Entertainment
‘What is Akon saying?’ Nigerians slam singer for claiming creation of Afrobeats
Senegalese-American singer Akon has stirred controversy online after stating that he played a major role in the rise of Afrobeats, the globally celebrated music genre that originated from West Africa.
While the artiste credits himself with shaping the early stages of Afrobeats through collaborations with Nigerian stars, many Nigerians aren’t having it.
In a recent interview with American talk show host and actress Sherri Shepherd, the ‘Smack That’ star reflected on his influence in the genre’s development, citing his work in the late 2000s with Nigerian acts like Wizkid, PSquare, and D’banj.
“…I was in Africa and time just flew past. 2008 was my last official album, which was the ‘Freedom’ album,” Akon recounted. “And then I was producing the music for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. From there, I went to Nigeria. What we created in Nigeria was what you see and hear now as Afrobeats.”
He continued, “Wizkid was the first Nigerian artiste that we signed back in 2008. We went to work with him and Banky W in Nigeria. From there, we just started developing artists like PSquare, Dbanj and others.”
While Akon’s statements may have been intended to highlight his support for African music, his remarks were met with swift backlash on Nigerian social media, where users accused him of overstating his influence and attempting to rewrite the genre’s history.
“He needs to shut up 🤣🤣 Akon lies effortlessly just like Shaq!” wrote @Loadedbrodah on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Akon just wants to rewrite the history of Afrobeats lol,” added @Ms_Fej.
User @paul_osigbemhe1 challenged Akon’s timeline and role, saying, “Akon did not open doors for Nigeria 🇳🇬 musics and he should stop seeing himself as the pioneer of Afrobeats. Way back in the 2000s — 2003, 04, 05 — Psquare, D’banj, and a host of others were already a formidable force in African music before I even knew Akon was from Senegal.”
Another critic, @Bisping_Chad, pointed out inconsistencies: “When Wizkid come out wey u sign am 2008. Akon Dey lie for dis one or maybe he missed the year. Psquare rejected the contract he was offering them.”
Others dismissed his claims entirely. “Anyone would be silly to take Akon serious,” wrote @KirkHammettR.
Entertainment
Billionaire’s daughter Temi Otedola and singer Mr Eazi open up on stress, disagreements before settling on three destination weddings
Temi Otedola and singer Mr Eazi have opened up about the intense stress, back-and-forth, and disagreements they went through before finally agreeing on the countries for their destination weddings.
According to the couple, planning three weddings across three countries within just three months was anything but easy.
“Three weddings in three months is insane,” they admitted, revealing how overwhelming the entire process became, especially with one event following closely after the other.
Temi shared that their original idea was to have a quiet court wedding in Nigeria. But privacy quickly became an issue.
“If we went to the courthouse in Nigeria, it wouldn’t be as private as we wanted,” she explained.
An alternative was suggested — bringing the court officials into their living room for a private civil ceremony. Temi found the idea interesting, but Mr Eazi wasn’t fully convinced.
That disagreement pushed them back to the drawing board.
Eventually, they settled on Monaco for their civil wedding, a choice Temi described as more sentimental. The UK was also considered at some point, but Temi admitted it didn’t feel personal enough to her.
What shocked her the most, however, was the reality of marriage paperwork.
“I thought getting married was just deciding and signing papers,” Temi said. “I didn’t know there was a mountain of administration.”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSSAJ6rjAjr/?igsh=MTd4OXphazl3M2pqOQ==
Entertainment
John Cena Retires From Wrestling (Video)
John Cena’s in-ring WWE career officially ended on Saturday night at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., bringing down the curtain on more than two decades at the top of professional wrestling.
The farewell headlined the final WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2025 and delivered a definitive, emotional conclusion to one of the industry’s most influential careers.
Cena’s last match saw him submit to Gunther after a punishing, near 24-minute main event that blended intensity, respect and finality.
The crowd remained fully invested throughout, rallying behind Cena in the hope of a last-gasp victory that never came.
While the result shocked many in attendance, the post-match atmosphere quickly shifted to appreciation as Cena addressed the crowd, surrounded by WWE talent and staff.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes faced NXT Champion Oba Femi in the opening bout, but interference from Drew McIntyre led to a disqualification finish.
Despite the short runtime, Femi emerged as a clear winner in perception, making him a future main-event player.
Meanwhile, Sol Ruca delivered one of the standout performances of the night, defeating Bayley in a result that felt less like an upset and more like a statement.
Her athletic offence and confidence marked her as a rising force in the women’s division.
The final match before Cena’s farewell featured World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee against Je’Von Evans and TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater.
Despite the difficult slot ahead of the main event, the bout delivered action and kept the crowd engaged.
Cena exits WWE having helped elevate the company to new commercial heights, while deliberately leaving the spotlight to the next wave of stars.
Entertainment
“Forget the UK, Nigeria has everything” — IJGB man gushes over Nigeria after spending 2 days for Detty December
A Nigerian man who recently returned to the country has sparked reactions online after sharing how much he’s enjoying life back home.
In a video making the rounds, the UK-based Nigerian said he arrived in Nigeria for Detty December and within just two days, he was already questioning why he hasn’t moved here.
According to him, Nigeria offers everything anyone could want — especially if you have money.
He said people greet him like a king, the lifestyle is enjoyable, and the women are beautiful.
His words:
“Nigeria has everything you need. People greet me like a king. The girls here are beautiful. If you have money here, you’re living like a king. This is where I need to be. Forget about UK.”
He went on to say that despite many Nigerians dreaming of moving abroad, his short stay made him realize that Nigeria can offer a very good life for those who can afford it.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSPwPFAjJvr/?igsh=NTY5ZDBxNG90NnN0
📹: TT/odzviewspodcast
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