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Netflix marks Nigeria’s 64th Independence with 2024 films, Including ‘Hijack 93

As Nigeria celebrated its 64th independence anniversary, Netflix announced an exciting collection of upcoming licensed Nigerian stories that will showcase the country’s dynamic storytelling talent.

This thrilling lineup, debuting throughout the final quarter of 2024, underscores Netflix’s dedication to entertaining its Nigerian members with various exciting local stories.

This diverse slate of local content, which spans a variety of genres and themes, features upcoming films and series from acclaimed filmmakers such as; Charles Okpaleke, Femi Adebayo, Clarence Peters, Omoni Oboli, and Zeb Ejiro. Starting in October, these stories will entertain audiences to experience the richness of Nigerian culture and narratives like never before.

“It is essential to us that Netflix remains the premier destination for the best in Nigerian storytelling for our members in Nigeria,” said Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s Vice President of Content for the Middle East and Africa. “We aim to continue celebrating the country’s rich and vibrant culture and history by acquiring a variety of exciting licensed titles from Nigeria’s best filmmaking talent.”

With a commitment to proving that great stories can indeed come from anywhere and be loved everywhere, Netflix continues to spotlight Nollywood as a cultural and entertainment powerhouse. The upcoming 2024 slate includes new releases like the film Hijack 93, a thriller film inspired by true-life events launching on 25 October, the anniversary of the event. Hijack 93 tells the story of four young men who hijack a plane in protest of the annulled 1993 elections in Nigeria. As they navigate the high-stakes situation, they must balance their demands with the safety of the passengers and their freedom. The film, created by Play Networks Studios (Blood Vessel, Glamour Girls), will feature an all-star cast including; Nancy Isime; Sharon Ooja; Jemima Osunde; Idia Aisen; Adam Garba; Nnamdi Agbo; Akinsola Oluwaseyi; Allison Emmanuel; Efa Iwara and John Dumelo.

“Hijack 93 is a fictional retelling inspired by the true events of a Nigerian Airways flight that was hijacked in 1993 by some Nigerian teenagers. Such historic events that are part of the spine of our democracy tend to dissolve before the next generation knows of it. As a filmmaker, my focus is telling our true African stories for the world to see,” says Charles Okpaleke, producer & co-founder of Play Network Studios.

Also launching in 2024 – but only available in Africa – are Inside Life a series launching on 11 October; Domitilla* – a film launching on 8 November, the film Sisi London launching on 29 November) and Seven Doors* a film that will launch on 13 December.

Netflix has renewed the Nigerian fan-favorite series, Aníkúlápó for another season and recently kicked off production in Ibadan and Ghana where the series leads Sola Sobowale, Bimbo Ademoye, and Lateef Adedimeji to make a comeback to reprise their roles alongside new cast members Antar Laniyan, Joke Muyiwa, Adebowale Adebayo, and Saidi Balogun. The film, which once peaked at #1 on the Netflix Global Top 10 list and returned as a series will be produced by Kunle Afolayan Productions and directed by the award-winning filmmaker Kunle Afolayan.

Speaking about the upcoming season. Afolayan says, “We’re overjoyed that Netflix has renewed Anikulapo for another season. We take pride in telling our stories authentically and this series is a powerful reflection of Nigerian culture and history. This season will explore the complex realities of the slave trade, with actors from Portugal, Ghana, and Nigeria, showing the global connections in our history. Filming in Oyo State and Ghana helped us ground the story in places rich with our heritage. We’re excited to continue sharing this journey with the world and celebrating the depth of our culture.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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