Weddings, record scandals, others shaped Nigerian entertainment in 2025

The 2025 Nigerian entertainment scene was a season of grand celebrations and public heartbreaks, record-breaking music streams and box-office triumphs, viral scandals, painful losses and conversations that stretched far beyond remyd carpets and cinema halls. From weddings that shut down cities to divorces that sparked national debate, artists conquering global charts to actors that may never grace our screens again, Weekend Trust brings you every detailed moment that defined the Nigerian entertainment industry in 2025.

Highest grossing movies of 2025

Funke Akindele led the box office in 2025 with ‘Behind the Scenes’, which became the year’s highest-earning Nollywood film after surpassing N500 million in ticket sales. The movie pulled in N512 million shortly after its release, making it the fastest Nigerian production to reach the figure.

In the film, Akindele plays Ronke Fernandez, a wealthy philanthropist whose constant obligations to family members begin to take an emotional toll. The cast also include Uche Montana, Tobi Bakre, Uzor Arukwe, Iyabo Ojo and Ibrahim Chatta.

The achievement extends Akindele’s dominance of the December cinema period, following the success of ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ in 2023 and Everybody Loves Jenifa in 2024.

Also among the year’s top earners was ‘Gingerrr’, which closed with a box-office total of N509 million. The action-comedy ranked among the highest-grossing Nollywood films of all-time and stood out for its mix of humour, suspense and crime-driven storytelling.

The film centres on four friends, whose plan to leave their past behind begins to unravel as hidden motives and long-buried secrets come to light.

Released nationwide in September, the movie was executive-produced by Ope Ajayi, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Bisola Aiyeola, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola and Creative Catalyst. It opened with N82 million and climbed to N378 million within five weeks.

Muyiwa Ademola’s ‘Ori: Rebirth’ followed closely, finishing the year as the third highest-grossing Nollywood film with earnings of about N419.5 million.

The Yoruba language production tells the story of a man confronting questions of destiny, family and social responsibility. It recorded more than N114 million in its first week at the cinemas and crossed N300 million before the end of its first month.

Reel Love secured fourth place after earning N356 million at the box office. Released to coincide with Valentine’s Day, the film explores modern relationships shaped by performance, visibility and the pursuit of online attention. It opened with N40.5 million on its first day and closed its debut weekend at N99.3 million. By its third week in cinemas, it had crossed N200 million and remained at the top of the box-office rankings for five consecutive weeks.

The film also marked actor Timini Egbuson’s first outing as a producer.

Completing the top five was Toyin Abraham’s ‘Iyalode’, which grossed over N305 million. The film presents the journey of a woman asserting authority within a system shaped by tradition and power. It opened to N81.54 million in its first weekend and exceeded N137 million by the end of its opening week.

The movie maintained steady audience interest for three weekends, performing strongly despite competition from international releases such as Mission: Impossible 8.

Most streamed artists

Nigeria’s music scene continued to grow in 2025 with streaming platforms and international collaborations driving the biggest hits of the year.

Wizkid stood out as one of the most streamed Nigerian artists. His album, ‘Morayo’, released in November 2024, stayed popular throughout 2025. It topped platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, attracting both longtime fans and new listeners. The album showed that Wizkid’s sound still connects with people across generations.

Davido also had a strong year. His album, ‘5ive’ produced several hits that dominated charts across Africa. His single, “With You,” featuring Omah Lay, became the most-shared song of 2025, appearing everywhere – from social media and nightclubs to radio stations and weddings. These songs helped Davido keep his influence, both locally and internationally.

Burna Boy kept his global presence despite facing some controversies, including problems during his tours. While critics sometimes questioned his actions, his music continued to perform well in Europe and North America, proving that his appeal goes beyond Nigeria.

Several other artists also made a big impact. Asake dominated streaming charts with three albums ranking among Spotify’s most-played Nigerian releases of the year. Rema continued to enjoy international recognition, thanks to earlier hits.

Ayra Starr strengthened her position as one of Africa’s leading female artists. Seyi Vibez maintained a loyal fan base and street credibility, showing the power of fans in shaping an artist’s success.

In 2025, it was clear that streaming numbers had become the main measure of success for Nigerian music, more than radio or CD sales.

Artists focused on online engagement, music videos and international partnerships, helping Nigerian music reach a bigger audience around the world.

Weddings that made headlines

One of the most talked-about unions of 2025 saw singer Mr Eazi and entrepreneur Temi Otedola celebrate their marriage across three countries.

Their journey began with a civil ceremony in Monaco on May 9, a date chosen to honour the late birthday of Mr Eazi’s mother. The intimate event at Villa La Vigie was marked by bespoke looks, Temi in a custom Wiederhoeft suit with Briony Raymond jewellery, and Eazi in Louis Vuitton and was followed by a dinner at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

In July, the couple hosted a traditional Yoruba celebration at the Otedola family residence in Dubai Hills Estate.

Temi dazzled in several couture outfits by designers, including Zac Posen, Miss Sohee, Lisa Folawiyo and Oscar de la Renta.

The ceremony drew prominent figures, such as Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Shola Akinlade and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, with King Sunny Ade providing live entertainment.

The celebrations concluded on August 8 in Iceland, with the couple exchanging vows at Hallgrímskirkja Church and hosting a reception at Kleif Farm, complete with a surprise performance by John Legend.

Another wedding that flooded headlines was that of Davido and long-time partner, Chioma Avril Rowland. Years after, their relationship had played out in public, the couple tied the knot in a lavish white wedding held in Miami. The ceremony drew celebrities, music executives, fashion designers and fans across continents. Clips from the wedding dominated social media for weeks, making it one of the most anticipated celebrity weddings in recent Nigerian history. For many fans, the wedding marked both a personal milestone and a cultural moment, celebrating love, reconciliation and resilience.

Influencer and actress, Priscilla Ojo, also dominated the social media with her marriage to Tanzanian singer, Juma Jux. Their celebrations were spread across multiple events, starting with an intimate introduction in Tanzania, followed by a vibrant traditional and civil ceremony in Nigeria.

The couple’s coordinated outfits and stylish guest looks quickly went viral under the hashtag, #JP2025. A week later, they exchanged vows again in an outdoor white wedding in Lagos, culminating with a final reception in Tanzania, attended by celebrities, including Toyin Abraham, Chioma Good Hair and Enioluwa.

Other notable weddings of the year included Nollywood actress, Eve Esin, who celebrated her Akwa Ibom heritage in a customary wedding; preacher and skit maker, Deacon Famous, who married his Ghanaian partner, Mawusi Faith, symbolising love beyond borders; and actor Shawn Faqua, whose unique train-themed wedding sparked excitement on the social media.

Scandals, fights and breakups

While love and success dominated headlines, 2025 also saw numerous high-profile breakups and controversies.

One of the year’s most talked-about stories was the marital crisis between actress Regina Daniels and billionaire husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.

Rumours of friction earlier in the year intensified, drawing reactions from fans, colleagues and political observers. In February, Regina briefly deactivated her Instagram account and later returned with Nwoko’s name and photos removed, prompting speculation about a rift in their marriage, which began in 2019 and produced two children. The situation escalated in October when a video of her in tears circulated online.

By November, Daniels publicly accused Nwoko of using influence to intimidate her family, alleging that her siblings had been arrested to coerce her into returning home and entering an unwanted rehabilitation programme. She described the ordeal as “war,” accusing Nwoko of control and manipulation. Her brother, Lawrence, added that the senator had admitted to physically assaulting her and used state power against the family—claims that drew widespread outrage.

Nwoko denied the allegations, questioning media narratives and suggesting rehabilitation for Daniels.

Music icon, 2Baba (Innocent Idibia) and his wife, Annie, also dominated headlines after confirming their separation in January following more than a decade of marriage.

2Baba later confirmed his relationship with Natasha Osawaru, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, proposing publicly in a widely shared video. As the year progressed, tensions between 2Baba and Natasha became public, with videos circulating from live events and an airport in the United Kingdom that reportedly required police intervention. Family members accused Natasha of assault and financial misconduct, while the Edo House of Assembly summoned her over alleged misconduct that brought the legislative body into disrepute.

In August, a Fuji legend, K1 De Ultimate made headlines after an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Security personnel had stopped him from boarding a ValueJet flight with a flask believed to contain alcohol. The situation escalated, spilling the contents on a security officer and delaying the flight. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended two ValueJet pilots, and the Minister of Aviation placed K1 on a no-fly list. K1 later apologised, insisting that the flask contained only water for health reasons.

Another high-profile event was the arrest of a music executive, Jude Okoye by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former manager of PSquare was arraigned in March on the allegation of diverting over $1 million and £34,000 in royalties. He pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned for trial with multiple witnesses expected.

Afrobeats star, Asake was also in the news after his father, Fatai Odunsi, accused him of neglect following a stroke in 2022. Odunsi said Asake had not been responding to calls or visits, prompting social media criticism. Asake responded with a freestyle video, explaining that he had been sending financial support and urging the public not to judge without context.

The matter later eased after Asake settled hospital bills and began securing a house for his father.

Gone but not forgotten

Amid celebrations and controversies, 2025 also brought moments of deep sadness. A veteran actor, Tom Njemanze passed away after battling prostate cancer. His death triggered tributes from colleagues and fans who remembered his contributions to Nollywood’s early years.

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