Entertainment

Couple makes history with Nigeria’s first train wedding

As the rhythmic clatter of wheels echoed along the Lagos–Ibadan railway route, a different kind of journey unfolded inside some of the coaches. Nigerian actor Shawn Faqua and his partner, Sharon Ifunnaya, an event planner, made history by exchanging vows on a moving train, marking the first wedding of its kind in Nigeria.

The ceremony took place aboard a train departing from the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Alagomeji-Yaba, Lagos. The coaches, normally a functional passenger compartment, were transformed into a wedding venue, with guests seated at tables, floral arrangements along the windows, a small aisle, and a distinct sense of movement beneath the couple’s feet.

Videos and photos quickly circulated online, showing the train in motion, guests seated, the bride and groom exchanging rings, all of these happening while the train sped past skylines and small towns outside the windows, adding a cinematic touch to the celebration.

A viral clip captures the bride, announcing cheerfully, “Hey guys, we’re getting married on the train!” And Shawn adds with a grin: “First ever! Breaking record!” This light-hearted tone sets the affair apart as a bold idea executed with joy rather than a stiff and strictly formal event.

In a country where weddings often follow a popular route of banquet halls, churches, and lush locations, Shawn and Sharon’s choice stood out for its novelty and playful spirit. Instead of a stationary venue, they chose to literally move. The train symbolised motion, journey, and progress, which can be interpreted as a very clever metaphor for beginning a life journey together.

On top of that, the event subtly highlighted Nigeria’s rail travel, which is still bouncing back. The renovation and revitalisation of train lines, especially those linking Lagos with neighbouring cities, has brought trains back into the public eye. This wedding transformed that infrastructure into a setting for romance and celebration.

The wedding caught social-media attention, both for its uniqueness and the celebrity names involved. On Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, various video clips and images of the couple prompted jokes, praises, and reactions.

Weddings in Nigeria often carry a strong cultural and social load that includes multiple ceremonies (traditional, civil, white, religious), large guest lists, elaborate halls, and aesthetics. But this train wedding offered something different. It didn’t abandon tradition as the couple still held a traditional Igbo ceremony. But it added an unexpected and modern twist to the venue and setting.

This is probably a sign of how wedding culture in Nigeria is evolving. Couples increasingly seek personalisation, memorable experiences, and Instagram-worthy moments that reflect their personality, rather than simply replicating a standard format.

Entertainment

Davido, Rema, Fally Ipupa To headline Afro Nation Portugal 2027

Afrobeat icon Davido, Rema and Fally Ipupa will headline Afro Nation Portugal 2027, with Omah Lay, Victony and other stars also confirmed for the festival, continuing Nigeria’s dominant run at one of the world’s biggest celebrations of Afrobeats and Amapiano. The festival takes place in Portimão from 9 to 11 June 2027, on the sands of Praia da Rocha, running about a month earlier than it has in recent years.

The first wave of roughly 30 confirmations describes Davido, Rema and Fally Ipupa as “three giants of African music,” all returning to the festival. Also confirmed for the Lit stage are Omah Lay, Odeal, Shenseea, Valiant, Victony, Bamby and Miimii KDS, with South Gidi (the live project from DJ Tunez and DJ Maphorisa featuring Wizkid and Mavo) closing out the final night.

The Piano People stage returns, led by amapiano pioneer Kabza De Small and duo TxC, with Dlala Thukzin joining as a special guest, alongside 031Choppa, 2woBunnies, Benzo, Thatohatsi, Uncool MC, W4DE, Xduppy B2B Al Xapo, Young Stunna and Zee Nxumalo.

The lineup extends a pattern that has defined Afro Nation Portugal since it launched in 2019 with Nigerian superstars taking the centre stage nearly every year. Past headliners have included Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Megan Thee Stallion, 50 Cent, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj, with the festival credited with helping push Afrobeats and Amapiano onto global stages.

This year’s edition, the sixth, wrapped in July with Wizkid and Asake leading the lineup, alongside Burna Boy, who launched his album No Sign of Weakness from the festival’s beach stage in 2025. Uncle Waffles headlined the Piano People stage, with Gunna and Kehlani appearing as special guests.

Rema is no stranger to the show either; he headlined the 2024 edition alongside Asake, J Hus and Tyla, riding the global success of ‘Calm Down.’ Davido, meanwhile, returns to a festival he has previously headlined, while Fally Ipupa comes back after main-stage appearances in recent years, including 2024.

Since its debut, Afro Nation has expanded beyond Portugal to Ghana, Puerto Rico, Miami and Detroit, but the Portugal edition remains its flagship, drawing tens of thousands of fans from across the world each summer for a weekend built around African music.

Entertainment

Charly Boy celebrates daughter’s engagement to a Woman

Veteran Nigerian entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has publicly celebrated the engagement of his daughter, Adaeze, to a woman, drawing a wide range of reactions from Nigerians online. Charly Boy shared a video from the engagement ceremony on his Instagram page on Thursday, referring to the couple as his “beautiful Princess and her Husband” and asking his followers to extend their well wishes. “Folks, wish dem well for me,” he wrote.

Adaeze also announced the engagement herself, sharing a photo with her partner alongside the caption “WE’RE ENGAGED!” and the hashtag #mrsandmrsgray2027. She expressed excitement about the relationship in her post, writing, “Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter, growth, and making beautiful memories together. I can’t wait for everything God has in store for us. Forever sounds even sweeter with you.”

The announcement quickly drew attention online, with reactions split between congratulatory comments and criticism, reflecting Nigeria’s broader social and legal climate around same-sex relationships, where such unions remain both criminalised and widely stigmatised. Adaeze was previously married to a man, Metu Anu, in a traditional wedding held in Abuja in February 2018, a union that later ended in divorce.

This isn’t the first time a member of the Oputa family has publicly navigated a same-sex relationship. Charly Boy’s other daughter, Dominique “Dewy” Oputa, is also known to be in a relationship with a woman, both daughters currently reside outside Nigeria.

Charly Boy, also known as Area Fada, has built a decades-long career and public persona around unconventional, often boundary-pushing views on social and cultural issues in Nigeria. He has spoken previously about surviving prostate cancer, being sexually abused by a nanny during his childhood, and long-standing tension within his own nearly 50-year marriage to his wife, Diane.

He has also addressed public speculation about his own gender expression and sexuality directly, arguing that embracing traits often associated with femininity does not diminish a man’s identity.

The entertainer has 10 children and 14 grandchildren in total, and has continued to speak openly about his family throughout his public career, even as his views have periodically placed him at odds with more conservative segments of Nigerian society.

Entertainment

Tyler Perry reveals why he has chosen to stay away from marriage

American filmmaker, actor, and playwright Tyler Perry has revealed why he has no interest in marriage, saying his biggest concern is not the institution itself but the financial and emotional toll of divorce. Perry disclosed in a recent interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show that his view of marriage is largely shaped by what he has witnessed happen to people after their relationships end.

“Nope, it’s not the marriage that bothers me; it’s the divorce. Everybody that I know who did well and went broke, it was because of a divorce, so I’m good being free.”

The filmmaker also described some of the thoughts that come to mind when he considers marriage, including the possibility of being hurt or betrayed by a partner.

“What makes me think about marriage is that you are no good, heartbreaker, you’re a cheat, and I don’t know why I let you do this to me. That’s what I think about.”

Beyond his views on marriage, Perry also opened up about grief and the difficulty of losing someone close to him, particularly his late mother, Maxine Perry.

“The thing that people don’t get is the stuff we deal with and the loss of a mother and how hard that is. I believe that people have angels that have gone on, but they are still looking out over, and that’s how I feel towards my mother. She used to say so many amazing things to me.”

Perry has often spoken about his mother’s influence on his life and career. His upbringing and experiences with family have also featured prominently in his storytelling, particularly through characters and themes centred on faith, resilience, family and overcoming hardship.

The filmmaker has built one of Hollywood’s most successful independent entertainment empires through films, television shows and stage productions.