Author: Stephen Ibrahim

In Nigeria, the idea of a side hustle has changed. What used to be something people did just to survive is now becoming a full-fledged personal brand. Young Nigerians are turning their daily skills, passions, and hobbies into businesses that make money, build influence, and even shape culture.

Whether it’s fashion, food, fintech, or lifestyle content, creators are showing that anyone with creativity and consistency can turn small beginnings into big opportunities.

A few years ago, Nigerian hustle culture was all about juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. Today, it’s about turning what you enjoy doing into something profitable.

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube allow creators to reach audiences directly. No middlemen. No corporate barriers. With just a phone and creativity, anyone can start building a brand.

Everyday Skills That Turn Into Brands

The difference between a side hustle and a real brand is value. Successful creators post content that solves problems, entertains, educates, or inspires.

Some examples:

• Fashion curators who showcase affordable Nigerian styles and connect followers with sellers.
• Food content creators sharing simple recipes using local ingredients.
• Finance educators explaining how to save, invest, or grow money with local fintech tools.
• Beauty and skincare influencers giving tips with locally available products.

How Nigerian Creators Make Money

Nigerian creators don’t rely on just one income stream. They combine multiple ways to earn:

• Sponsored posts: Brands pay to feature products or services.
• Affiliate marketing: Creators earn commissions from referrals.
• Digital products: eBooks, presets, online courses, and templates.
• Paid communities and consultations: Exclusive content for subscribers.
• Merchandise and physical products: Turning personal brands into goods.

One key reason this trend works so well in Nigeria is authenticity. Audiences want content that feels real and relatable. When creators share both their wins and struggles, followers trust them more. That trust then becomes economic value, driving sales and engagement.

Challenges Nigerian Creators Face

Building a full brand isn’t always easy. Some common challenges include:

• Irregular income streams
• High competition in popular niches
• Algorithm changes on social media platforms
• Burnout from constant content creation

Real-Life Examples of Nigerian Creators

Some trends in Nigeria’s creator space include:

• Beauty and fashion influencers partnering with local designers
• Food creators turning simple recipes into viral content
• Finance educators simplifying investments and savings
• Comedy and lifestyle storytellers shaping cultural conversations

The next step in this trend is the rise of creator ecosystems; brands built on more than just social media popularity. These include products, services, and communities that exist beyond a single platform.

What started as a side hustle is fast becoming a new Nigerian economy, one where creativity, influence, and business intersect.

Asake is officially a streaming powerhouse. His 2022 album, Mr. Money With The Vibe, has now crossed 800 million streams on Spotify, making it the 9th most streamed Nigerian project of all time and remarkably, this is Asake’s first entry into the all-time top 10.

The album’s infectious blend of Afrobeat, street-pop, and Amapiano-inspired sounds has kept fans hooked since its release. Standout tracks like “Omo Ope,” “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY),” and “Terminator” have dominated playlists, TikTok trends, and social media buzz, driving the album to this historic milestone.

This achievement places Asake alongside Nigeria’s streaming elite, joining artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, and Olamide. Beyond numbers, it’s a testament to his ability to craft hits that resonate both locally and globally, proving that contemporary Nigerian music continues to thrive on the world stage.

With this milestone, Asake demonstrates that originality, consistency, and fan connection remain the ultimate formula for success in today’s streaming era.

Nigerian Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has sparked fresh controversy on social media after he publicly admonished fans of global pop star Wizkid, particularly members of Wizkid FC for comparing the award‑winning artist to his late father, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

According to reports and the widely shared video circulating online, Seun delivered a pointed message in his video addressing what he described as an inaccurate and disrespectful narrative about Wizkid or any other artist being the “new Fela.” 

“Wizkid FC needs to keep Fela’s name out of their mouth. You people try to steal the man’s image. You try to claim your fake artiste is the new Fela. It’s an insult to Fela to call Wizkid the new Fela. Wizkid FC are the most ignorant fanbase in the world.”

In recent weeks, debates have flared online around whether modern Nigerian stars like Wizkid should be celebrated in the same vein as Fela. Some fans and social media users beyond just Wizkid FC have jokingly or seriously heralded Wizkid’s success as being “on par” with Fela’s cultural legacy. 

Seun’s message appears to draw a clear boundary between the politically charged Afrobeat legacy of his father and the commercial, global pop success of today’s Afrobeats artists particularly those who lean into mainstream sound and international collaborations. In calling out comparisons to Fela, Seun reiterated that Fela’s legacy was rooted in socio‑political resistance and cultural revolution, which he implies cannot be easily equated with modern pop stardom. 

Seun Kuti, who has long positioned himself as a guardian of Afrobeat’s original spirit, has spoken publicly on similar themes in the past, including debates about Grammy nominations and how modern artists are compared to legacy figures.

 Fan Reactions

The response online has been mixed and often heated:

• Some social media users support Seun, praising him for defending Fela’s legacy and rejecting comparisons that feel shallow or forced. 

• Other fans argue that celebrating Wizkid’s achievements doesn’t diminish Fela’s impact, and that music can evolve without erasing history. 

Whether fans agree with Seun or not, the viral video has reignited a significant cultural debate. It isn’t simply about fandom, it’s about how legends are remembered, how new talent is honored, and how different eras of music influence each other without losing their identity.

Fela’s legacy remains monumental.  A revolutionary sound rooted in resistance. Wizkid’s success represents global Afrobeats reaching new audiences.

What are your thoughts?

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Lana Del Rey has just crossed a major streaming milestone: her song “Born To Die” has officially surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. This achievement cements the track’s place in the Spotify Billions Club.

But this isn’t just a standalone moment for her, it’s part of a bigger story about Del Rey’s enduring influence. Let’s break it down.

Del Rey’s cinematic title track from her breakthrough album Born To Die, released in 2012  has now hit 1 billion streams on Spotify. While it wasn’t an instant global radio smash, the song has grown steadily in popularity over more than a decade. 

This puts it in elite company with songs like Summertime Sadness and Video Games, meaning that Born To Die now joins her list of multi-billion-streaming tracks. 

Lana’s Spotify Legacy So Far

This milestone brings the number of Lana Del Rey songs with over 1 billion Spotify streams to at least eight. The confirmed tracks include:

• Summertime Sadness (over 2 billion)
• Video Games
• West Coast
• Young and Beautiful
• Stargirl Interlude (with The Weeknd)
• Other major catalogue favourites
• Born To Die (now confirmed) 

Hitting 1 billion streams on a single song is a rare feat  and having multiple songs reach that mark puts an artist in a very elite category. 

This milestone also contributes to Born To Die becoming one of the longest-charting albums by a female artist in recent history. 

Twenty-plus years into her career, Born To Die stands as a defining track for Lana Del Rey.

In the broader music world, hits continuing to climb streaming milestones years after release isn’t unusual  but it is significant. Only a select group of artists have multiple tracks with 1 billion+ Spotify streams.

For the first time in history, FIFA has partnered with TikTok to bring official World Cup 2026 content directly to fans on a social media platform. The landmark deal, which names TikTok as FIFA’s first-ever Preferred Platform for video content, promises a mix of live match clips, highlights, behind the scenes access, and interactive fan features.

This move signals a major shift in how football fans engage with the world’s biggest sporting event, blending traditional broadcasting with digital-first experiences tailored for mobile and social audiences.

What the FIFA-TikTok Deal Means

The agreement between FIFA and TikTok is designed to expand the reach of the World Cup to millions of digital-native fans around the world. Here’s what the deal offers:

• Live Match Clips: TikTok will stream segments of official matches via a dedicated World Cup hub inside the app. Fans can catch real-time action without waiting for TV highlights.
• Curated Highlights: Quick, shareable clips of goals, saves, and major moments will be easily accessible.
• Behind-the-Scenes Access: Selected TikTok creators will provide coverage of press conferences, training sessions, and exclusive off-field content.
• Interactive Features: Stickers, filters, and fan challenges will make following the tournament more engaging than ever.

Note: TikTok will not broadcast full 90-minute matches. Traditional TV and official streaming partners retain full-match rights.

The TikTok World Cup Hub: Your New Digital Stadium

Central to this deal is the FIFA World Cup 2026 hub on TikTok, which serves as a one-stop destination for fans:

• Live match segments and highlights
• Match schedules and updates
• Official FIFA creator content
• Fan engagement tools and interactive features

This hub transforms TikTok into a digital stadium, giving fans a unique way to stay connected with the World Cup in real time.

Fans will now be able to experience World Cup 2026 content in ways never possible before. With live clips, highlights, exclusive behind-the-scenes moments, and interactive features all available on TikTok, FIFA is bridging the gap between traditional broadcasting and the digital-first generation.

While TikTok does not replace full-match coverage, this record deal marks a historic shift in football media  and could redefine how fans engage with the World Cup forever.

The 2026 Africa Cup of Nations quarter‑finals kicked off in Morocco with two captivating clashes that set the tone for a thrilling final eight of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament. Hostilities began with Senegal vs Mali in Tangier before the spotlight shifted to Cameroon vs Morocco in Rabat.

Senegal vs Mali

The first quarter‑final saw Senegal secure a 1‑0 win over Mali in Tangier, booking their place in the semi‑finals with a performance defined by tactical discipline and clinical finishing. 

It was Iliman Ndiaye who provided the game’s decisive moment, capitalising on a defensive lapse and firing Senegal ahead in the first half. Despite intense second‑half pressure from Mali, the Lions of Teranga showcased composed defending and match management to see out the victory. 

Mali’s efforts were further hampered when captain Yves Bissouma received a second yellow card (Red Card) shortly before halftime, forcing his side to battle with ten men for the entire second half. 

Senegal’s win not only extends their impressive knockout run but also highlights their status as one of the tournament favourites, combining defensive power with moment‑making talent. Their reward is a semi‑final clash with the winner of Egypt vs Ivory Coast. 

Morocco vs Cameroon

In Rabat, the host nation Morocco displayed a blend of stylistic control and attacking intent to defeat Cameroon 2‑0 and take a commanding position in the race for the AFCON crown. 

The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute through Brahim Diaz, whose composed finish gave the Atlas Lions an early edge. Morocco maintained pressure throughout the first half and extended their lead deep into the second with a well‑timed strike from Ismael Saibari. 

Cameroon, known for their physicality and intensity, struggled to consistently break the Moroccan defensive lines. Morocco’s substitutions, bringing on experience and fresh legs helped manage the game while keeping possession control and limiting clear chances for the opposition. 

The result sends Morocco, also one of the tournament favourites  into the semi‑finals, fuelling hopes of lifting the trophy on home soil for the first time since 1976. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria vs Algeria and Egypt vs Ivory Coast are set to decide the remaining semi‑finalists on Saturday, January 10, with each team bringing distinct strengths and narrative intrigue ahead of crucial knockout football. 

James Gunn’s Superman has officially entered the 2026 Academy Awards conversation.

According to a newly released list published by Variety, Superman is among 201 films that are eligible for nomination in the Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards. While eligibility does not guarantee a nomination, the film’s inclusion confirms that it has met all of the Academy’s strict Best Picture qualification requirements for the 2025 awards year.

The Academy’s Best Picture eligibility rules go beyond a standard Oscar qualification. For Superman to appear on this list, it had to satisfy multiple layers of criteria, not just its release date.

1. Release Within the 2025 Awards Year

Superman was released in July 2025, placing it firmly within the Academy’s eligibility window of January 1 to December 31, 2025.

2. Required Theatrical Qualification

The film completed the Academy’s mandatory paid theatrical run, which includes:

• A minimum one-week run in a qualifying U.S. market
• A feature-length runtime (over 40 minutes)

This is the baseline requirement for Oscar consideration.

3. Expanded Theatrical Run for Best Picture

Best Picture contenders face stricter rules than other categories. Eligible films must play:

• At least seven days
• In 10 of the top 50 U.S. theatrical markets
• Within 45 days of their initial release

Superman meeting this threshold confirms it had a sufficiently wide theatrical footprint, not just a limited awards run.

4. Compliance With the Academy’s Representation and Inclusion Standards

Since recent award cycles, Best Picture eligibility also requires films to:

• Submit the Academy’s RAISE (Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry) form
• Meet at least two of four inclusion standards, covering areas such as:
  
  • On-screen representation
  • Creative leadership and crew composition
  • Industry access and opportunities
  • Marketing and distribution teams

Films that do not submit or meet these standards are excluded from Best Picture consideration, even if they qualify theatrically.

Oscar nominations for the 2026 ceremony are expected to be announced later this month.

FOLA’s debut album Catharsis has reached a major streaming milestone in Nigeria.

The project has now spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Nigeria Spotify Albums Chart, making it the longest-running No. 1 album released in 2025 so far.

According to Spotify Nigeria chart data, this achievement places Catharsis in rare company. The last album to record a similarly long stay at the top of the chart was Wizkid’s Morayo, which also logged 10 weeks at No. 1 during its run.

Released in 2025, Catharsis has steadily grown from a strong debut into a dominant streaming force. The album’s sustained performance reflects:

• Consistent listener retention week after week
• Strong word-of-mouth and playlist support
• A growing core fanbase driving repeat streams

Rather than debuting and quickly fading, Catharsis has shown unusual staying power, a metric increasingly used to measure true impact in the streaming era.

Spending double digit weeks at No. 1 on Nigeria’s Spotify Albums Chart remains a rare feat, even among top-tier Nigerian artists. By matching the 10-week benchmark previously set by Wizkid’s Morayo, FOLA’s album enters a very short list of projects with that level of dominance.

As 2026 continues, Catharsis currently stands as the most commercially consistent album of the year on Nigerian Spotify.

James Gunn’s Superman has officially advanced to the BAFTA 2026 Special Visual Effects longlist, marking a major early recognition for the film ahead of the upcoming awards season.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) confirmed that Superman is one of 10 films selected from a total of 71 submissions in the Special Visual Effects category. The longlist was determined by members of BAFTA’s SVFX chapter, made up of industry professionals working across visual effects and post-production.

Full BAFTA Special Visual Effects Longlist (2026)

The films advancing to the longlist are:

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
• F1
• Frankenstein
• How to Train Your Dragon
• Jurassic World Rebirth
• The Lost Bus
• Mickey 17
• Superman
• Tron: Ares
• Wicked: For Good

Making the BAFTA VFX longlist is a significant milestone. The selection indicates that Superman’s visual effects work has already been evaluated and endorsed by professionals within the VFX industry, rather than general voters or critics.

Unlike popularity based awards or fan-driven recognition, BAFTA’s VFX category is assessed primarily on technical execution, innovation, and craft. For Superman, this places the film in early contention among some of the most visually ambitious studio projects of the year.

The longlist places Superman alongside major franchise and effects-driven films, including:

• Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest installment in James Cameron’s visually groundbreaking series
• Tron: Ares, a film built around digital environments and stylized effects
• Jurassic World Rebirth, continuing the effects-heavy dinosaur franchise
• Wicked: For Good, a large-scale musical adaptation with extensive CGI requirements

BAFTA’s Voting Process Explained

According to BAFTA, the process unfolds in stages:

1. SVFX chapter members vote to determine the longlist and subsequent nominations.
2. From the longlist, a smaller group of films will be selected as official nominees.
3. In the final round, all film-voting BAFTA members vote to determine the category winner.

Historically, most films that secure nominations emerge from the longlist, making this step a crucial gateway rather than a symbolic mention.

Superman is the first major theatrical release under the new DC Studios leadership, with James Gunn also serving as co-head of the studio. While plot details and audience reception remain unknown, the BAFTA recognition suggests that the film’s technical and visual foundations are already being taken seriously within the industry.

While BAFTA recognition does not guarantee success at other awards ceremonies, the BAFTA VFX longlist often overlaps with later Oscar consideration in the Best Visual Effects category. Films that perform well at BAFTA frequently remain in the broader awards conversation as the season progresses.

Advancing to BAFTA’s Special Visual Effects longlist is a notable early achievement for Superman. In a field narrowed down from 71 submissions to just 10 films, the selection reflects industry-level confidence in the film’s visual work and technical ambition.

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has officially announced the nominees for the 78th Annual DGA Awards, spotlighting the most outstanding directing achievements in theatrical feature films released in 2025.

Often regarded as one of the strongest indicators of the Academy Awards’ Best Director race, the DGA nominations once again bring together a mix of industry veterans and bold new voices shaping contemporary cinema.

The winners will be revealed on February 7, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

Below is the complete nominees list for the theatrical feature film categories.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film — 2026 DGA Awards

This category honors directors for exceptional achievement in feature-length films intended for theatrical release.

Nominees:

• Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
• Ryan Coogler — Sinners
• Guillermo del Toro — Frankenstein
• Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme
• Chloé Zhao — Hamnet

The lineup reflects a wide creative spectrum from literary adaptations and gothic reimaginings to character driven dramas and auteur-led visions. Multiple nominees are previous DGA and Academy Award winners, further heightening the prestige of this year’s race.

Michael Apted Award for First-Time Theatrical Feature Film Director

Named in honor of the late director Michael Apted, this category recognizes exceptional debut feature film directors making their first major impact in cinema.

Nominees:

• Hasan Hadi — The President’s Cake
• Harry Lighton — Pillion
• Charlie Polinger — The Plague
• Alex Russell — Lurker
• Eva Victor — Sorry, Baby

This category continues the DGA’s tradition of highlighting emerging filmmakers whose first works demonstrate strong artistic voice, originality, and narrative ambition.

The DGA Awards are widely considered one of the most reliable predictors of the Oscar Best Director winner. Historically, DGA winners have gone on to secure Academy Awards in the same category in a majority of cases.

When Are the Winners Announced?

• Event: 78th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards
• Date: February 7, 2026
• Location: Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles