The showbiz industry in 2024 has been nothing short of explosive, with incredible scandals, controversies and tragic loss. As the year tick-tocks to its inevitable end, Peoples Gazette presents the good, the bad and the ugly in showbiz.
This year, the industry witnessed amazing music from Nigerian and international artists and some unforgettable blockbusters. Nigerian artist Asake dominated 2024, becoming the most-streamed artist in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa for the second consecutive year. His album ‘Lungu Boy’ garnered over 200 million streams and featured stars like Wizkid, Travis Scott, and Central Cee. Asake also broke Burna Boy’s record on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart with 50 entries. He earned Grammy nominations and recognition from MTV, BET, MOBO, and Billboard.
Nigerian artist Wizkid released his long-awaited album ‘Morayo’, dedicating it to his late mother. It achieved the largest first-week streams for an African album on Spotify and accumulated 48 million streams in just six days. It debuted at number 98 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
Notable album releases include HEIS by Rema, a summer banger album with hits like ‘Ozeba’, ‘March Am’, ‘Yayo’, etc.
On the international front, remarkable albums included Future and Metro Boomin’s ‘We Don’t Trust You’ and ‘We Still Don’t Trust You’, ‘Tyler’, the Creator’s ‘Chromokopia’, Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’, Doechii’s ‘Hit Me Hard’ and ‘Soft’, Billie Eilish’s ‘The Thief Next to Jesus’, Ka’s ‘Cowboy Carter’, Beyoncé’s ‘The Death of Slim Shady’ (Coup De Grâce), Eminem’s ‘Take Care’, BigXthaPlug’s latest release, and Ye and Ty Dolla Sign’s ‘Vultures 1 & 2’.
Blockbuster movies and series of 2024
The Nigerian film industry experienced an exciting surge in 2024. As of October 31, Queen Lateefah reigned supreme, becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film of the year, bringing in an impressive ₦259 million within five weeks of its release. Filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele saw tremendous success with Everybody Loves Jenifa, which became the fastest Nollywood film to gross ₦500 million in just 12 days, following her previous film that grossed over a billion naira in 2023. Other major successes at the box office included Ajosepo, Ajakaju: Beasts of Two Worlds, and Lakatabu.
Globally, sequels dominated the film industry. ‘Inside Out 2’ grossed over $1 billion, followed by ‘Despicable Me 4’ ($1.2 billion) and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ ($790 million). Other notable films included ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Venom: The Last Dance’, which earned $473 million, while ‘Wicked’ surpassed $460 million globally, and ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ which earned $547 million. On the TV side, ‘Shōgun’ (Disney+), ‘Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light’ (BBC), and ‘Slow Horses’ (Apple TV+) topped the streaming charts, delivering some of the best series of the year.
Moving away from movies and series, 2024 has witnessed a conundrum of clashes among artistes at home and abroad.
Wizkid vs Davido
Wizkid’s feud with Davido reignited in 2024 after public spats between the two superstars. The drama began when Wizkid subtly criticised an unnamed artist on social media, a post many interpreted as a jab at Davido. This led to an explosive back-and-forth, with Wizkid calling Davido “wack” and “talentless,” mocking his music and implying that his career was in decline.
Kendrick Lamar vs Drake
The Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef in 2024 became one of the greatest rivalries in hip-hop history, with a series of diss tracks. It started with Kendrick’s shots on ‘Like That’, where he compared himself to Prince and Drake to Michael Jackson. Drake responded with ‘Push Ups’ and ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’, escalating the feud. Lamar hit back with ‘Euphoria’, taking aim at Drake’s skills, AI use, and personal life. The tension continued with 6:16 in LA and Family Matters. Kendrick added fuel to the fire with tracks like ‘Meet the Grahams’ and ‘Not Like Us’, which took direct shots at Drake. In these songs, he accused him of being a paedophile and questioned his role as a father to his son.
VDM and the flying daggers
VeryDarkMan, a controversial Nigerian social critic, has been involved in multiple scandals throughout 2024. One major controversy arose from his defamatory posts about lawyer Femi Falana and his son, Falz. He was found guilty by a Lagos court for spreading false claims, which led to a hefty ₦500 million fine and a court order for him to remove the defamatory content. These posts linked the Falana family to Bobrisky in a scandal about presidential pardons, which the court deemed damaging to their reputation.
In another controversial incident, VeryDarkMan claimed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky after the cross-dresser allegedly paid a N15 million bribe. This explosive saga prompted the House of Representatives to investigate the matter, raising concerns about corruption within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies. Despite the controversies surrounding him, VeryDarkMan’s social media platforms became a space for raising awareness about human rights abuses, particularly in exposing police brutality and government corruption.
Burna Boy vs Eedris Abdulkareem
Burna Boy faced backlash after claiming he achieved success in the Nigerian music industry without help, which veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem found dismissive of the contributions from earlier generations. Abdulkareem publicly criticised Burna Boy, stating that his success was built on the sacrifices of pioneers who fought for global recognition. Burna Boy responded by calling Abdulkareem out of touch and irrelevant, leading to a heated exchange online.
Diddy and the sex web
In 2024, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faced controversies that rocked the entertainment industry. Among the most pressing issues, he is currently involved in a series of legal battles, including accusations of racketeering, sex trafficking, and other charges. These legal troubles stem from lawsuits that claim abuse and exploitation, though Diddy and his legal team have denied all allegations, calling them fabricated. During police raids conducted in connection with the investigations, authorities reportedly discovered large quantities of baby oil at his residence, and his case is set to go to trial in 2025.
Burna Boy vs Speed Darlington
The ongoing feud between Burna Boy and Speed Darlington escalated further in 2024, leading to legal confrontations and multiple arrests. After Speed Darlington taunted Burna Boy over his Grammy win and accused him of associations with controversial figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs, Burna Boy filed a formal complaint, resulting in Darlington’s five-day detention in Abuja in October. His troubles continued when he was arrested again during a performance in Owerri in November. On December 23, 2024, the court ordered Speed Darlington’s release and instructed the inspector general of police to ensure his immediate release.
Psquare’s Paul and Peter faceoff
Psquare, the Nigerian music duo consisting of twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye, found themselves in fresh drama following their split. Despite reuniting in 2021, their differences resurfaced, leading to a public confirmation of the split by Paul (Rudeboy), who attributed it to unresolved issues with his brother. He confirmed that he was focusing on his solo career.
Peter (Mr P) responded strongly in an open letter, accusing Rudeboy of belittling his contributions to the group and claiming that Rudeboy was trying to rewrite history by taking credit for the majority of their successes. He criticised Rudeboy for disrespecting his family and creative input and expressed frustration over the continued public discrediting of his role in their duo.
Chidimma Adetshina pageant controversy
Chidimma Adetshina’s journey through the world of pageantry took a dramatic turn in 2024. After facing public scrutiny for withdrawing from Miss South Africa due to xenophobic backlash regarding her Nigerian heritage, she made a powerful comeback. She later won Miss Universe Nigeria and achieved a remarkable first runner-up position at Miss Universe 2024 and the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
Bobrisky’s journey to prison
In March 2024, Bobrisky, the Nigerian gender activist and social media personality, found himself in significant legal battles. In one high-profile case, he was convicted for abusing the Nigerian naira notes at the Imax Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos, during a movie premiere.
The case led to Bobrisky being jailed for six months, with the judge condemning his actions as a deterrent against the ongoing abuse of national symbols. Public opinion on Bobrisky’s legal issues was divided. Some people felt that he was unfairly targeted, while others agreed with the court’s decision, believing it was important to protect national values.
Death rocks Nollywood
2024 also marked a year of heartbreaking farewells as the Nigerian and Hollywood entertainment industries mourned the loss of icons whose legacies will not be forgotten. John Okafor (Mr Ibu), the comedic legend known for his unforgettable performances, passed away in March 2024 at 62. In April 2024, actor Junior Pope Odonwodo tragically died in a boat accident on the River Niger. Cynthia Okereke, a veteran actress, passed away in July 2024. The industry also lost Onyeka Onwenu, the ‘Elegant Stallion’, who died after a performance in July 2024. Other notable figures who passed include Stella Ikwuegbu, Ganiyu Oyeyemi, Tolani Quadri, and Yusuf Olorungbede.
Curtains fall on Hollywood legends
Hollywood mourned the loss of several icons in 2024. Donald Sutherland, Richard Simmons, Shannen Doherty, James Earl Jones, and Shelley Duvall passed away, leaving an irreplaceable legacy in TV and film.
