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  • Cardi B and Davido light up Riyadh as Soundstorm 2025 turns into a cross-genre spectacle

    Cardi B and Davido light up Riyadh as Soundstorm 2025 turns into a cross-genre spectacle

    Photo credit: MDLBEAST (official Soundstorm timetable page)

    According to Punch, Cardi B and Davido were among the headliners who thrilled fans at the 2025 Soundstorm festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    The report described Cardi B’s set as a ‘late-night block party’ moment, while Davido’s appearance underscored Afrobeats’ growing festival pull in the Middle East.

    The lineup and schedules shared by organisers helped fans track the biggest sets across the multi-night event.

    • MDLBEAST (official timetable page): “Davido 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM… Cardi B 12:45 AM – 01:45 AM”
    • Yahoo Entertainment (article): “…Cardi B turned Soundstorm Festival 2025 into her own late-night block party…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Global festivals are increasingly booking Afrobeats as a must-have sound—not a ‘special guest’ slot. That shift can reshape touring routes, sponsorship value, and streaming discovery in new markets. Watch for follow-up announcements: additional Middle East dates, brand partnerships, and collaboration teases that often drop right after festival weekends.

    Source: Punch — 2025-12-14 — https://punchng.com/cardi-b-davido-perform-at-saudi-arabias-soundstorm-festival/

    Photo credit: Photo credit: MDLBEAST (official Soundstorm timetable page)

    2025-12-14

  • Newark declares Dec. 12 ‘Burna Boy Day’ after sold-out Prudential Center show

    Newark declares Dec. 12 ‘Burna Boy Day’ after sold-out Prudential Center show

    Photo/Video credit: Burna Boy (Instagram reel page)

    According to TheCable Lifestyle, the city of Newark, New Jersey, declared December 12 as ‘Burna Boy Day’ in recognition of the artist’s cultural impact and global reach.

    The proclamation was presented in the glow of a major tour stop, adding another headline milestone to Afrobeats’ U.S. arena era.

    Online, fans treated the honour as a symbol of how far the genre has travelled—from local hits to municipal recognition abroad.

    • The Nation (Threads): “…present a framed proclamation declaring the day ‘Burna Boy Day’.”
    • EII Ghana Africa (website): “Thank you for the incredible honour and recognition… It’s only UP from here,” he wrote.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: City proclamations can be ceremonial, but in pop culture they act like ‘soft power’ proof—helping artists deepen brand partnerships, tour leverage, and diaspora visibility. Watch for whether the proclamation fuels more U.S. cultural collaborations, sponsorships, or civic-facing events tied to Afrobeats artists.

    Source: TheCable Lifestyle — 2025-12-14 — https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/us-city-of-newark-declares-dec-12-as-burna-boy-day/

    2025-12-14

  • Tonto Dikeh shares testimony of quitting smoking after 27 years, says the turning point came through faith

    Tonto Dikeh shares testimony of quitting smoking after 27 years, says the turning point came through faith

    Photo/Video credit: DCLImagery (YouTube)

    According to Punch, actress Tonto Dikeh narrated a personal testimony at Streams of Joy International Church, saying she quit smoking after a 27-year habit that began in her teens.

    The account was shared widely online as clips of the service circulated, with commenters debating addiction, healing, and the role of community support.

    Dikeh framed the story as a new chapter, urging people who are struggling privately to seek help and stay accountable.

    • Vanguard (website): “Nollywood star Tonto Dikeh has recounted… a personal breakthrough from years of smoking…”
    • TheCable Lifestyle (website): “Speaking during a recent Sunday service… Dikeh framed her story… as an act of thanksgiving.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Celebrity testimonies can be polarizing, but they also open up real conversations about addiction, relapse risk, and where to find support. What matters next is follow-through—watch for whether Dikeh partners with credible wellness/mental-health or stop-smoking initiatives, and whether the discussion shifts from ‘viral moment’ to practical resources for the public.

    Source: Punch — 2025-12-15 — https://punchng.com/i-smoked-for-27-years-started-at-13-tonto-dikeh/

    2025-12-15

  • Mercy Aigbe lands BON Awards supporting-actress win as ‘My Mother Is a Witch’ gets major nod

    Mercy Aigbe lands BON Awards supporting-actress win as ‘My Mother Is a Witch’ gets major nod

    Photo credit: Premium Times (image on story page)

    According to Premium Times, Mercy Aigbe was recognised at the 2025 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards for her supporting performance in ‘My Mother Is a Witch’.

    The recognition adds to a big night for multiple titles, with the awards rewarding both star power and craft across the slate.

    Fans quickly pushed clips and congratulations across social media, keeping the BON conversation trending into the next morning.

    • The Eagle Online (website): “BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – MERCY AIGBE (MY MOTHER IS A WITCH)”
    • TheCable Lifestyle (website): “The 17th edition of the award ceremony… celebrated the outstanding achievements of the industry…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: For Mercy Aigbe, a BON acting win is not just bragging rights—it can translate into stronger negotiating power for future roles, higher demand for press tours, and renewed attention for the film itself. Watch for distributor/streaming pushes and award-season campaign positioning as Nollywood’s calendar shifts toward bigger international visibility.

    Source: Premium Times — 2025-12-15 — https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/843149-bon-awards-2025-farmers-bride-wins-movie-of-the-year-as-seven-doors-sweeps-technical-awards.html

    2025-12-15

  • ‘Seven Doors’ and ‘Farmer’s Bride’ lead the night as 2025 BON Awards crown winners

    ‘Seven Doors’ and ‘Farmer’s Bride’ lead the night as 2025 BON Awards crown winners

    Photo credit: Best of Nollywood Awards (Instagram profile)

    According to TheCable Lifestyle, the 2025 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards ceremony celebrated standout films and performances, with major wins spread across top titles.

    The event’s headline story was the strong showing by ‘Seven Doors’ alongside ‘Farmer’s Bride’, as the awards spotlighted craft categories and marquee acting honors.

    Beyond trophies, the winners list has already started shaping audience watchlists and streaming demand going into the year-end holidays.

    • Premium Times (website): “Femi Adebayo’s cinematic thriller ‘Seven Doors’ was the biggest winner at the 2025 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards…”
    • The Eagle Online (website): “Seven Doors shines at 2025 BON Awards + Full list of winners…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: BON’s winners list is a quick signal for what Nollywood’s industry tastemakers believe is ‘working’ right now—and it often influences acquisition decisions, streaming placements, and promo budgets. Watch for post-awards reruns, new distribution announcements, and a surge in cast interviews as studios try to convert trophies into ticket/streaming momentum.

    Source: TheCable Lifestyle — 2025-12-15 — https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/full-list-seven-doors-farmers-bride-win-big-at-2025-bon-awards/
    2025-12-15

  • African leaders renew reparations demand from UK over colonial-era abuses

    African leaders renew reparations demand from UK over colonial-era abuses

    2025-12-15 02:00:00

    According to The Punch, African leaders are again pushing for compensation from the UK over what they describe as colonial-era crimes, reopening the debate around reparations and historical accountability.

    The report situates the demand within wider global reparations conversations, where former colonial powers face growing political pressure to acknowledge harms and consider restitution frameworks.

    Reparations debates often blend moral arguments with policy questions around documentation, beneficiaries, and the form compensation should take (cash, debt relief, development funds, apologies, or institutional reforms).

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: The practical question is whether any formal mechanism emerges beyond statements—such as a commission, legal action, or negotiated programmes. Watch for UK government reactions, AU positioning, and whether the push links to concrete policy instruments like debt swaps or development financing.

    Source: Azerbaycan  — December 15, 2025 — https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/africa-demands-accountability-for-colonial-crimes/

    Photo credit: Africa demands accountability for colonial crime

  • Onion producers warn of festive-season price jump as demand rises

    Onion producers warn of festive-season price jump as demand rises

    2025-12-14 14:03:00

    According to The Punch, onion producers in Kaduna under NOPPMAN expect yuletide demand to push prices higher, with some bags already quoted well above mid-year levels.

    The report cites the association saying supply timing and harvest cycles across producing states could keep prices elevated into early 2026.

    Onion prices are a major kitchen-staple indicator, feeding into broader food inflation and household spending pressures.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Food inflation hits hardest at Christmas when demand spikes. Watch market arrival volumes from Kebbi and other producing states in January–March, and whether logistics and storage improvements can smooth seasonal price swings.

    Source: The Punch — December 14, 2025 — https://punchng.com/onion-farmers-forecast-higher-prices-during-yuletide/

    Photo credit: The Punch

    The Punch https://punchng.com/onion-farmers-forecast-higher-prices-during-yuletide/ December 14, 2025

  • FirstBank reopens refurbished basketball arena at Ikeja Army cantonment

    FirstBank reopens refurbished basketball arena at Ikeja Army cantonment

    2025-12-15 00:31:00

    According to The Punch, FirstBank has reopened a renovated Basketball & Games Arena at the Nigerian Army 9 Brigade Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos, following a facelift.

    The report says the facility was inaugurated with senior military participation and positions the upgrade as part of sports development and community engagement.

    Bank-funded sports infrastructure typically falls under CSR, with brands seeking long-term visibility and youth engagement outcomes.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: CSR projects matter most when they’re sustained—equipment, coaching programmes, and open access rules. Watch for how the facility is managed, who can use it, and whether it becomes a hub for grassroots leagues.

    Source: The Punch — December 15, 2025 — https://x.com/FirstBankngr/status/1999809090315268597

    Photo credit: At FirstBank, our commitment goes beyond banking, it is about supporting people including the people
    X-twitter https://x.com/FirstBankngr/status/1999809090315268597 December 15, 2025

  • SERAP threatens legal action over ₦6tn NDDC judgment and transparency demands

    SERAP threatens legal action over ₦6tn NDDC judgment and transparency demands

    2025-12-14 13:23:00

    According to The Punch, SERAP says it may sue the Attorney-General of the Federation over issues linked to a reported ₦6tn judgment involving the NDDC and broader accountability concerns.

    The group’s stance, as reported, focuses on transparency demands and what it argues should be the public’s right to clarity on large judgment-related liabilities.

    Such legal threats can trigger official responses, document releases, or court filings that shed more light on how liabilities are incurred and handled.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If litigation proceeds, the most important developments will be court filings and verified documents—not social media summaries. Watch for statements from the AGF’s office, NDDC, and any court timetable that could force disclosures.

    Source: The Punch — December 14, 2025 — https://www.worldstagenews.com/serap-threatens-contempt-to-sue-agf-fagbemi-over-failure-to-enforce-judgment-on-alleged-n6tn-nddc-scandal/

    Photo credit: WorldStage

    WorldStage https://www.worldstagenews.com/serap-threatens-contempt-to-sue-agf-fagbemi-over-failure-to-enforce-judgment-on-alleged-n6tn-nddc-scandal/ December 14, 2025

  • FG begins phased rollout of grazing reserves amid herders–farmers tensions

    FG begins phased rollout of grazing reserves amid herders–farmers tensions

    2025-12-15 02:19:00

    According to The Punch, the Federal Government says it has commenced phased development of grazing reserves, revisiting a long-running livestock policy debate.

    The report highlights the plan as a structured rollout, often discussed in the context of reducing pressure on farmlands and improving livestock productivity.

    Grazing reserve initiatives are politically sensitive, with stakeholders typically demanding clarity on land acquisition, community consent, and security governance.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: The key issue is implementation legitimacy: land rights, funding, and how the programme interacts with ranching and anti-open-grazing laws. Watch for pilot locations, stakeholder consultations, and conflict-resolution frameworks.

    Source: The Punch — December 15, 2025 — https://punchng.com/fg-begins-phased-development-of-grazing-reserves/

    Photo credit: The Punch

    The Punch https://punchng.com/fg-begins-phased-development-of-grazing-reserves/ December 15, 2025