Nigerian music superstar Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has reignited his long-standing rivalry with fellow singer David Adeleke, also known as Davido, sparking a fresh wave of drama on social media.

The tension began on Tuesday after Davido teased a snippet of his first single for 2024. Coincidentally, Wizkid had planned to release the first track from his highly anticipated “Morayo” album on the same day.

Fueling the brewing tension, Davido’s associate, Kayode Yajaur, better known as Black Tycoone, took a swipe at Wizkid, saying, “Tell your Daddy to drop an album already.”

Wizkid quickly fired back on Twitter without directly naming Davido, tweeting, “P***y boys dropping mid again,” followed by, “Una don tire! Make una go rest small!”

A Davido fan, assuming the tweet was aimed at Davido, responded, “So if you no beef @davido, your song won’t sell?” Wizkid did not hold back, replying, “I don’t beef wack niggas! We all know he’s wack! No talent!”

Wizkid’s comments were seen as a direct attack on Davido’s artistry, dismissing his craft as “trash.” Despite the heated exchanges, Davido has remained silent, offering no response to the remarks.

Fans of both artists have since flooded social media with divided opinions, keeping the rivalry alive.

The Federal Government has approved a licensing waiver for investors wishing to establish cottage or community cinemas in Nigeria.

Dr. Husseini Shaibu, Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to the NFVCB boss, the waiver approval was in line with the agenda of Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, to provide incentives needed to encourage investment in the creative industry.

He added that the gesture would improve revenue generation for the government and the filmmakers, and as well create jobs for youths across the country.

Husseini said the waiver approval was also in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of presenting a level playing field for investors and ensuring ease of doing business.

“The decision to grant a licensing waiver would have a huge multiplier effect in the bottom rung of the cinema exhibitor pyramid.

“This and other incentives the Minister has promised will, no doubt, fuel the expansion of cinema screens and promote wider screening of Nollywood films at the local box office.

“The board has granted a provisional approval to an investor to test run a community cinema project for a period of twelve months, following an approval by the Minister,

“With favorable results of that experience, the Board has to make recommendations to the minister to grant waivers to stakeholders to open up the film exhibition space, especially for local content,” he said.

The NFVCB helmsman said he had urged stakeholders to consider the establishment of community cinemas to bring cinemagoers in local communities, towns, and villages back to the big screen.

He cited instances in other climes like India, where there are community cinemas standing side by side with the sophisticated and large cinemas.

According to him, operators of community cinemas can collaborate with established cinema owners to bring a distinct cinematic experience to cinema enthusiasts.

Husseini hinted that the board had also sent a proposal to the minister for a reduction in the exhibition and distribution license fees payable by operators to further open up the business space.

He described these policies as smart strategic decisions to reignite and stimulate investment in the creative sector.

He restated NFVCB’s commitment towards engaging filmmakers and content creators on the need for them to submit their films and video works for classification before exhibition either on the traditional or digital platforms.

According to him, the board recently held stakeholders a meeting with stakeholders in Lafia, Nassarawa state as part of its ongoing efforts to have a strong and united film industry.

“One of the reforms that the board has already started implementing is the reduction in classification time for film and video works.

“We have already reduced duration/ comeback time for film classification to a maximum of 48 hours for full feature films and same-day classification for dramatised short content (skits) and musical videos.

“We have also introduced online submissions to make things easier for filmmakers and content creators,” he said.

Spotify, an online streaming platform, has unveiled a soundtrack,  “The Sound of Hope”, to celebrate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary.

Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

Okumu said, “Spotify’s soundtrack of independence celebrates Nigeria’s music, as Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence Day.

“Spotify is joining the festivities with “The Sounds of Nigeria” campaign. This campaign aims to honour the country’s rich musical heritage, which has long been a unifying force and a source of pride for Nigerians.

“Nigerians have always had a deep love for music, and their resilient spirit shines through in the global success of Nigerian artistes.

“Spotify is honoured to celebrate a nation that continues to make Africa proud, amplifying the sounds and stories that resonate far beyond its borders.”

Okumu said starting from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, music lovers would be able to discover music destinations celebrating Nigeria’s independence within the Afro and Afrobeats hubs on Spotify.

She noted that this selection of destinations includes the “Good Old Naija Days”, “Naija New School”, “Naija No Dey Carry Last” and the “Sounds of Nigeria”.

According to her, the Good Old Naija Days takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the classic hits that had defined Nigerian music over the years.

“This destination features timeless songs from legendary artistes that have shaped the nation’s musical landscape.

“Naija No Dey Carry Last celebrates the resilience and spirit of Nigerian music. This destination showcases the songs that have inspired and uplifted the nation, reminding us of the power of music to unite and persevere.

“The Naija New School Naija spotlights the hottest new acts and cutting-edge sounds in Nigerian music, highlighting the artistes and tracks driving the industry forward.

“The Sounds of Nigeria on the other hand celebrates the stories that shape our identity, highlighting the rich and diverse musical traditions of Nigeria,” she said.

Okumu noted that to further enrich the campaign experience, Spotify was collaborating with renowned content creator and Disc Jockey, Justin UG, for a takeover of the Internet Famous Playlist.

She said Justin UG, known for his creative content, love of Nigerian music and culture, would introduce a wider audience to new sounds and perspectives.

She noted that in addition to the curated destinations and takeover, Spotify will also introduce two new playlists: “Naija Gospel Throwback” and “Nigerian Highlife”.

“Naija Gospel Throwback celebrates the history of Nigerian gospel music with classic anthems, while Nigerian Highlife showcases the vibrant and upbeat genre with its infectious rhythms and catchy melodies.

“Join us in celebrating Nigeria’s Independence Day with Spotify’s “The Sounds of Nigeria”.

“Discover new music, connect with your favourite artistes through their sounds, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Nigerian music,” she said.