For the Nigerian entertainment sector, 2024 has been a year unlike any other, filled with both incredible successes and difficulties that have molded and transformed the sector.
Nevertheless, the industry saw notable innovations, record-breaking achievements, and worldwide recognition despite the difficulties and disputes.
Interestingly, the year got off to a strong start when Funke Akindele’s hit movie “The Tribe Called Judah” became the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever.
The movie, which came out in December 2022, made news in January after breaking box office records and making N1 billion from ticket sales in just 20 days.
The advancements in the industry this year were influenced by the success story of “The Tribe Called Judah.” Eight Nigerian superstars, including Burna Boy Wizkid, Davido, Olamide, Asake, and Ayra Starr, were nominated in several Grammy 2024 categories in February, continuing the trend.
It made a daring statement about the emergence of African superstars, even though none of them took any of the prizes back home. And with his increasing impact on the world stage this year, Burna Boy, who led the field with four nominations, and Davido, who came in second with three, stood out.
In the midst of the excitement surrounding that achievement, Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa returned home to announce plans to create an African Grammy, which sparked discussion among industry stakeholders. Many criticized the plan, calling it a misguided priority that could jeopardize the 20 years of progress made in the nation’s music industry, but the plan has not yet been implemented.
Tragedy and Death…
Numerous catastrophes and losses occurred in the industry, including the passing of well-known individuals. In actuality, the most terrible incidents occurred between March and April, when prominent cinema stars tragically passed away. Famous dramatist, actor, and poet Jimi Solanke was the first to leave the stage. He died on February 7 at the age of 81. He was well-known for his parts in “Shadow Parties” and “Sango,” among other films. Following his departure was that of well-known actor Amaechi Muonagor, who passed away on March 24 at the age of 61 following a lengthy illness. Veteran actor Zulu Adigwe followed suit as the business recovered from the blow. At the age of 74, he passed away in April. He gained recognition for his parts in Basi and company.
Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, “Issakaba,” and others. At the age of 62, John Okafor, commonly known as Mr. Ibu, also died on March 2. Many Nigerians had to contribute money to cover the comedian’s hospital expenses after he battled a long illness that left him bedridden. Sadly, despite the fact that his death was surrounded by numerous disputes, he did not survive. Just one month prior to his own demise, Jnr Pope regrettably posted a condolence message on his social media profile for Mr. Ibu’s passing. He met a horrible end on April 10 when he and four other people were involved in a boat accident on the Ambam River while filming the Adanma Luke movie.
The players Guild of Nigeria, or AGN, established an investigating commission to determine the accident’s immediate and distant causes after the unsightly occurrence spurred discussion about the safety of players on set.
Wole Oguntokun, a writer who passed away on March 26, and Lizzy Evoeme, a seasoned actress best known for her part in “New Masquerade,” were among the other performers who bowed out of the stage. At the age of 81, she passed away on May 5. On February 7, the well-known actress Ethel Ekpe also passed away. Her part in Basi and Company made her famous.
The highlife icon Godwin Oparah, better known by his stage name Kabaka from Oriental Brothers, died on March 21 at the age of 79. The industry also lamented his passing. Kabaka, a music legend who transformed highlife music in the southeast of the nation, will be laid to rest on December 30 in his hometown of Imerienwe, in Imo state. His departure has created a void in the music business. This was also the case with Onyeka Onwenu, 72, who passed away on July 30 after collapsing at a birthday celebration for Emzor Pharmaceuticals owner Stella Okoli.
In an effort to seek God’s face, the Actors Guild of Nigeria fasted and prayed for four days in response to the industry’s frequent deaths. However, William Shakespeare once said that death “is a necessary end that will come when it comes.”
Difficulties and Conflicts….
Nigerian entertainers are not an exception to the rule that controversy is a part of show business. The past year was marked by both positive and negative aspects. The first thing that comes to mind is the controversy that ensued after Bobrisky, a well-known crossdresser, was released on August 5 after being imprisoned in April for the crime of naira mutilation. Unaware that he would soon be involved in another scandal, he wasted no time in getting back into his rhythm by partying with friends who were celebrities.
He allegedly admitted paying millions of naira to guarantee a pleasant place in prison in an audio tape that went viral online after his release. During his naira spraying incident in April, the crossdresser was accused of paying N15 million to the anti-graft agency, EFCC, to drop money laundering accusations against him, according to an audio recording posted by social media activist VeryDarkMan, VDM. Throughout September and October, the video created a lot of buzz on the internet. A court dispute resulted from the involvement of musician Falz and his father, civil rights attorney Femi Falana. However, Bobrisky ended up on the receiving end, as he was imprisoned once more for trying to leave the country as the House of Representatives called for VDM to offer
P-square splits up again: After getting back together in 2021, fans of the musical pair Peter and Paul Okoye of Psquare were devastated when they split up once more. The pair eventually broke up after their reunion failed to yield the anticipated smash records. In order to stay relevant in the music industry, the Okoye brothers will now seek separate careers once more, making Psquare history.
Burna Boy faces criticism: Burna Boy was also subject to criticism for his claimed role in the arrest of Speed Darlington, a content creator. The self-described “African Giant” was criticized by social media users for his dictatorial behavior. However, Speed Darlington was eventually made available.
Afrobeat artist Davido and his longtime sweetheart, Chioma Rowland, got married in a fairy tale wedding that has left fans buzzing to this day. Many have called it the biggest celebrity wedding of the year. Top dignitaries and the entertainment industry’s elite attended the extravagant celebration, which included the hashtag #Chivido2024 for their wedding. The ceremony, which took place at Harbour Point in Lagos State’s Victoria Island neighborhood, was the result of years of friendship and, predictably, created a lot of talk on social media.
Mike Ejeagha’s timeless hit is brought back to life by Brain Jotter: The resuscitation of the 1983 hit song “Gwo, Gwo, Gwo, Ngwo” by iconic highlife singer Mike Ejeagha by well-known sketch creator Chukwuebuka Amuzie, also known as Brain Jotter, was one of the year’s most notable events. Everyone was talking about the viral dancing challenge that was triggered by the revival. After 41 years, the rebirth brought Mike Ejeagha back into the public eye. Even though Brain Jotter made no money from the viral dancing challenge, it brought the 93-year-old folk icon back to the attention of a younger audience. The rebirth demonstrated the enduring appeal of Mike Ejeagha’s songs as well as the ability of social media to bring back beloved songs.
International and Globe recognition….
Remarkably, Asake, Tems, and Rema were nominated for both the 2024 Grammy Awards and the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, demonstrating the rising international renown of Nigerian performers.
Burna Boy: The only Nigerian in the UK’s Top 100 and Nigeria’s most exported musician, Burna Boy continued to be a powerful force. As part of his ongoing global rise, Burna Boy performed at Citi Field in New York, becoming the first African musician to sell out a stadium event in the United States. He was nominated for several Grammys in 2025, making ten nominations overall, the most of any Nigerian musician.
This year, Nigerian musicians maintained their dominance of the world music industry by producing significant cash and reaching impressive streaming figures.
For the second year in a row, Asake has been the most-streamed Nigerian musician on Spotify, engaging listeners of all ages. Ayra Starr emerged as the most-streamed Nigerian female artist in the female category, with a sizable following in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Davido made $70 million in 2024 when his album “Timeless” was released. The CD demonstrates his ability by fusing dancehall, amapiano, and Afropop. He engaged his American fan base by going on the “Timeless North American Tour” to promote the album. He was nominated for his second Grammy in 2025 in the Best African Music Performance category for his collaboration with budding singer Lojay on Chris Brown’s song “Sensational,” which was Lojay’s first Grammy nomination.
Yemi Alade: The song “Tomorrow” got her her first Grammy nomination in the Best African Music Performance category. She also sang “Akwaba,” the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’ official theme song, during the opening ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire.
Tiwa Savage: Tiwa made her acting debut and displayed her versatility in May 2024 with the release of “Water & Garri,” the soundtrack to her film of the same name.
The role of the government in entertainment….
Through some of its commendable initiatives, such as the establishment of the Creative Economy Development Fund, or CEDF, the Federal Government greatly increased its efforts to promote the entertainment industry this year. The creation of this fund to support creative talents financially was approved by the Federal Executive Council. Creatives can use intellectual property as collateral for loans thanks to its cutting-edge financing processes, such as IP collateralization. Under the iDICE program, this activity is a component of a larger endeavor to improve funding accessibility and create IP valuation standards in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Despite the fact that no one has used the fund, the industry’s stakeholders praised this admirable idea. Another historic step to support the industry is the government’s intention to build an Afrobeats Museum to honor Nigeria’s influence on world music and advance cultural infrastructure.
The year also saw the historic appointment of experts to head the government’s numerous agencies. While Obi Asika and actor Ali Nuhu oversaw the operations of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Film Cooperation (NFC), respectively, President Tinubu named Dr. Shaibu Hussein as the new Director-General/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in early January. The appointments were praised by several stakeholders.
The role of the entertainment sector in economic expansion……
Nigeria’s GDP has continuously benefited greatly from Nollywood. The industry contributed $660 million (239 billion naira), or almost 2.3% of the GDP, in 2021. The combined contribution of music recording and film to Nigeria’s GDP by 2023 was around 154 billion naira, or $197.6 million.
With estimates showing that Nigeria’s entertainment and media industry will reach $13.89 billion by 2027, this increasing tendency is anticipated to continue. With more than 2,500 films produced each year, the industry continues to hold its position as one of the most productive in the world. Nigeria’s cultural export and soft power are strengthened by this high output, which not only meets home demand but also serves an expanding global audience.
There was also a notable increase in the Nigerian box office. 50% of Nigeria’s box office receipts in the first half of 2024 came from Nollywood productions, which brought in $2.8 million, a 34% increase over the same time the year before. This increase is a result of both the growing popularity of Nigerian films and their improving quality. Naturally, the rise of streaming behemoths like Netflix, Prime Video, Showmax, and others has contributed significantly to our performers’ and directors’ increased revenues. In addition, the industry has given thousands of people jobs as producers, directors, performers, and other support personnel. Its expansion boosts associated industries including distribution, marketing, and hospitality, which advances the economy as a whole.
These accomplishments highlight Nigerian musicians’ vibrant and significant presence on the international scene, as they continue to shatter stereotypes and establish new benchmarks in both music and cinema. Nigeria’s status as a cultural powerhouse has been further cemented by the industry’s expansion, which has also resulted in higher investments in talent development and infrastructure.
Growth in streaming revenue….
In 2024, Nigeria’s digital music market is expected to bring in $122.10 million USD.
In 2023, Nigerian musicians’ streaming revenues on Spotify alone more than doubled to N25 billion. The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Nigeria’s top copyright collective management organization, approved a staggering N465.5 million royalty payment for its members and allies on December 10, 2024. It was the largest distribution in the organization’s history. This further suggests that there has never been a stronger year for Nigerian musicians.
Notwithstanding the difficulties and disputes, 2024 was a noteworthy year for the Nigerian entertainment sector, full of innovations, accolades, and encouraging advancements that all boosted the country’s economy. The numerous innovations and successes documented during the year demonstrated the industry’s tenacity and will to prosper. Stakeholders are optimistic about a better future in 2025 as the sector continues to change.