CELEBRITIES
Wilfred Ndidi Named New Super Eagles Captain Following Troost-Ekong’s Retirement
- Wilfred Ndidi has been named the new captain of the Super Eagles following William Troost-Ekong’s international retirement.
- Confirmed ahead of AFCON 2025 in Morocco, Ndidi says his leadership will prioritize unity and collective responsibility, starting with Nigeria’s opening match against Tanzania on December 23.
Wilfred Ndidi has officially been appointed the new captain of the Super Eagles, marking the start of a new leadership era following the international retirement of William Troost-Ekong. The announcement was confirmed via the Super Eagles’ official X account on Friday, just days before the team’s AFCON 2025 campaign kicks off in Morocco.
The Beşiktaş midfielder, who has previously served as assistant and stand-in captain, expressed his commitment to fostering a unified team environment. Speaking to the Super Eagles media, Ndidi acknowledged the weight of the role:
“It’s a huge responsibility, with the help of the players everything will be smooth. I have had conversation with a couple of the players. Just to let them know the reason why we are. I also need their support as well. The staff as well, we are all in this together.”
Ndidi emphasized that his leadership will focus on ensuring the entire squad is aligned toward their common goal. “We have conversation on the task ahead, and it is important for us to be together on the same page,” he added.
His first major assignment as permanent skipper begins on December 23, when Nigeria faces Tanzania in their opening group-stage match.
CELEBRITIES
‘Somebody D!ed There’ – Nollywood Actress, Doris Ogala Tells DSS To Probe Pastor Chris Okafor’s Altar (Video)
Doris Ogala, the Nollywood actress, has escalated her dispute with Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, by urging Nigeria’s Department of State Services to intervene.
The actress made the call during an appearance on the KAA Truths podcast, where she spoke about the church altar and said security authorities should examine what is beneath it.
Her comments comes on the heels of a long-running fallout between her and the pastor, which began over a marriage promise she claimed was made but never kept.
Ogala alleged that a tragic incident happened while the church altar was being built, claiming that the structure collapsed at a point and led to a death.
She also stated that a blogger later noticed something unusual at the site, which allegedly caused concern.
According to her account, the discovery pushed Pastor Okafor to reach out to her privately to ask how the situation could be handled and how the blogger could be silenced.
She insisted that the DSS should visit the church, dig up the altar area, and carry out a proper investigation to clear the air.
The actress has had several public clashes with the pastor in recent times, including sharing personal videos online.
She said: “DSS should go to that church and open his altar. I wouldn’t say further than that. When they were building that place, that place collapsed, somebody died.
“Apart from somebody dying, there is a blogger that found something on the ground. This man was begging, he called me and asked me what he could do to let the blogger close his mouth.
“DSS should go and open that altar. The church altar where he used to stand, they should dig it up and open it.”
Actress Doris Ogala calls in Dss to go investigate the church and altar of pastor Chris Okafor…..This one serious o 🙆🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/vNER1nCHtD
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) December 20, 2025
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CELEBRITIES
“Never Again!”- Tunji Adeleke Alleges Harassment, Loss of $23k Bracelet at Popular Lagos Nightclub
- Tunji Adeleke, cousin to Davido, has raised concerns after a night out at a Lagos lounge where he allegedly lost a $23,000 bracelet and experienced harsh treatment from security.
- He described the experience as unpleasant and vowed never to return.
Tunji Adeleke, cousin to singer Davido and Chairman of the Osun State Local Government Service Commission, has complained online about a bad experience at a Lagos lounge.
In posts shared on X (formerly Twitter), Tunji said he had a terrible night at BOHO, a popular nightlife spot in Lagos. He claimed he lost a luxury bracelet worth about $23,000 during his visit.
Reacting to someone who said they enjoyed partying at the lounge, Tunji warned others, saying people may have fun but could also suffer huge losses.
He also accused the club’s security team of treating guests harshly, alleging that people were pepper-sprayed before being allowed inside.
Clearly upset, Tunji ended his comments by saying he would never visit BOHO again.
In other news…. Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, has subtly addressed serious claims made against him by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala.
Ogala had urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate an alleged incident at Okafor’s church, which she linked to a construction project. Speaking on the KAA Truths podcast, she called for authorities to “dig up” the church altar, implying that something might have been hidden there.
According to Ogala, the incident took place during construction when part of the building allegedly collapsed, resulting in a fatality. She also claimed that a blogger later discovered “something on the ground” related to the event, which reportedly caused alarm.
Ogala added that Pastor Okafor reached out to her privately, seeking guidance on how to handle the situation and manage the blogger’s reaction. She said:
“DSS should go to that church and open his altar. I wouldn’t say further than that. When they were building that place, the structure collapsed, and someone died. A blogger also found something on the ground. He called me and asked what he could do to silence the blogger.”
Rather than responding directly to the allegations or issuing a formal statement, Pastor Okafor appeared to take a different approach. He shared a video of one of his sermons on social media, adding a caption that included a biblical reference.
He wrote:
“When God’s concerns becomes your concerns, your concerns will become His concerns. “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7).”
- Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend, will receive a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Grammys.
- He is the first African musician to be honored with this prestigious award.
- The recognition will take place alongside tributes to other music icons, including Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Cher, and Chaka Khan.
The late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be posthumously honored with a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Grammys, becoming the first African musician to receive this prestigious recognition.
The Nigerian legend will be honoured alongside other international music maestros such as Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Cher and Chaka Khan.
In an official statement, Harvey Mason Jr, CEO of the Recording Academy, describes the honorees as “an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres, and the very foundation of modern music”.
The Recording Academy recognised Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” highlighting his transformative influence on the genre and his enduring impact on generations of artists.
The Academy has previously inducted Fela’s 1976 album Zombie into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame.
Adekunle Gold, ahead of his headline concert at the National Theatre scheduled for December 2025, has set a new record for artists in the country.
Multiple award-winning singer and performer, Adekunle Gold, has set a new record for Nigerian artists by becoming the first and only Nigerian artist to sell out and headline a concert in the main bowl hall of the Wole Soyinka Centre of Culture and Creative Arts (formerly known as the National Theatre)
ahead of his highly anticipated performance scheduled for December 26, 2025.
The singer took to his social media platform to share the exciting news. Adekunle Gold is set to deliver one of the most distinctive live performances of his career as he headlines a full orchestral concert in Lagos on December 26, 2025, a show that is already being described as a landmark moment for Nigerian pop music.
What makes the concert special is its scale and artistic ambition. Unlike conventional Afropop shows driven by backing tracks and live bands alone, Adekunle Gold will perform his catalogue with the support of a full orchestra, blending classical instrumentation with contemporary African sounds. Strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion will be layered into his music, offering a richer, more cinematic interpretation of songs fans already know.
The performance is also designed as a career-spanning experience. Adekunle Gold is expected to revisit songs from across his discography, re-imagined with orchestral arrangements that highlight songwriting, melody, and storytelling rather than just tempo and dance energy.
Another defining element is the concert’s cultural fusion. Adekunle Gold has consistently drawn from highlife, Fuji-inspired rhythms, soul, and modern Afropop.
Presenting these influences through an orchestral lens underscores his commitment to preserving African musical identity while pushing it into new, globally relevant spaces. The show is expected to reflect this balance of traditional roots meeting refined, large-scale musical production.
The timing and location further elevate its significance. Scheduled for Boxing Day during Lagos’ peak entertainment season, the concert stands out in a crowded calendar by offering something deliberately different from the usual club-style and arena performances associated with Detty December.
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The Nigerian legend will be honoured alongside other international music maestros such as Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Cher and Chaka Khan.
The late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be posthumously honored with a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Grammys, becoming the first African musician to receive this prestigious recognition.
The Nigerian legend will be honoured alongside other international music maestros such as Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Cher and Chaka Khan.
In an official statement, Harvey Mason Jr, CEO of the Recording Academy, describes the honorees as “an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres, and the very foundation of modern music”.
The Recording Academy recognised Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” highlighting his transformative influence on the genre and his enduring impact on generations of artists.
The Academy has previously inducted Fela’s 1976 album Zombie into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame.
An unprecedented all-night eclectic musical experience is coming, and this is your chance to be part of it – The Quickteller InsomniaQ 2025
Quickteller, one of Africa’s leading digital payments platforms powered by the Interswitch Group, has announced the debut of InsomniaQ, a one-stop experience for music, fun, and innovation. The all-night celebration is designed to gather thousands of music lovers, Detty December returnees, and culture enthusiasts for an unforgettable experience.
Register and get tickets now at: https://insomniaq.quickteller.com/
The maiden edition holds from the evening of Sunday, December 21st into the early hours of Monday, December 22nd, 2025, at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, transforming Lagos into the epicentre of African entertainment.
Quickteller InsomniaQ is crafted as a 12-hour, non-stop entertainment marathon, a rhythmic journey that evolves with the natural rhythms of the night. From high-energy performances in the early evening to soulful, intimate sets as dawn approaches, the festival flows in sync with the body’s natural rhythm, keeping energy high all night long, from 6pm to 6am.
Designed to elevate December’s cultural buzz, the experience blends music, style, vibes, and innovation into one seamless, all-night celebration.
At the heart of Quickteller InsomniaQ is African creativity, expressed through a vibrant mix of genres, live performances, and cultural moments that spotlight both established and emerging artists.
Quickteller InsomniaQ 2025: Banner
While the full programme, partnerships and final line-up will be announced soon, attendees should look forward to performances from some of Africa’s finest talents, including Made Kuti & The Movement , Brymo, Niniola, Patoranking, Loud Urban Choir, and many more, each performing with live bands and choirs for a deeper, richer sonic experience.
Every performance is intentionally curated to celebrate Africa’s rich musical heritage while delivering a modern, immersive festival moment.
Quickteller InsomniaQ is designed not just as an entertainment event, but as a growing cultural ecosystem where connection, creativity, and community thrive. It is a space where people come together to celebrate the season, reconnect with friends and family, and experience Lagos in its full December glory.
With Quickteller’s long-standing presence in Lagos’ lifestyle and entertainment culture, InsomniaQ becomes a new platform to bring people together in a bold, exciting, and distinctly African way.
Registration is now open, giving you priority access to what promises to be the most anticipated entertainment experience of December 2025.
Join the waitlist and get ready for a night that sets a new benchmark for African entertainment.
Register and get a pass at: http://insomniaq.quickteller.com/
For real time updates, enquiries and partnership opportunities engage with Quickteller on social media: @Quickteller (Facebook & X/Twitter), and @quicktellerng (Instagram).
Quickteller InsomniaQ 2025 is more than an event, it’s Africa’s newest December marquee event. Don’t miss it!
CELEBRITIES
I Am Not Looking For Marriage, It Is Overrated – Nollywood Actress, Yvonne Jegede Says (Video)
Yvonne Jegede, the popular Nollywood actress, has disclosed her stance on marriage, claiming that it is “overrated.”
The 42-year-old movie star said she is open to remarriage but not looking for it.
Jegede disclosed this in a recent interview with Naija FM Lagos.
“I am open to remarriage if it comes, but I am not looking for it. I have learnt not to say ‘never’,” she explained.
“I think marriage is overrated. A lot of people who dated for 10 to 15 years, got married and they broke up within 2 to 3 years. Sometimes, you wonder why such couples didn’t just remain unmarried. Because when they add the marriage tag, a lot of intolerance gets in the way.
“I think it is better to find who you love and just cohabit with them,” she added.
“Please don’t marry ,Marriage is overrated”
— Divorced actress Yvonne jegede pic.twitter.com/YoUDZPuxLh
— AntiapeShit (@AntiapeShit) December 19, 2025
Recall that Yvonne Jegede’s marriage to her colleague, Olakunle Abounce Fawole, ended in 2019 after less than a year.
She cited financial imbalance and her ex-husband’s inability to handle or respect her as reasons for their separation.
Jegede also revealed in a previous interview that she was the primary provider and regretted choosing love over financial stability.
CELEBRITIES
It’s one of theatre’s most magical crafts – but now it’s critically endangered | Ents & Arts News
Puppetry has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years.
With the ability to tell political and philosophical stories, fairy tales and musical adventures, all with equal flair, puppeteers bringing the inanimate to life on stage is back in vogue.
A staple of the festive season, the year-round resurgence has been invigorated by hit West End shows including War Horse, The Life Of Pi, The Lion King and My Neighbour Totoro, boosting a craft that has been traced back as far as the ancient Greeks.
Pinocchio is this year’s Christmas show at Shakespeare’s Globe. Pic: Johan Persson
This year, puppets are centre stage at Shakespeare’s Globe, with Pinocchio their leading man.
The tale of a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy, Globe associate director Sean Holmes tells Sky News: “It seemed to fit, a boy made of wood in a theatre made of wood.
“There’s something about the kind of challenge of that storytelling, the theatricality, the magic, the puppetry, that really drew us to it.”
The performers – made up of actors and puppeteers – spent 18 months workshopping the show ahead of opening night, perfecting the challenge of skilled puppetry, acting and singing all on an open-air stage. It’s no mean feat.
The show features a range of puppets, including rod, table-top, and large-scale creations that fill the stage and marionettes – small puppets with big impact.
Puppeteer Stan Middleton is a marionette specialist. Pic: Patrick Hutton
Romeo the marionette on the Globe stage. Pic: Patrick Hutton
One of the show’s puppeteers, Stan Middleton, a marionette specialist, operates a marionette Romeo puppet in part of the performance.
He tells Sky News: “I think a lot of people are scared of marionettes because they think, ‘Oh no, they’re too difficult, we can’t do them’.”
He goes on: “It’s so nice to have the marionette moment in this show, because it gives people a chance to see how beautiful they are and how enchanting…
“They’ve got a sort of delicate charm and a sort of like inner silence which I think really captivates people.”
Despite their charms, the intricate skills required to both craft and manipulate long-string marionettes mean they are under threat.
While some puppets – including War Horse-style rod and Totoro-style body ones – are enjoying success on the stage, marionettes are critically endangered.
Globe associate director Sean Holmes. Pic: Patrick Hutton
Unlike dance or circus, puppetry is not recognised in its own right by Arts Council England and is instead grouped with theatre.
It means specialist puppet venues are competing for funding in the highly saturated market of theatre companies producing for children and families, with no special recognition of their craft.
Marionette-making was added to Heritage Crafts’ Red List of Endangered Crafts in 2023.
There are now calls for it to be added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list too, after the UK officially joined earlier this year.
Puppets are big business, but as some types thrive, others are at risk of disappearing completely. Pic: Johan Persson/Patrick Hutton
Little Angel is one of the few UK theatres to have a marionette bridge. Pic: Patrick Hutton
Little Angel Theatre, a hub for British puppetry for over six decades, is one of a handful of UK spaces where puppeteers can perform with long-string marionettes.
Boasting not one but two marionette bridges, puppeteers can walk 360 degrees all the way around the upper part of the stage, working their marionettes from a hidden vantage point above.
Trained by some of the last remaining UK makers, including Little Angel co-founder Lyndie Wright, Little Angel Associate director Oliver Hymans is a central figure in the effort to save the craft.
Little Angel associate director Oliver Hymans. Pic: Patrick Hutton
Inspired by seeing old marionettes hung up at the back of the stage and intrigued by why they were not being used, he is now committed to re-establishing traditional marionette-making.
Hymans tells Sky News: “The marionette is a series of nine different pendulums all wired together. You’re having to work against gravity to keep it in control.
“But the thing about the marionette is you can hide the puppeteer. So, you can completely design and develop a world where there are only puppets and scenery and scenography.”
He says the majority of master marionette makers have retired or are nearing retirement, and warns there may be just a handful left in the country.
He explains: “With the onslaught of AI, we know it’s coming. Jobs where people use their hands are going to be vitally important, and if we don’t protect these crafts, they are going to die out.”
Me at Little Angel Studios. Pic: Ellie Kurttz
The Storm Whale at Little Angel Theatre. Pic: Northedge Photography
Putting their money where their mouth is, Little Angel is nurturing emerging talent, upskilling people in both the art of making and performing with marionettes.
They plan to have a marionette show on stage next summer.
Also joining the fight for the overlooked craft, puppetry director Rachel Warr has organised a celebration of marionettes for the last three years, with the support of the Art Workers’ Guild Outreach Committee.
An industry-focused free event, it brings the puppetry community together – with particular relevance to those who work with marionettes – or who aspire to.
Puppetry director Rachel Warr (R) with Alicia Britt and Anna Smith. Pic. Tom Crame
Some members of the community appear in a forthcoming short documentary about puppets, Untangling, by filmmaker Hester Heeler-Frood.
Warr told Sky News: “People are often more affected by a puppet dying on stage than an actor pretending to die in character. It doesn’t have the artifice of getting up and walking away and getting on the tube at the end of the night.
“There’s something quite vulnerable about the puppet in that sense… We know that it’s not really alive, and yet we’re able to project on to it our own thoughts and feelings. It’s a blank canvas – a powerful tool.”
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Meanwhile, as Pinocchio plays at the Globe, the theatre is running accompanying puppetry workshops, encouraging children to get involved in the craft – maybe inspiring future stars of puppeteering.
With their future hanging by a string, the training of the next generation is key to breathing life back into an overlooked craft, reinstating marionettes to their rightful place on the stage.
Pinocchio runs at Shakespeare’s Globe until Sunday 4 January.
The Storm Whale at Little Angel Studios runs until Saturday 24 January, and Me runs at Little Angel Theatre until Sunday 25 January.
Kylie Minogue has secured her first Christmas number one in the UK with her hit track XMAS.
The Australian pop star, 57, is the first solo female artist in 12 years to secure the coveted festive spot, after Sam Bailey with Skyscraper in 2013, according to The Official Charts Company.
Minogue has also become the first woman to have number one singles across four different decades.
Her success comes after two consecutive years in which Last Christmas by Wham! was top.
Minogue said it was “hard to put into words” how special it felt to lead the singles chart.
She said: “Being Christmas number one really is the most wonderful gift. I’m so thankful to everyone who’s been listening and sharing the love and I’m wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.”
Her single – pronounced X-M-A-S – is accompanied by a music video that shows Minogue teaching a dance to a group of children and adults.
It also features a special appearance from Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus.
Xmas is followed in the singles chart by Last Christmas, with Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You at three.
Pic: AP
The top five is completed by Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree at four and charity single Lullaby by Together For Palestine at number five – this week’s highest new entry.
Read more:
The recipe for a Christmas number one
Wham! make chart history
Kylie has previously topped the singles chart on seven other occasions.
Her other bestselling songs were I Should Be So Lucky (1988), Especially For You (1988), Hand On Your Heart (1989), Tears On My Pillow (1990), Spinning Around (2000), Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (2001) and Slow (2003).
Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company, said Minogue may now be placed to challenge Mariah Carey as the “queen of Christmas”.
He said: “Congratulations to Kylie – what an amazing achievement by our adopted national treasure.”
The last Australian artist to earn the Christmas number one title was Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, who collaborated with Robbie Williams on Somethin’ Stupid in 2001.
CELEBRITIES
Bobrisky Is Just Having Fun, He Will Go Back To Being A Father – Nigerian Actress, Papaya Ex Says (Video)
Papaya Ex, during an interview on Yanga 89.9 FM in Lagos, defended the endless criticism of Bobrisky’s lifestyle and gender expression, stating that it is all about content creation.
Abike Halima Raheem, the Nigerian influencer and actress, who is popularly known as Papaya Ex, has made a striking revelation about controversial crossdresser Idris Okunneye, better known as Bobrisky.
Papaya Ex, during an interview on Yanga 89.9 FM in Lagos, defended the endless criticism of Bobrisky’s lifestyle and gender expression, stating that it is all about content creation.
According to her, Bobrisky is just having fun and will someday return to being a father.
She said, “If you’re mad at Bobrisky, you need to check yourself. I feel like he’s just having fun.
“Later in the future, Bobrisky will go back to being a father. For now, I think it’s all about content. People evolve with time.”
“If you’re mad at Bobrisky, you need to check yourself. I feel like he’s just having fun. Later in the future, Bobrisky will go back to being a father”
— Papaya Ex pic.twitter.com/hk8bpMhMSt
— Linda Ikeji Blog (@lindaikeji) December 19, 2025
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