Author: Adekugbe Adedayo

On Friday 26th, July 2024 Team Nigeria will make its 19th appearance at the Olympics. Representing Nigeria are 82 sportsmen and women in 11 sporting events.

The 2024 Olympics in Paris will officially begin from 24 July to 11 August 2024.

Team Nigeria is expected to compete in the following sports:

1. Athletics
2. Badminton
3. Basketball
4. Boxing
5. Canoeing
6. Cycling
7. Football
8. Table Tennis
9. Taekwondo
10. Weightlifting
11. Wrestling

In athletics, Nigeria is expected to compete in 9 events for men, women and mixed categories. For the first time, Nigeria will be represented by 3 women in Women’s Discuss.

Team Nigeria has competed in every Olympics since it debuted in Helsinki in 1952, except for Montreal in 1976 due to a boycott.

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Team Nigeria only had two medals and has won 27 medals overall in 19 Olympics appearances. The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA is regarded as Nigeria’s best Olympic performance where the country garnered six medals.

The Paralympics is expected to be held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.

Udo Ebaide Joy, a Nigerian motorbiker took on the mantle of solo riding from Mumbasa, Kenya to Lagos Nigeria. After 118 days, Ebaide finally arrived at her destination, Lagos Nigeria.

Why? In a conversation she had with BBC Africa she said her riding journey was inspired by her will to live her life to the fullest, and for her it’s travelling and riding her motorbike.

Ebaide travelled through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon and then Nigeria. She describes the eery feeling she got travelling alone in the forest “I was so scared,” but remembers the joyous moments of travelling through those countries.

When she arrived in Lagos, to her surprise she was welcomed with a warm crowd singing and dancing.

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A post shared by Ebaide | ADV Motorcyclist (@go_ebaide)

In a post via Instagram, she said completing the cross-border solo ride challenge has positively changed her mindset.

“To every biker who waited to welcome and ride with me to the venue, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Achieving this has caused a big shift in my mind. Suddenly, I have a myriad of things I want to do and I’m so sure will work, because I have achieved something I once thought was too hard to dare.
I want to PLAN, START and EXECUTE new things.
There is a part of my brain that believes anything I try will succeed, because I have the tenacity and resilience to see it through.

I am NOT the same person.
I have changed in the most positive ways.
I feel so privileged to have achieved this.

I can’t wait for many more exciting challenges I’ll go headlong into.
There has never been a better time to feel this alive!
It feels good to be here.“

Udo Ebaide Joy who began her trip on March 8 will begin another solo trip in August from Nigeria to Morocco. The motorbiker made the trip on a two-wheeler she named “Rory”.

The 2024 BET Awards is live with incredible nominees’ performances and winners. We saw an interesting Taraji P. Henson parody entrance of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” as she hosts this year’s show.

Will Smith is performing his new song “You Can Make It” with Kirk Franklin. Leading this year’s nomination is Drake. Tyla and Makhadzi are winning big for South Africa.

Will Smith makes his comeback to rapping with a performance tonight at the BET Awards, doing his new song called "You Can Make It" with Kirk Franklin and Fridayy #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/mgbhC8ZyOV

— SOUND | Victor Baez (@itsavibe) July 1, 2024

Album of the year

Chris Brown, 11:11
Gunna, A Gift & A Curse
21 Savage, American Dream
Usher, Coming Home
Drake, For All the Dogs (Scary Hours Edition)
Victoria Monét, Jaguar II
Killer Mike, Michael – WINNER
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Muni Long
SZA – WINNER
Tyla
Victoria Monét

Best male R&B/pop artist

Brent Faiyaz
Bryson Tiller
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
October London
Usher – WINNER

Best Group

¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign – WINNER
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
City Girls
Flo
Maverick City Music
Wanmor

Best Collaboration

Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life” – WINNER
Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar, “America Has a Problem (Remix)”
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), “Barbie World”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos”
¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti, “Carnival”
Lola Brooke feat. Latto & Yung Miami, “Don’t Play With It (Remix)”
Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert, “Everybody”
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, “Good Good”
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”

Best female hip-hop artist

Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj – WINNER
Sexyy Red

Best male hip-hop artist

21 Savage
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Gunna
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar – WINNER
Lil Wayne

Best new artist

41
4Batz
Ayra Starr
Bossman Dlow
Fridayy
October London
Sexyy Red
Tyla – WINNER

Video of the year

Doja Cat, “Agora Hills”
Lil Durk feat J. Cole, “All My Life”
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), “Barbie World”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos”
Drake feat. J. Cole, “First Person Shooter”
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, “Good Good”
Victoria Monét, “On My Mama” – WINNER
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”

Video director of the year

Benny Boom
Child.
Cole Bennett – WINNER
Dave Meyers
Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
Offset
Tems
Tyler, The Creator

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

Shirley Caesar, “Award All of the Glory”
Kirk Franklin, “All Things”
Halle Bailey, “Angel”
CeCe Winans, “Come Jesus Come”
Erica Campbell, Do You Believe in Love?”
Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore, “God Problems”
Tems, “Me & U” – WINNER
Kirk Franklin, “Try Love”

Viewer’s choice award

Doja Cat, “Agora Hills”
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life”
Gunna, “Fukumean”
Jack Harlow, “Lovin on Me”
Muni Long, “Made for Me”
Victoria Monét, “On My Mama”
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”
Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay, “Sensational”
Beyoncé, “Texas Hold ‘Em” – WINNER
Tyla, “Water”

Best International Act

Asake (Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Africa)
Bk’ (Brazil)
Cleo Sol (UK)
Focalistic (Africa)
Karol Conká (Brazil)
Raye (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Tyla (Africa) – WINNER

Viewer’s choice: best new international act

Bellah (UK)
Cristale (UK)
Duquesa (Brazil)
Holly G (France)
Jungeli (France)
Makhadzi (Africa) – Winner
Oruam (Brazil)
Seyi Vibez (Africa)
Tyler Icu (Africa)

BET Her

Beyoncé, “16 Carriages”
Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard, “Blessings”
Ayra Starr, “Commas”
Flo feat. Missy Elliott, “Fly Girl”
Megan Thee Stallion, “Hiss”
Victoria Monét, “On My Mama” – WINNER
SZA, “Saturn”
GloRilla, “Yeah Glo!”

Best movie

American Fiction
Bob Marley: One Love – WINNER
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The Book of Clarence
The Color Purple
The Equalizer 3
The Little Mermaid

Best actor

Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Denzel Washington – WINNER
Donald Glover
Idris Elba
Jeffrey Wright
Lakeith Stanfield

Best Actress

Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Coco Jones
Danielle Brooks
Fantasia
Halle Bailey
Issa Rae
Regina King – WINNER

YoungStars Award

Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter – WINNER
Demi Singleton
Heiress Diana Harris
Jabria McCullum
Jalyn Hall
Leah Jeffries
Van Van

Sportswoman of the Year Award

A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese – WINNER
Coco Gauff
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Naomi Osaka
Sha’carri Richardson
Simone Biles

BET Lifetime Achievement Award – USher

Sportsman of the Year Award

Anthony Edwards
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Brunson – WINNER
Jalen Hurts
Kyrie Irving
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry

EA Sports has released the top 25 teams in its upcoming College Football 25 game. This announcement was made on Friday 28th, June 2024. In comprising it doesn’t match the ESPN Power Index.

The teams’ ratings on this list in the upcoming video game use the overall ratings of both the offensive and defensive teams with parameters.

University of Georgia (UGA) has an overall rating of 95, which UGA was rated the top offensive team and second best defensive team (College Football 25). Next we are Ohio State (93 overall), Oregon (93 overall), and Alabama (92 overall).

Here is a look at the Top 25 teams in College Football 25.

• Georgia – (95 OVR)
• Ohio State – (93 OVR)
• Oregon – (93 OVR)
• Alabama – (92 OVR)
• Texas – (92 OVR)
• Clemson – (90 OVR)
• Notre Dame – (90 OVR)
• LSU – (90 OVR)
• Penn State – (88 OVR)
• Utah – (88 OVR)
• Michigan – (88 OVR)
• Florida State – (88 OVR)
• Miami – (88 OVR)
• Texas A&M – (88 OVR)
• Ole Miss – (88 OVR)
• Colorado – (87 OVR)
• Oklahoma – (87 OVR)
• Wisconsin – (87 OVR)
• USC – (87 OVR)
• Virginia Tech – (87 OVR)
• NC State – (87 OVR)
• Kansas – (87 OVR)
• Arizona – (87 OVR)
• Oklahoma State – (87 OVR)
• Iowa – (87 OVR)

See Gameplay:

Dr Disrespect via Twitter has explained the reasons behind his 2020 Twitch ban. Late last week allegations surrounding the beef were rumoured to be “inappropriate” messages to minors, which led to his permanent ban from Twitch.

Before his 2020 ban, Guy Beahm professionally known as Dr Disrespect, was one of the most followed streamers on Twitch and regarded by most as the ‘Face of Twitch.’ He had a multi-year contract with the Amazon-owned platform.

In a statement sent to Dexerto, Twitch said: “As is our process, we take appropriate action when we have evidence that a streamer has acted in violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. These apply to all streamers regardless of status or prominence in the community.”

Last week an ex-Twitch employee claimed that Doc was banned after being found messaging a minor through the Twitch whispers feature, but Dr Disrespect claimed “no wrongdoings” were found.

To clarify his last statement released on the 25th of June, Dr Disrespect admitted to having messaged a minor in 2017 which he claimed were just “casual, mutual conversations.”

“Were there twitch whisper messages with an individual minor back in 2017? The answer is yes. Were there real intentions behind these messages, the answer is absolutely not. These were casual, mutual conversations that sometimes leaned too much in the direction of being inappropriate, but nothing more. Nothing illegal happened, no pictures were shared, no crimes were committed, I never even met the individual.” [The statement was later edited]

“I should have never entertained these conversations to begin with. That’s on me. That’s on me as an adult, a husband and a father. It should have never happened. I get it. I’m not perfect and I’ll f**king own my shit. This was stupid,” he said regretting his actions.

On his June 24 stream, the streamer announced he is taking an indefinite break from streaming to be with family but made it known he isn’t retiring from streaming. The game studio, Midnight Society, has cut ties with Dr Disrespect.

Post by @streamdorm

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If you think an Oscar slap Will stop Will Smith, then you’re wrong and Bad Boys: Ride or Die proved that.

Will Smith is currently in talks with Sony Pictures to star in a new film, ‘Resistor.’ The project is an Escape Artists Entertainment adaptation of the 2014 Daniel Suarez best selling novel, Influx. It imagines a chilling future where technological advances are held hostage by the government in this thriller that perfectly blends “nail-biting suspense with accessible science” (Publishers Weekly).

Though details about the plot of the adaptation is yet to be revealed, the first draft of the script was written by Zak Olkewicz and Eric Warren Singer currently working on the latest draft.

Deadline reveals the film is to be produced Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch and Tony Shaw of Escape Artists, which has been developing the project for some time with along with Smith and Jon Mone through Westbrook, with Heather Washington exec producing. Dave Wilson is also producing.

Will Smith and Todd Black have previously collaborated on movies with Sony including Seven Pounds, The Pursuit of Happyness and Emancipation.

Will Smith film, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, co-starring Martin Lawrence, has surpassed $100 million at the domestic box office after 10 days of release with the franchise becoming a billion dollar franchise.

Two weeks ago at Summer Gamefest, we saw the announcement of a new Killer Bean game, Star Wars Outlaws, Lego Horizon Adventures, and many more. This week, we’re experiencing new games coming to Nintendo.

We can finally agree that we’re entering a new season of gaming. With game publishers, consoles, developers, and media platforms hosting gaming events, we usher in a new age of gaming.

Games coming to Switch this year include Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, and Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition.

A new look at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is confirmed for release in 2025. So far, there’s no mention of a new Nintendo Switch successor. Other interesting trailers include The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game.

An exciting announcement is that Switch now allows third-party support to support the release of new indie games released on it every week.

Check out the trailers for the games announced:

Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition

Fairy Tail 2

FANTASIAN: Neo Dimension

MIO: Memories In Orbit

Disney Illusion Island

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Other games include

1. Hello Kitty Island Adventure is coming to Switch
2. Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports
3. Among Us Update
4. Farmagia
5. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
6. Dragon Quest III HD 2D Remake (plus, I & II)
7. Funko Fusion gameplay trailer
8. THE NEW DENPA MEN
9. Metal Slug Attack Reloaded
10. Darkest Dungeon II
11. Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack releases
12. Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero
13. MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
14. Super Mario Party Jamboree
15. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
16. Just Dance 2025 Edition
17. LEGO Horizon Adventures
18. Stray is coming to Switch
19. Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game
20. Ace Attorney: Investigations Collection
21. The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
22. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven

SourceL Gameshub

Check out the highlights from Nintendo’s official YouTube channel:

Pastor Emmanuel Iren, head pastor of Celebration Church International, has released the trailer for his debut film, “What About Us?”.

Pastor Iren serves as the executive producer of the film, but it was written by Ife Olujuyigbe and directed by Kayode Kasum. Bisola Badejo and Tochukwu Macdonald Sunday are also producers.

The drama explores the challenges of marriage through the interwoven stories of two couples. It is set to hit cinemas on July 12th. “What About Us?”

The cast includes Uzor Arukwe, Folu Storms, Kunle Remi, Teniola Aladese, Aeyi Awolowo, Marycolette Unamka, and Atlanta Bridget Johnson.

Synopsis: The film follows a Christian couple struggling to keep their marriage afloat. But when a new couple move in next door, the problems that have plagued their marriage come to a fever pitch, as the wife begins a relationship to close for comfort with the husband next door. [Pulse Nigeria]

“What About Us? is a film that will touch your heart and spark important conversations,” said Macdonald Sunday.

See the trailer below:

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A post shared by Emmanuel Iren (@pst_iren)

Nigerian writer and director, Tola Falonipe, is revamping the story of love in her new short film, ÀDÙNNÍ. The plot, which takes place in the 70s tells the love story of two childhood friends who reconnect after a long time apart. Explore the story of rediscovery, love, understanding and desire.

Synopsis:

“Adunni” is a heartwarming short film set in the small town of Irepodun in 1970s Southwestern Nigeria. The story follows Adunni, a young woman returning home from Lagos, and Banjoko, her childhood friend, who harbours deep feelings for her. As Adunni struggles with her desire for a broader horizon beyond Irepodun, Banjoko tries to win her heart.
Through humour and nostalgia, the film explores themes of love, growth, and the beauty of embracing one’s roots.

What we know:

The film was written, directed and produced by Tola Falonipe, starring Sharon Abisola Alabi, Damilare Lawal, and Mary Taiwo Omidiora who played the roles of Adunni, Banjoko, and Labisi respectively. Adeyinka Ojo and Marvellous Edema were on set, the cinematographers behind this project. The film is expected to span 13 minutes and 14 seconds.

Tola had to be the director, producer and makeup artist to bring this project to life while saving costs. The film was shot in one for more than 6 hours. Tola is currently working on her next project coming out in August 2024.

Streamdorm has compiled the list of first day streams on Spotify as of May, 2024. Davido ‘Timeless’ released March 31st, 2023 currently holds the number one spot with 4.91 million streams.

This year alone Shallipopi holds the highest first day streams with “Shakespopi” having 1.59 million (11 April, 2024). Ayra Starr “The Year I Turned 21” (30th May, 2024) holds the biggest first day for a female artist with 1.27 million streams.

Here’s the top 10 list of biggest album first day stream on Spotify:

1. Davido – “Timeless” (4.91M)
2. Burna Boy – “I Told Them” (2.93M)
3. Asake – “Work Of Art” (2.27M)
4. Wizkid – “S2” EP (2.08M)
5. Olamide – “Unruly” (1.81M)
6. Shallipopi – “Shakespopi” (1.59M)
7. Burna Boy – “Love, Damini” (1.36M)
8. Ayra Starr – “The Year I Turned 21” (1.27M)
9. Wizkid – “More Love, Less Ego” (1.21M)
10. BNXN – “Sincerely, Benson” (1.17M)