Entertainment

Entertainers Who Have Relocated Families Abroad

Published

3 years ago

August 27, 2022

The Dakolos

In recent times, many Nigerians have emigrated from the country, with many more planning to ‘japa’. Apparently, entertainers are not exempt from this. Saturday Beats takes a look at entertainers who still live and work in Nigeria but whose families are abroad

Timi Dakolo

Timi Dakolo’s voice is one that has melted the hearts of many over the years. married to a photographer, Busola, and blessed with three children— Alexander, Zoe and Hallel— their marriage has had its fair share of trials. Recall that in 2019, Busola had accused a popular pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, of raping her many years ago in Kwara State. Though Fatoyinbo was eventually cleared by the courts, Busola and Timi maintain that the deed actually happen.

Though they seem to have moved from that episode, several feelers suggest that Busola and the children have relocated to the United Kingdom. Busola is said to be attending a university in the UK to further her education. The children are also said to have started attending school there.

Earlier in the year, Timi had joked that barely that Halled had developed an accent barely two weeks after resuming school in her new country of residence.

Recall that some time ago, Timi paid them a surprise visit. A video posted on social media showed how excited his family was at seeing him without prior notice.

Sanyeri

The Afonjas

Majorly because of the comedic roles he plays in movies, many people don’t seem to take actor, Olaniyi Afonja, aka Sanyeri, serious. However, despite his on-screen antics, Sanyeri is one man who has been intentional about raising his family and exposing them to opportunities.

His beautiful wife, Omolara, and their two sons— Boluwatife and Olasunkanmi—are based in Canada.

In a video which surfaced on the Internet some months ago, many Nigerians were excited by the foreign accent of the children. That was especially so because their father mainly speaks in Yoruba, and cuts the picture of one who has never even travelled outside the country. In the video, the kids urged fans to subscribe to their father’s YouTube channel and other social media accounts.

Explaining what fatherhood means to him, Sanyeri said in an earlier interview, “Fatherhood means being the head of the home, a husband to a wife, a father to children and fulfilling the obligations and responsibilities that are expected of a man to his wife and children.”

Speaking on how he felt when he welcomed his first child, the actor said, “There is nothing so special about one having a first child. For someone who needs a child and has a wife, when God gives them the gift of the first child, they will be happy and full of joy. Children are gifts and those who get them should be grateful.

“I believe that the best investment I can make in life is for my children to be successful. I cannot jeopardise their future for anything. Either I have much or otherwise, I will do everything within my capacity to ensure that my children will not have any cause in the future to abuse me or describe me as an irresponsible father.”

In an earlier interview with Sunday PUNCH, the actor had stated that he was so poor when he married his wife that the only thing he had to his name were his tribal marks. However, they stuck with him, and over the years, he has grown to become a prominent actor and filmmaker.

Mr Latin

The Amusans

Actor, Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr Latin, is another comic actor that is loved by many. Though based in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr Latin’s wife, Ronke, and children (a son and daughter) live in Dublin, Ireland.

Mr Latin married Ronke in 1999 and their relationship has continued to blossom over the years.

The actor, who is the current President of the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria, is particularly fond of his wife and he makes no secret about that.

Speaking on why he decided for his family to stay abroad, he said in an interview some years ago, “It was the idea of the two of us. There was a long strike by teachers at a time and we thought such would not give our children what we really wanted for them. We decided to relocate but because of the nature of my job, I cannot stay over there with them.”

On how they have been coping with a long-distance relationship, Latin said, “We speak almost 10 times every day. I wake them up with telephone calls in the morning to speak with my wife and children till they are off to school. We also chat on WhatsApp and have video calls almost every day. I visit them as well, and they come to Nigeria too.”

The actor also stated that he had never been tempted to marry another wife despite his wife not being in the country with him. He said, “I can never marry another wife. My wife is my mother, sister, friend and confidant. She is a very loyal and trustworthy person. I don’t have any reason to marry another wife.”

Okunnu

The Akoredes

Even without speaking, actor, Wale Akorede, aka Okunnu, send his fans reeling with laughter because of his funny mannerisms. Though he started his acting career in 1984, it wasn’t until some years later, that he started getting the much needed recognition in the industry.

However, despite the carefree character he usually portrays in movies, Okunnu does not joke with the welfare of his family.

His wife, Wumi, and three kids— Jumoke, Hassan and Modupe— are based in Canada. At a time, the actor also used to live in Saudi Arabia, but he returned to Nigeria after a while.

Speaking on why he left Saudi Arabia, he had said, “Yes, there was a point in my life when I relocated to Saudi Arabia, but after giving it a second thought, I realised there is no place like home. Nigeria is my country and no matter the challenges (here), we just have to make it work. I don’t regret coming back to my country.”

In an earlier interview with Sunday PUNCH, the actor stated that he was attracted by her beauty and the fact that she was hard to get. He had said, “It was her beauty and the fact that she was hard to get (that attracted me). I don’t like cheap ladies. Her tough stance made me continue to ‘trouble’ her. I also prayed and all what I saw in my dream was what she also saw. I was surprised and that also propelled me to go ahead.”

However, though his family lives outside the country, Okunnu is not immune from the hardship in Nigeria. In a social media rant some months ago, the actor lamented the sorry state of the country. Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “If we keep watching and don’t speak up, it is because we don’t want to things to spoil. Nigeria is bad. Whether men, women, children or elderly people; all those who have a hand in making the nation what it is today, their lives will also be bad from generation to generation.

“The country is really in a bad condition. I can’t say there is a particular sector that is working optimally. If we cannot enjoy our country as citizens, then we’re like foreigners.”

Sharing his thoughts on why many celebrity marriages don’t stand the test of time, he said in the same interview, “Marriage is not something one jumps into. One needs to pray well and be sure because it is for life. Any marriage can collapse and it is not only celebrity marriages that don’t last. People talk about marriages of celebrities because they are famous people.”

PUNCH

Related Topics:Mr. Latin Okunu Sanyeri Timi Dakolo

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Entertainment

Amy Winehouse’s Father Fues Her Friends For Auctioning Late Star’s Clothes

Published

2 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

The father of late British singer Amy Winehouse Tuesday defended his UK lawsuit against two of her friends after they sold some of her clothes at auction for around £730,000 ($970,000).

Mitch Winehouse told the High Court in London that Naomi Parry, the star’s former stylist, and her friend, Catriona Gourlay, did not have the right to sell dozens of items in auctions between November 2021 and May 2023.

Lawyer Henry Legge, acting for Winehouse, told the court on Monday, the first day of the trial, that the two women sold 150 objects which had belonged to Winehouse, including dresses which she wore on her last tour in June 2011.

The British singer-songwriter, who enjoyed meteoric global success, died a month later from alcohol poisoning, aged just 27.

Winehouse was a distinctive figure with her beehive hairdo, heavy black eye makeup, multiple tattoos and smoky voice.

She shot to international fame with her Grammy Award-winning 2006 album “Back to Black” which included the track “Rehab”, charting her battle with addiction.

According to court documents, Winehouse believed that any sums collected from the sales organised by Los Angeles-based Julien’s Auctions would be due to him.

The auctioneers had also been told that a third of the proceeds would be donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation — a charity set up in the singer’s name working with young people to foster hope and self-reliance.

However, Winehouse’s team accused the women of failing to donate the share of proceeds to the foundation.

– ‘You’re wrong’ –

Ted Loveday, lawyer for Gourlay, said that most of the objects had been given or lent to the two women by the singer, even if there was no proof.

“If a 19-year-old gives a scarf or a pair of earrings to their friends, no one signs a contract,” he told the court on Monday, stressing the singer’s generosity.

Gourlay and Parry met Amy Winehouse in the early 2000s, before she shot to fame. Parry went on to create some of the singer’s most iconic looks — including the green bamboo dress worn on the June 2011 tour which sold at auction for $243, 200.

Beth Grossman, the lawyer for Parry, said the two “women are not thieves and they are not dishonest”.

She accused Winehouse of bringing the lawsuit against the women out of “petty jealousy”, which he strongly denied on Tuesday, saying “you’re wrong”.

Grossman also highlighted the financial differences between the multi-millionaire Mitch Winehouse and the two women who are “living pretty much hand to mouth”.

The hearing is set to last until Friday, with a judgement due at a later date.
(AFP)

Entertainment

FULL LIST: Shallipopi, Belove Olocha, Malumfoodie Win Big At TikTok Awards 2025

Published

2 weeks ago

December 8, 2025

Editor

TikTok has announced the full list of winners for the 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigerian stars Shallipopi, Belove Olocha and South Africa’s Malumfoodie taking home some of the biggest honours of the night.

The ceremony held on December 6 in Johannesburg and attracted top creators, performers and industry figures from across the continent. The theme for this year’s event was New Era, New Icons.

The show featured performances from Ciza, Lord Kez, Thuli P, DJ Fif Laa and Thabsie. South African entertainer Bontle Modiselle Moloi hosted the event while Keegan Gordon and Zayaan Noorani handled the red carpet. Influencer Mihlali Ndamase made a surprise appearance to present the Video of the Year award. Olympian Akani Simbine also presented the Sport Creator of the Year category.

Brands including NIVEA, inDrive, Coca-Cola, PEP and Dis-Chem supported the awards.

TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, said the platform is recognising creators who are shaping global conversations.

She said, “Tonight’s ceremony was a gathering of the trailblazers who have redefined what it means to be a creator in Africa. From Sokoto to Nairobi, and Accra to Pretoria, we honoured the creators who turned 60-second clips into cultural movements. We are honoured to celebrate them as they amplify their voices and take their stories from Africa to the world.”

The ceremony will be rebroadcast on December 11 at 20:00 SAST on TikTok LIVE through the @tiktok.africa account.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Creator of the Year
Raja’atu Muhammed Ibrahim @diaryofanortherncook (Nigeria)

Storyteller of the Year
Brian Nwana @briannwana (Nigeria)
He said, “Every single creator is a storyteller. We all tell stories that help drive the local communities, our cities, and our countries, and when we do that we change the perception that the world has about us”.

Video of the Year
Fanuel John Masamaki @zerobrainer0 (Tanzania)
He said, “I am truly grateful to my fans and the love I have received from Tanzanians. Thank you so much . This win was for all of us.”

Rising Star of the Year
@tunero_animations (Kenya)
Runner up: Esther Francis @estherfrancisbackup (Nigeria)

Social Impact Creator of the Year
Dejoke Ogunbiyi @noositiwantiwa_ (Nigeria)
Runner up: Sinethemba Masinga @ufarm_julia (South Africa)

Food Creator of the Year
@malumfoodie (South Africa)
He said, “From my humble beginnings of Haamanskraal, to Soshanguve and to all of South Africa, now we are in Africa!”

Runner up: Abena Amoakoaa Sintim Aboagye @chefabbys (Ghana)

Sports Creator of the Year
John Maingi Mbugua @zozasportscast (Kenya)
He said, “Winning isn’t the finish line, it’s fuel for the next chapter. Every piece of content, every discussion, every moment captured was driven by passion, and receiving this recognition means that passion is resonating far beyond my expectations.”

Runner up: Victor Ademola @ademolavictortv (Nigeria)

Entertainment Creator of the Year
Belove Olocha @beloveolocha (Nigeria)
Runner up: Jabulani Macdonald @jabu_macdonald (South Africa)

Education Creator of the Year
Izzi Boye @izziboye (Nigeria)
Runner up: @michelle_expert (South Africa)

Artiste of the Year
Crown Uzama @theycallmeshallipopipp (Nigeria)
He said, “Thank you, TikTok, for supporting all upcoming artists and giving them a spotlight to shine.”

Entertainment

TikTok Temporarily Restricts Late Night Live Feature In Nigeria

Published

2 weeks ago

December 8, 2025

Editor

TikTok has restricted late-night LIVE access for Nigerian users, as the platform now blocks the feature during peak night hours.

The restriction started on Sunday at midnight when the app quietly shut down all LIVE activities across Nigeria, leaving accounts unable to host or even watch late night streams.

According to an in-app message sent to creators, TikTok wrote, “We’re temporarily limiting LIVE late at night in Nigeria as part of our investigation to ensure our platform remains safe and our community stays protected.”

Many affected users shared that their screens showed a “No Access” label between 11pm and 5am, confirming that the shutdown was nationwide and not a technical glitch.

Reports showed that only creators with at least 1,000 followers received the notice, since they are the only ones allowed to host LIVE sessions on the platform.

Several of them confirmed that all LIVE activities stopped throughout the night, and no one could even view broadcasts from other countries during the restriction.

TikTok users who earn money through LIVE gifting said their balances were not touched, easing fears of sudden financial loss.

By Monday morning, LIVE access returned, but the whole situation triggered long conversations on social media as Nigerians questioned why the company picked late night hours, which usually record the highest traffic for match streams, entertainment shows and interactive trends.

TikTok’s latest move came a few weeks after the platform released fresh safety figures for West Africa at its Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal.

The company revealed that in the second quarter of 2025, it took action against 2,321,813 LIVE sessions and 1,040,356 creators worldwide for breaking LIVE monetisation rules.

It also disclosed that Nigeria alone recorded 49,512 banned LIVE sessions within the same period.

TikTok added that it removed 3,780,426 Nigerian videos between April and June 2025 for violating Community Guidelines, noting that 98.7 percent were deleted before anyone viewed them, while 91.9 percent were taken down within 24 hours.

TikTok LIVE remains a popular feature among young users because it allows real time broadcasting, comments and gifting, unlike pre-recorded videos.

To go LIVE, a creator generally needs at least 1,000 followers, must be above 16 years to stream and above 18 years to earn money.