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Shogun Breaks Record With 18 Wins At 2024 Emmy Awards [Full List]

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Japan-set historical epic “Shogun” smashed all-time records and was named best drama at television’s Emmy Awards on Sunday, as “Hacks” and “Baby Reindeer” racked up big wins at the glitzy gala in Los Angeles.

“Shogun,” the tale of warring dynasties in feudal Japan, ended the night with an astounding 18 statuettes, becoming the first ever non-English-language winner of the highly coveted award for best drama series.

The previous record for any season of a television show was 13.

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“It was an East-meets-West dream project, with respect,” said veteran leading man Hiroyuki Sanada, who became the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy.

Anna Sawai followed him onto the Emmys stage minutes later with a best actress win, before the cast and producers of “Shogun” returned for the overall best drama award.

The series from Disney-owned FX, based on James Clavell’s historical fiction, had led the nominations with 25 overall.

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Shot in Canada, it features a primarily Japanese cast and subtitles.

Showrunner Justin Marks thanked producers for commissioning “a very expensive, subtitled, Japanese period piece, whose central climax revolves around a poetry competition.”

READ ALSO: NNPCL, Dangote In Marathon Meetings Over Petrol Pricing

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Shogun is a show about translation — not what is lost, but what is found, when you do safety meetings in two languages, and you learn not to walk on tatami mats with your utility boots,” he said.

It also won the Emmy for best directing of a drama series, in addition to the 14 won in minor categories at a separate gala last weekend.

Mini-series “John Adams” won 13 Emmys in 2008. “Game of Thrones” had held the record for dramas at 12.

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– ‘Hacks’ surprise –
This was the second Emmys gala this year, after crippling twin strikes in Hollywood last year bumped the 2023 ceremony to January.

In the night’s biggest surprise, the final award for best comedy series went to “Hacks.”

The show — starring Jean Smart as a diva comedienne who repeatedly locks horns with her dysfunctional millennial assistant — fended off previous winner and hot favorite “The Bear.”

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Smart claimed her third lead actress Emmy for her role, quipping: “I appreciate this, because I just don’t get enough attention.”

“The Bear” still managed a whopping 11 awards, including Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as best lead and supporting actor.

READ ALSO: Soldiers Allegedly Torture Poly Student To Death Over Allegation Of Cultism

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Co-star Liza Colon-Zayas sprung a surprise by besting the likes of Meryl Streep (“Only Murders in the Building”) to win best supporting actress.

“To all the Latinas who are looking at me, keep believing. And vote — vote for your rights,” she said, in one of several political notes at a gala taking place less than two months before the US presidential election.

The dark satire set in a Chicago restaurant dominated the last Emmys, despite controversy over whether it is actually a comedy.

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Eugene Levy, hosting with his son Daniel, poked fun at the criticisms, insisting: “In the true spirit of ‘The Bear,’ we will not be making any jokes.”

– ‘Baby Reindeer’ –

Sunday’s other big winner was Netflix’s word-of-mouth smash “Baby Reindeer,” based on a relatively unknown Scottish comedian’s harrowing one-man show about sexual abuse.

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It won best limited series — a prestigious category for shows that end in a single season.

“Ten years ago, I was down and out… I never ever thought I’d be able to rectify myself for what had happened to me, and get myself back on my feet again,” said the show’s creator Richard Gadd, who won best actor and a writing award.

READ ALSO: NNPCL, Dangote In Marathon Meetings Over Petrol Pricing

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Part of the attention stemmed from the show’s claim to be “a true story” — an insistence that earned the streamer a $170 million lawsuit from a British woman who claims she was the inspiration for Gadd’s obsessive and violent stalker.

Jessica Gunning, who played the stalker, won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a limited series.

Thank you for trusting me to be your Martha — I will never ever forget her, or you,” she told Gadd, who is also nominated for best actor honors.

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Jodie Foster won her first Emmy with best actress for her turn as an Alaskan cop in “True Detective: Night Country,” besting fellow Oscar winner Brie Larson (“Lessons in Chemistry”).

READ ALSO: Tinubu Visits King Charles III

– ‘Shogun’ rivals at Emmy awards –
“Shogun” dominated the drama sections as expected.

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It was only the second non-English-language show to earn a best drama nomination, after South Korea’s “Squid Game” two years ago.

But there were key prizes for rival shows.

The final season of Netflix’s British royal saga drew a lukewarm response from critics, but Elizabeth Debicki won best supporting actress as Princess Diana.

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Billy Crudup won best supporting actor in a drama for Apple’s “The Morning Show.”

Here is a list of the winners in key categories for the 76th Emmy Awards, which were handed out in Los Angeles on Sunday.

FX’s Japanese epic “Shogun” made history with its 18 Emmys, the most ever won by a series in a single season, including best drama, best actor and best actress.

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HBO’s “Hacks” sparked a surprise, taking the prize for best comedy series over “The Bear.” Netflix’s word-of-mouth smash hit “Baby Reindeer” took top honors for best limited series.

READ ALSO: [JUST IN] Edo Poll: Drama As PDP Declines Signing Of Peace Accord

Key Winners at Emmy 2024 Awards
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES: “Shogun”

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OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES: “Hacks”

OUTSTANDING LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES: “Baby Reindeer”

LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA: Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”

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LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA: Anna Sawai, “Shogun”

LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY: Jean Smart, “Hacks”

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LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”

LEAD ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE: Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”

SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA: Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”

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SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY: Liza Colon-Zayas, “The Bear”

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SUPPORTING ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE: Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE: Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”

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Asake Tops Apple Music Nigeria’s 2025 List As Wizkid, Davido, Seyi Vibez Make Top Five

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Apple Music Nigeria has released its end-of-year chart for 2025, with Asake topping the list as the most-streamed artist of the year.

The Year-end data shows that Asake’s single “Why Love” is the most-streamed song of 2025, while major acts like Wizkid and Davido also held strong positions with their standout releases.

This is a simple breakdown of the top five most-streamed songs on Apple Music Nigeria in 2025, including their release details and the artists behind them.

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Asake — “Why Love”
Most-streamed song of 2025

Asake leads the chart with “Why Love,” the biggest Nigerian song of 2025. The track marked a major shift in his career as it was released under his new independent label, Giran Republic, signalling his official exit from his former label, YBNL.

The song also positioned him as one of the few Nigerian artists to achieve a number-one hit while launching an independent imprint.

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READ ALSO:‘There Was No Blueprint For Me’ – Wizkid Claims

2. Wizkid — “Kese (Dance)”
Second most streamed song of 2025

Wizkid claims the second spot with “Kese (Dance),” one of the standout tracks from his album Morayo.

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Morayo was released on 22 November 2024 and contains 16 songs. The album features a diverse lineup of artistes, including Asake, Brent Faiyaz, Tiakola, Jazmine Sullivan and Anaïs.

Though released in late 2024, “Kese (Dance)” surged again in 2025, staying in the top tier of Apple Music Nigeria’s charts for months.

READ ALSO:Edo Assembly Summons 2Baba’s Wife Before Ethics Committee

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3. Davido ft Odumodublvck & Chike — “Funds”
Third most streamed song of 2025

Davido’s “Funds” takes third place. The track, featuring Odumodublvck and Chike, was released ahead of Davido’s 2025 album 5ive.

The song’s streaming momentum was heightened by heavy social media traction and anticipation for Davido’s fifth studio album. By mid-2025, “Funds” had become one of the year’s most replayed Nigerian songs.

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4. Asake ft Wizkid — “MMS”
Fourth most streamed song of 2025

Asake appears again on the chart with “MMS” featuring Wizkid. The song is the second track on his 2024 album Lungu Boy.

READ ALSO:Why It Would Be Difficult For Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy To Collaborate – Music Executive

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Lungu Boy was released under the joint record label YBNL Nation/EMPIRE on 9 August 2024. Despite being over a year old, “MMS” gained renewed attention in 2025 due to its strong chemistry between Asake and Wizkid.

Its performance shows the staying power of both artistes and the enduring appeal of their collaboration.

5. Davido ft Omah Lay — “With You”
Fifth most streamed song of 2025

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Rounding off the top five is “With You,” a standout track from Davido’s album 5ive, released in April 2025.

The song, which features Omah Lay, is the final track on the album.

“With You” also benefited from the popularity of Davido’s album rollout, which kept him consistently on major streaming charts.

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2face, Natasha Fight Dirty On Instagram Live Amid Singer’s Alleged Arrest In UK

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Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia, also known as 2face, and his new wife, Natasha Osawaru, appeared to quarrel on Daddy Freeze’s Instagram Live on Monday.

Freeze was conducting the session with 2face’s former management when the singer decided to join in.

2face could be heard asking her, “what is your problem?”

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At one point, Natasha tried to take the phone, as the couple shouted at each other before the session ended.

READ ALSO:2Face Idibia Reacts To Alleged Arrest In London [VIDEO]

This comes after a video surfaced on social media showing 2face appearing to be arrested in the UK.

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The footage, shared by blogger Tosin Silverdam on TikTok, showed officers speaking with the singer outside what appears to be a retail store before escorting him away with his hands cuffed behind his back.

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Facebook, Instagram Suspend Idris Abdulkareem’s Accounts After New Song, Open Letter To Donald Trump

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Nigerian rapper and activist Eedris Abdulkareem has announced that his Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended shortly after the release of his new song, Open Letter to Donald Trump.

Abdulkareem, in a report by online news platform, SaharaReporters, on Sunday said that he has been unable to access either account since the release of the track.

“Facebook just suspended my Facebook and Instagram account because of my new song, Open Letter to Donald Trump,” he said. “I can’t access it.”

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Checks confirmed that both accounts are no longer accessible.

Abdulkareem, known for politically charged music and criticism of government policies, did not provide further details on the duration of the suspension imposed by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

READ ALSO:Police Neutralize Two Wanted Bandit Leaders In Abuja, Foil Kidnap Attempt

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Released in November 2025 under his label, Lakreem Entertainment, Open Letter to Donald Trump is framed as a direct address to the former U.S. President but primarily targets Nigeria’s political class.

In the song, Abdulkareem accuses Nigerian leaders of enriching themselves while ordinary citizens endure hardship, describing them as “criminals of all shades and hues” who dominate society. The track references worsening insecurity, including kidnappings, killings, and terrorism, and seeks to draw international attention to Nigeria’s crises.

The song continues Abdulkareem’s tradition of protest music, following his 2004 hit Jaga Jaga and the more recent 2025 release Tell Your Papa, which was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission for allegedly containing “objectionable lyrics” in violation of responsible broadcasting rules. The ban prohibited Nigerian radio and television stations from airing the track.

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Abdulkareem has consistently used his music to challenge political leaders and highlight social injustice, cementing his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most outspoken protest musicians.

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Recall that in 2020, Abdulkareem accused Grammy-winning singer, Burna Boy, of appropriating the works of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti to advance his career.

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Abdulkareem made the remarks in a video interview, responding to a now-deleted tweet by Burna Boy in which he claimed that no one had paved the way for him as an artist.

Abdulkareem argued that Burna Boy’s success relied heavily on Fela’s musical legacy and called on the “Anybody” singer to apologise.

He said that while Fela’s songs carried meaningful messages that enriched the lives of listeners, Burna Boy had borrowed extensively from both Fela and Afrobeat without giving due recognition.

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“I think with due respect, Burna Boy needs to apologise. At least Fela made it happen for you, and you stole a lot from Fela’s songs to become who you are. You stole from Afrobeats to become who you are. Even though Fela’s songs are strictly about messages that add value to the lives of people, what is your song about?” Abdulkareem said.

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