Rema is all grown up
Plus: Temi Otedola's new film, Kemi Adetiba's new film, Tosin Martins concert, Daniel and Toyosi Etim-Effiong, BNXN, Ayra Starr, Fireboy, Asake, Mohbad case and more...
Welcome to The Feed, where Dennis is trying too hard to make it to Chimamanda’s event later tonight. Since this is her only event in Lagos open to the public, I guess I should keep this newsletter short and head out to that.
But I have to say a few things about what seems to me to be a new phase in Rema’s growth. It is always tricky, I think, for die-hard fans to see their fave, who they first encountered as a child star, grow up. I remember when Miley Cyrus decided she was done being Hannah Montana and wanted to grow, and she got backlash for that.
Compared to Rema, despite living in a social media world, my comments seem to have been mild so far, except the occasional smoking, which some people have flagged as just doing too much. We should also factor in his being a man as well. But let me know what you think of the comment. We have some stunning photos of him from Paris Fashion Week, where he walked the runway later in this issue.
Tosin Martins is back with a new concert #OloMiAt20, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his classic “Olo Mi.” Johnny Drile, MI, Waje, Ebenezer Obey and more are all performing.
Venue: The Dome, Admiralty Way (End of Freedom Way), Lekki 1
Date: Saturday 28th June 2025
Time: 5:00 pm
Get your ticket here.
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Celebrity
→ Happy birthday, Dima: Ini Dima-Okojie celebrated her birthday this week with this stunning white look. “This birthday feels different…quieter, brighter, deeper,” she said on Instagram.
→ Consciously coupling: The couple we are watching this week has to be Toyosi and Daniel Etim-Effiong, who had his birthday this week. “Thank you for being a garment of radiance over me,” his wife wrote on Instagram about him, keeping it simple.
Online Entry
→ Rema’s taste: What kind of music does Rema listen to before and while getting ready? “Russian rock,” he told Dazed magazine recently. Full interview below.
Bops
→ Blaqbonez vs OdumoduBlvck: The Nigerian rap world was sent into a frenzy this week as the beef between Blaqbonez and OdumoduBlvck came to a head online. After A-Q and Blaqbonez dropped their single, “Who’s Really Rapping,” Odumodu made a post saying, “Tell that old fool that Odumodu is really rapping,” on X. Blaqbonez didn’t take it lying down. Read everything that happened here.
→ New Victony: Victony has dropped the visuals for his latest song “Glory.”
→ BNXN returns: BNXN has released the tracklist for his sophomore album, Captain. It will be released next Thursday, July 3, 2025. Rema, Seyi Vibez, and Victony are on it.
→ Ayra Starr on Genius: Ayra Starr broke down all the hidden meanings and inspiration behind her latest song "Gimme Dat" with Genius.
→ Tems in Brazil: Tems will perform at AFROPUNK Brazil 2025 on November 9 in Salvador, Bahia. The two-day festival, which runs from November 8 to 9, celebrates Black culture, identity, and resistance.
→ Baba Mohbad: The Lagos State High Court will deliver judgment on July 2, 2025, in a case filed by Mohbad’s father challenging the legal advice that cleared Naira Marley and Sam Larry of involvement in the singer’s death. Mr. Aloba argues that the advice interfered with the ongoing coroner’s inquest and denied the family a fair hearing. The suit targets the Lagos State Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecution.
→ New Runtown: Runtown has dropped a new EP, Soundgod Fest IV.
→ Ayo Maff arrives: Ayo Maff has released his debut album, Prince of the Street. It debuted at No. 2 on Apple Music's top Nigerian album chart.
→ The Best New Music This Week:
>> From his latest EPs, “End A Man” by Runtown will be perfect for the drive home.
>> J Hus dropped “Gold” featuring Asake.
>> Gabzy has released the visualiser for his new song, “So Much Sense” featuring Fireboy DML.
>> Burna Boy released the visuals for “Don't Let Me Drown,” his latest off the Brad Pitt movie, F1 soundtrack.
Recommendation:
>> The 20 Best Nigerian Songs Of 2025 (So Far)
>> The 8 Best Nigerian Albums of 2025 (So Far)
>> The 10 Most Culturally Impactful Nigerian Rap Songs, Ranked By Fans
Cine Club
→ No Loose Guard Reunion: Almost a year after they left the house, the cast of BBNaija: No Loose Guard have reunited with host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu for the reunion show. So far, Housemates have seized the opportunity to express themselves, set the record straight, and open up about how their lives have been post the show. If you want to know which pairs are still together, who is still dating whom, and who are now in all-out war, I have all the details here.
→ Temi Otedola returns to acting: Nemsia Studios has released the trailer for Ms. Kanyin, a secondary school horror film starring Temi Otedola. The cast also includes Michelle Dede, Kanaga Jnr, Natse Jemide, Queen Damilola, Kalu Ikeagwu, and Keppy Ekpenyong. The film will start streaming on Prime Video today.
→ New Kemi Adetiba trailer: Kemi Adetiba has dropped the trailer for her highly anticipated film, To Kill A Monkey. The cast includes Bucci Franklin, Bimbo Akintola, Stella Damasus, Chidi Mokeme, Ireti Doyle, and Teniola Aladese. It will debut on July 18, 2025.
→ Nigerian box office:
Pod Gems
→ That Tiwa Savage interview: The full interview with Tiwa Savage on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast is now up.
>> Also on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Young Jonn dropped by this week.
→ M.I. on being a Nigerian man: M.I. Abaga dropped by the Menism podcast to talk about the struggles of African masculinity. Wild conversation.
Baffs
→ PFW25: Rema looking hot at the 2025 424 x Porsche Paris Fashion Week show.
Bookshelf
→ 2025 Evaristo Prize: Nigerian poet Ameen Animashaun won the 2025 Evaristo Prize for African Poetry for his poem sequence Song. The African Poetry Book Fund presents the prize.
The Life and Work of Chinua Achebe: The University of Oxford will host a British Academy Conference titled Achebe Redivivus: Remapping a Field on July 3 and 4, 2025, focusing on Chinua Achebe's life, work, and legacy. See more details here.
→ The Noble Warrior returns: The play The Noble Warrior (Ẹni Ogun) will return to Lagos for a three-day run from July 11 to 13, 2025, to celebrate Wole Soyinka’s 91st birthday. Cash Onadele will produce and direct it at Glover Memorial Hall. Get tickets here.
One Good Article
This week, my One Good Article is this piece that looks at hope in the face of Nigeria. My colleague Aisha Bello, who is a fantastic writer, spoke to a woman whose poultry business crashed but refused to lose hope.