Entertainment
BET awards: As Nigerian superstars grab nominations, Drake, GloRilla lead
BET awards: As Nigerian superstars grab nominations, Drake, GloRilla lead
Multi-platinum performer, Drake, will be heading to the 2023 edition of BET Awards with seven nominations.
The Black culture’s biggest night event holding in Los Angeles will be aired live on Sunday, June 25.
Four Nigerian superstars have also been nominated in some categories.
Leading the pack is the acclaimed Burna Boy, who has secured multiple nominations, while Ayra Starr, Asake, and Tems have one each.

Drake’s seven nominations are in the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Best Male R&B/ Pop Artist, Best Group with 21 Savage, and Album of the Year for, Her Loss.
GloRilla, best-known for “Tomorrow 2” with Cardi B and “ Leave the Club” featuring Lil Durk, is the most nominated female with her name in six categories. At the 2022 awards, the spit-fire rapper took home Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist of the Year.
21 Savage and Lizzo are trailing closely behind with five nods each. Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Ice Spice, SZA, and more have received top honours.
Burna Boy’s nominations are Male Artist R&B/Pop Artist, Video Director of the Year, and Best International Act.
Tems received recognition for Best Female Artist and Best Collaboration for her contribution to Future’s track ‘Wait For U’. Ayra Starr and Asake make their debut on the nominations list with their nods for Best International Act and Best New International Act, respectively.
“We are thrilled to be back in LA for BET Awards 2023 and to celebrate a huge cultural milestone – the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “For five decades, Hip Hop has not only influenced American culture but has become a global phenomenon and one of the most influential musical genres of our lifetime.”
The nominees in each music-centric category are below:
Album of the Year
Anyways, Life’s Great, GloRilla
Breezy, Chris Brown
God Did, DJ Khaled
Her Loss, Drake & 21 Savage
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar
Renaissance, Beyoncé
SOS, SZA
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
SZA
Tems
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
City Girls
Drake & 21 Savage
Dvsn
FLO
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & Takeoff
Wanmor
Best Collaboration
“Big Energy (Remix),” Latto & Mariah Carey feat. DJ Khaled
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,” King Combs feat. Kodak Black
“Creepin’,” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” Hitkidd & GloRilla
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B
“Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby
Video of the Year
“We (Warm Embrace),” Chris Brown
“2 Million Up,” Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey feat. Rob49
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“First Class,” Harlow
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky for AWGE
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor
Best New Artist
Ambré
Coco Jones
Doechii
FLO
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
“Bless Me,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
“Finished (Live),” Tamela Mann
“I’ve Got Joy,” CeCe Winans
“Kingdom,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
“New,” Tye Tribbett
“One Moment From Glory,” Yolanda Adams
“The Better Benediction (Pt.2),” PJ Morton feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Viewer’s Choice Award
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“First Class,” Jack Harlow
“Jimmy Cooks,” Drake feat 21 Savage
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Super Freaky Girl,” Nicki Minaj
“Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems
BET Her
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“Her,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Lift Me Up,” Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From And Inspired By – Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson
“Players,” Coi Leray
“Special,” Lizzo
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Entertainment
Jetour Takes Adventure Beyond the Road, Brings Solar-powered Borehole to Ibeju-Lekki community
Jetour Takes Adventure Beyond the Road, Brings Solar-powered Borehole to Ibeju-Lekki community
Jetour Nigeria has taken its SUV adventure beyond the asphalt, combining a high-octane convoy through some of Lagos toughest coastal trails with a humanitarian intervention that delivered clean, reliable water to the people of Iwerekun Orile, Ibeju Lekki.
The automaker’s 2026 Africa Expedition last Saturday turned into more than a showcase of automotive power and off-road capability as the convoy of eight Jetour models arrived at the Roman Catholic Mission Primary School, Iwerekun Orile, to commission a new solar-powered borehole for the community.

The convoy, comprising the Jetour Dashing, X50, X70 Plus, X90 Plus, T2, T2 PHEV, X70 PHEV and flagship G700, departed Falomo Square, Ikoyi, after a road safety briefing by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Escorted by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the convoy moved through Victoria Island and beyond the city’s urban landscape before tackling difficult stretches of the Coastal Highway.
The demanding terrain, characterised by swampy sections, rocks and uneven trails, provided an opportunity for the vehicles to demonstrate their off-road capability and endurance.
But beyond the adventure and display of automotive technology, the expedition took on a more significant purpose when the convoy arrived at the Roman Catholic Mission Primary School, Iwerekun Orile.
There, Jetour Nigeria commissioned a new solar-powered borehole, providing the school and surrounding community with access to clean and reliable water.

The intervention was greeted with excitement as schoolchildren, traditional leaders, farmers and market women turned out to welcome the visitors with cultural performances.
Jetour also distributed food items to households in the community, while pupils received books and refreshments.
A representative of Jetour Nigeria, Kemi Adeola, said the initiative reflected the company’s belief that its activities should extend beyond automobiles to making a positive difference in the communities it reaches.
“This is where adventure meets purpose,” Adeola said. “Our mission doesn’t stop at building capable vehicles; it lives in our pledge to drive tangible progress and touch the hearts of the communities we reach.”
The community’s traditional leader, High Chief Michael Oluwa, described the water project as an unprecedented development in the history of Iwerekun Orile and pledged that residents would protect and maintain the facility.
The head teacher of the school, Mrs Ariyike Bakre, also expressed gratitude to Jetour, describing the intervention as a lifetime gift to the school and community.
“This is my first time seeing a solar-powered borehole,” Bakre said, adding that the facility would make a significant difference to the children and residents.

She thanked Jetour for making it possible for the community to witness the commissioning of the project.
The expedition later ended at a beach lounge, where the drivers, organisers and participants relaxed over food, music and entertainment.
For Jetour Nigeria, however, the significance of the expedition extended beyond conquering difficult terrain. It demonstrated how an automotive adventure could be linked to community development, leaving behind not only memories of a demanding road trip but also a lasting source of clean water for Iwerekun Orile.

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Entertainment
Phyna, Nkechi Blessing Take Social Media Feud To Boxing Ring In Lagos
Phyna, Nkechi Blessing Take Social Media Feud To Boxing Ring In Lagos
Reality TV star Phyna and Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday are set to face each other in a celebrity boxing match in Lagos after a recent public disagreement between the two entertainers.
The bout, billed as “Phyna vs Nkechi,” is scheduled for October 1, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, as part of the Chaos in the Ring series organised by Balmoral Group Promotions.
The organisers announced the celebrity contest on September 18, releasing promotional material featuring both entertainers in boxing gear and presenting the encounter as a move from their online exchanges to the boxing ring.
The proposed Phyna-Nkechi Blessing boxing match is expected to be one of the celebrity attractions on the October 1 card, which will also feature other entertainment personalities and professional boxing contests.
Phyna, whose real name is Josephina Otabor, and Nkechi Blessing have been involved in a recent social media exchange that generated reactions among their followers.
The disagreement reportedly followed comments by Nkechi Blessing about Phyna’s frequent involvement in online disputes.
Phyna subsequently responded by questioning the actress’s decision to publicly address her and referenced an earlier interaction between them involving a movie project.
The exchange continued online before the organisers announced the boxing encounter.
Following the announcement, both entertainers indicated that they were prepared for the contest.
Nkechi Blessing shared the promotional material on her social media platform and issued a message ahead of the bout, while Phyna also reacted to the announcement and signalled her readiness to participate.
It remains unclear whether the earlier disagreement will have any relevance to the formal competition itself, as the event organisers have not indicated that the celebrity contest will involve anything beyond the rules governing the scheduled boxing exhibition.
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Details including the exact number of rounds, weight categories, protective equipment and other specific rules for the celebrity bout had not been fully disclosed in the latest reports.
The Chaos in the Ring event will feature a combination of celebrity and professional boxing.
Another celebrity contest on the programme is expected to feature content creator Carter Efe against social media personality Speed Darlington.
The professional headline bout is scheduled to feature Nigerian cruiserweight Godday “Zodsolo” Appah against Ghanaian-born British boxer Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah.
Other professional bouts announced for the programme include Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka versus Lekan Muibi, Basit “Joker Boy” Adebayo versus Fatiu Ijomoni, and Yusuf Adeniji versus David Tagoe.
The event is expected to be broadcast on DAZN and SuperSport, extending the reach of the programme beyond the venue in Lagos.
The Chaos in the Ring series has previously featured Nigerian entertainers in boxing contests, including Portable, Charles Okocha, Carter Efe and Speed Darlington.
The celebrity bouts have attracted considerable attention because they combine entertainment personalities, social media rivalries and organised boxing events.
The upcoming encounter between Phyna and Nkechi Blessing follows that format, with the organisers using the public interest generated by their recent online exchange as part of the promotion for the October 1 event.
For the two entertainers, however, the contest will require preparation beyond their social media exchanges as they get set to appear in a regulated boxing environment.
The organisers are expected to provide further information on the bout format, tickets and other event arrangements ahead of the programme.
The Phyna vs Nkechi Blessing boxing match is therefore set to become one of the major celebrity attractions at the October 1 Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos.
Phyna, Nkechi Blessing Take Social Media Feud To Boxing Ring In Lagos
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Entertainment
“She Wanted to Stay Single”: Rema Opens Up About Rejection That Inspired Hit Song ‘Oh No’
“She Wanted to Stay Single”: Rema Opens Up About Rejection That Inspired Hit Song ‘Oh No’
During a live stream with online creator Okiki, the 26-year-old Afrobeat star reflects on personal vulnerability and early stardom.
Nigerian music star Divine Ikubor, globally recognized as Rema, shared a candid look into his romantic life on Friday night, revealing that unreciprocated feelings directly inspired his hit track ‘Oh No.’
Speaking during an interactive live stream with content creator Okiki, the 26-year-old chart-topper recounted how an attempt to start an exclusive, serious relationship ended in sudden rejection when the woman declined to settle down.
According to Rema, the lady openly informed him that she preferred to enjoy single life and explore her personal autonomy rather than commit to a monogamous partnership. Consequently, the musician poured his emotional disappointment directly into the creative process, turning the painful heartbreak into the melodic foundation for ‘Oh No.’
Rather than masking the setback, he explained that sharing raw personal experiences allows him to connect genuinely with fans who navigate similar romantic dilemmas.
Furthermore, the Afrobeats phenomenon reflected on the broader emotional impact of global success, explaining that achieving runaway fame at age 17 forced his personal life to move at a breakneck speed.
To regain his footing, Rema noted that he is currently taking time out to step back, re-evaluate his priorities, and focus on grounded self-reflection. Ultimately, his candid remarks offer a rare, vulnerable perspective on the relatable personal trials that exist behind international superstar status.
“She Wanted to Stay Single”: Rema Opens Up About Rejection That Inspired Hit Song ‘Oh No’
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