the restrained and tender drama about two men named Bambino and Bawa who meet in Lagos during a photography competition and immediately hit it off. During long trips exploring the city they develop a deep affection for each other. But in a society which considers homosexuality taboo, they feel the pressure of social norms.

A man has gone on trial accused of murdering his wife by setting her on fire after she made a trip home to Nigeria from Scotland.

EXCLUSIVE: Showmax is prepping a Nigerian version of International Emmy-winning South African telenovela The River.

EXCLUSIVE: African streamer Showmax is readying its latest original out of Nigeria for next month.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Def Jam Recordings has entered into an exclusive worldwide joint venture partnership agreement with the Lagos, Nigeria and UK-based Native Records. The announcement was made by Def Jam chairman/CEO Tunji Balogun and Seni “Chubbz” Saraki and Teni “Teezee” Zaccheaus, co-presidents and co-founders of Native Networks. Native Records is the music division of Native Networks, a black-owned and operated, multi-platform, multi-disciplinary media and content company “dedicated to the discovery and development of young African artists and youth culture” via its Native print and digital magazine, its Nativeland festivals and more, according to the announcement. Founded in 2016 by Saraki and Zaccheaus with Shola Fagbemi, Addy Edgal and Suleiman Shittu, the label has been a driving force in the Afrobeats movement.

Wizkid is still working diligently on the follow-up to his album Made In Lagos (rumoured to be titled More Love, Less Ego) and today the Nigerian Afrobeats star shares a new track called "Bad To Me." It's safe to say that Wizkid is in his bag for "Bad To Me." A sultry jam where Wizkid is both under a spell and the one doing the casting, the track simmers with lusty intention. Stream it below.

Jáde Osiberu, the co-writer and director of Gangs of Lagos, has signed an overall deal with Prime Video, the studio behind the upcoming feature drama.

EXCLUSIVE: Disney Original Documentary today revealed its next project, a feature documentary on Anthony Madu, the Nigerian boy who became a viral sensation after a video showed him dancing ballet barefoot on a rainy street outside Lagos.

Bravo’s “Real Housewives” will be expanding in another continent.

The Real Housewives franchise is getting even bigger!

Global streamer Prime Video is supercharging its investment in Nigeria by unveiling its first Amazon Originals from the country, and for the first time allowing customers to sign up in the local currency, the Naira.

Manori Ravindran International EditorAmazon Prime Video has ordered the Nigerian originals “Gangs of Lagos” and “LOL: Last One Laughing Naija,” and opened up local currency services for the platform in the country.Crime thriller “Gangs of Lagos,” which will launch on the platform later this year, is a high-stakes action-crime thriller that follows a group of friends who each have to navigate their own destiny, growing up on the bustling streets and neighbourhood of Isale Eko, Lagos.The show stars Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi-Wellington and Chiké. “Gangs of Lagos” is directed and produced by Jade Osiberu, produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju and co-produced by Akin Omotoso.Meanwhile, “LOL: Last One Laughing Naija” is a local adaptation of the wide-traveling Amazon original.

Naman Ramachandran Nigeria’s LaVida Studios has secured $50 million production investment and inked a 10-project slate with Dentsu’s The Story Lab U.S. The three-year collaboration with The Story Lab is for 10 films and television properties focused on bringing African stories to the global stage.

Amazon Prime Video is expanding its footprint in Africa with a three-picture deal with Lagos City-based production house Nemsia Films.

In partnership with HennessyParked in the middle of one of the Capital’s most bustling water lanes, AJ Tracey performs live from a slick, jet-black basketball court in front of Tower Bridge. Flanked by Uber boats and tourist cruises, he’s taken to the barge-turned-court-turned-stage to kick off the opening ceremony for the unveiling of the UK’s first floating basketball court, which is travelling down the River Thames between Woolwich and The Houses of Parliament – a collaboration between Hennessy and the National Basketball Association (NBA), in a three-day celebration of the sport in London.The floating court is the latest launch in the ‘Courts Beyond Limits’ series, a global collaboration from Hennessy and the NBA that unveils first-of-their-kind basketball courts at iconic locations around the world, and has already hosted pop-ups in Sydney, Lagos, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In partnership with HennessyTonight (June 9), AJ Tracey is set to play a special live streamed gig on the UK’s first floating basketball court for the Hennessy x NBA.The event is set to take place to begin three days of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the NBA and the ongoing 2022 Finals. After the floating court docks at Butler’s Wharf this evening, Tracey will perform an exclusive set live streamed to fans around the world from 7.30pm BST.The rapper said: “It’s incredible getting NBA fans, like myself, to come together and celebrate the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season this year.“Moments like this really put London’s love of the game on the map, and with the ongoing support from Hennessy, I’m excited to see the impact it has on basketball in the UK and the communities it’s giving back to.”Tune into the live stream via the link below.Across three days this weekend, Hennessy x NBA will take over London with a huge celebration of all things basketball as part of their Courts Beyond Limits series, which sees Hennessy and the NBA unveiling one-of-a-kind basketball courts in unique locations around the world.

In partnership with HennessyTonight (June 9), AJ Tracey is set to play a special live streamed gig on the UK’s first floating basketball court for the NBA x Hennessy.The event is set to take place to begin three days of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the NBA and the ongoing 2022 Finals. After the floating court docks at Butler’s Wharf this evening, Tracey will perform an exclusive set live streamed to fans around the world from 7.30pm BST.The rapper said: “It’s incredible getting NBA fans, like myself, to come together and celebrate the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season this year.“Moments like this really put London’s love of the game on the map, and with the ongoing support from Hennessy, I’m excited to see the impact it has on basketball in the UK and the communities it’s giving back to.”Tune into the live stream via the link below.Across three days this weekend, NBA x Hennessy will take over London with a huge celebration of all things basketball as part of their Courts Beyond Limits series, which sees Hennessy and the NBA unveiling one-of-a-kind basketball courts in unique locations around the world.

A third man accused of the murder of Neri Morse in Ancoats has appeared in court. Jermaine Leahong, 22, appeared in the dock at Manchester Magistrates' Court this morning (April 28).

EXCLUSIVE: New Line has picked up the rights to Rebecca Serle’s New York Times bestselling novel In Five Years for HBO Max and set No Good Deed scribe Aimee Lagos to adapt. Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce.

Manori Ravindran International EditorNetflix has released the trailer for its first original TV show out of Nigeria, “Blood Sisters.”Produced by leading Nigerian production company EbonyLife Studios, founded by Mo Abudu, the four-part crime thriller directed by Biyi Bandele and Kenneth Gyana will launch globally on the streaming service on May 5. The show is Abudu’s latest project for Netflix as part of her multi-title deal with the platform.Set in Lagos, “Blood Sisters” follows a Nigerian wedding where the bride — who is fed up of being beaten up by her partner — accidentally kills the groom the night before their big day.

Four albums and a full decade into his recording career, Wizkid produced a bona fide opus with 2020's Made In Lagos. The record landed on The FADER's 50 best albums list that year, and this past August, he released a deluxe edition featuring four new tracks.

K.J. Yossman Kalu Ikeagwu and Marcy Dolapo Oni have been tapped to star in “It’s the Blackness,” the debut feature from actor turned director Hakeem Kae-Kazim.Ikeagwu (“30 Days”) and Oni (“Diary of a Lagos Girl”) will play Mr and Mrs Baba-Lola in the film.They are joined by Daniel Davids (“Meet the Adebanjos”), Matthew J.

Nigerian Afropop star WizKid has shared a video for "Mood," a collaboration with Buju from the deluxe edition of Made in Lagos. The video was directed by Kuukua Eshun, who also directed the Made in Lagos short film which provided visuals for three tracks from the album's deluxe ("Anoti," "Mood," and "Steady").

Wizkid has been announced as the headliner of Yam Carnival 2022 in London.The Afrobeats festival, which celebrates Black music, culture and dance, will take place on Clapham Common in the capital on August 27.Wizkid will perform his only outdoor show of the year at Yam Carnival, with the slot following on from his trio of sold-out gigs at The O2 in London last year.The likes of Naira Marley, Flavour, Fally Ipupa, CKay and ShaSimone will also perform on the main stage at the festival.DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Major League DJz, Focalistic, Vigro Deep, Kamo Mphela, DBN Gogo and Young Stunna will perform at Yam Carnival on its Piano People Stage.Limited pre-sale tickets for Yam Carnival 2022 are available from Wednesday (February 2) at 10am, before general sale tickets go on sale at 1pm on the same day from here.Yam Carnival will take place on Clapham Common the day before the new London festival Electric City, which will see Chase & Status headlining.The duo will be performing their brand new live show during their headline slot at Electric City, with the likes of Headie One, Andy C and Jme (presenting ‘Grime MC FM’) also set to perform during the day. Last month Wizkid shared a short film, Made In Lagos, to accompany his 2020 album of the same name.Wizkid also teamed up with Burna Boy recently for the track ‘B.

Amazon Prime Video is continuing its push into the African market by signing a second exclusive licensing agreement with a production company based in Nigeria.

Wizkid has released a short film – Made In Lagos (Deluxe Edition) – you can watch it below.The film, which is directed by Kuukua Eshun and Wizkid, illustrates his most recent tracks, ‘Anoti,’ ‘Mood’ and ‘Steady’ and is named after his latest album.The colourful film serves largely as an aesthetic exploration of the album’s songs, rather than a film with a cohesive plot, with each song divided up into seperate sections.You can watch it here:Meanwhile, Wizkid recently shared his collaboration ith

Burna Boy and Wizkid have shared their new collaboration ‘B. D’OR’ – you can hear the track below.The song is the pair’s first collaboration since their 2020 single ‘Ginger’, which featured on Wizkid’s October 2020 album ‘Made In Lagos’.Produced by the Nigerian-British producer P2J, ‘B.

Wizkid and Tems have performed their global-smash ‘Essence’ live from an empty arena for The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon – watch the video below.Originally released as part of Wizkid’s 2020 album ‘Made In Lagos’ and then re-released featuring Justin Bieber earlier this year, ‘Essence’ received a Grammy nod for Best Global Music Performance last month.Tems also joined Wizkid onstage in London last month, as the Afrobeats star brought his ‘Made In Lagos’ world tour to The O2 for a three-night