2026 VMAs: Taylor Swift Dominates Awards, Sets New Record

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Taylor Swift emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, making history as the ceremony’s most decorated artist.

The country-pop star, 36, entered the awards tied with Beyoncé on 30 Moonman trophies. She moved ahead after receiving the inaugural Artist Director Honours, recognising her contribution to visual storytelling.

Swift also won the coveted Video of the Year award for Fate of Ophelia. She dedicated the honour to late country music icon Dolly Parton, praising her remarkable songwriting and storytelling ability.

Read Also: ‘I Don’t Feel the Inflation in Nigeria’ – Adekunle Gold

Swift described Parton as an artist who handled fame with “grace and love and gratitude,” while highlighting the vivid storytelling found in her songs.

The singer also thrilled fans at the ceremony with the premiere of the music video for her new single, Patient Zero. The video featured Hollywood actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

Swift’s achievements further cemented her status as one of the most successful artists in MTV VMA history.

‘I Don’t Feel the Inflation in Nigeria’ – Adekunle Gold

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Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has spoken on his experience with the rising cost of goods and services in Nigeria. NigeriaTravel Guide

It was reported that the father of two said he does not directly feel the impact of inflation in his daily life.

The singer made this known while speaking on the 90s Baby Podcast, where he explained that he often learns about price increases from his staff rather than through personal shopping.

Adekunle Gold said he does not usually visit supermarkets or personally handle the purchase of household food items, making it difficult for him to immediately notice changes in prices.

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He explained that he would only become aware of an increase when his staff members bring it to his attention, using the rising price of sardines as an example.

“I don’t feel the inflation going on in the country directly. Until my staff tell me sardines have increased in the market, I’ll be like, ‘Really?’ I wouldn’t know because I don’t go to the supermarket. Or when we buy foodstuff, it’s more often than usual,” he said.

It was reported Nigeria’s headline inflation rate dropped slightly to 15.39 per cent in August 2026, showing a 0.04 percentage point decline from the 15.43 per cent recorded in July.

The latest figure was contained in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the NBS, the August inflation rate was also significantly lower than the 23.14 per cent recorded in August 2025.

The statistics agency said the month-on-month inflation rate also slowed in August, falling to 0.71 per cent from 1.57 per cent in July.

BBNaija Star Tochi Warns Women Against Early Marriage, Urges Them to Build Their Lives

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Former Big Brother Naija housemate Tochi Okechukwu has advised young women to avoid rushing into marriage, arguing that early marriage and motherhood could affect their ability to pursue personal goals.

Tochi shared his views in an Instagram post while explaining why he has consistently spoken against early marriage for women.

The reality TV personality said young women should have enough time to understand themselves, develop their abilities and establish their careers before settling down.

Read Also: ‘Davido Works Like He Has No Money’ – Logos Olori

He noted that entering marriage and motherhood at a very young age could force some women to put their dreams aside as they take on family responsibilities.

According to Tochi, a woman who could potentially become a doctor, entrepreneur or leader may eventually become identified mainly through her role as a wife.

He stressed that his position was not against marriage itself, but about the importance of choosing the right time to settle down.

Tochi encouraged young women to complete their education, acquire useful skills and work towards financial independence before marriage.

He maintained that having a strong personal foundation could help women enter marriage without abandoning the ambitions they had developed before starting a family.

‘Davido Works Like He Has No Money’ – Logos Olori

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Nigerian singer and Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) signee Logos Olori has said singer David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has a relentless drive that contradicts his wealthy background.

It was reported that Olori, speaking in a recent episode of the Wahala Podcast, expressed admiration for Davido’s dedication to music.

He claimed that Davido makes music for fun, not necessarily for financial gain.

According to Olori, competition within the music industry also drives Davido to work harder.

He said, “Davido works like he doesn’t have money. I feel like the competition drives him. He is very passionate. I don’t think he needs music money; he just does it for fun.”

Read Also: TikToker Peller Set for China Tour With Kara Kata Kajola

Olori also revealed that Davido signed him to his record label after he wrote his hit song, ‘Unavailable’, for him.

He added that he was living comfortably in Dubai before he decided to move to Nigeria to pursue music full time.

In other news, Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has addressed rumours of a feud between him and Davido.

Rema dismissed the reports, saying there is no issue between him and Davido despite what fans may believe.

The ‘Calm Down’ hitmaker made this known during an interview with Ebro Laura Style on Saturday where he spoke about comparisons and the role fans play in creating tension between artistes.

According to Rema, he has a lot of respect for older artistes in the Nigerian music industry and does not have any problem with Davido.

TikToker Peller Set for China Tour With Kara Kata Kajola

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Popular Nigerian content creator and TikTok personality Habeeb Hamzat, better known as Peller, is set to lead a 14-day business and tourism tour of China in November 2026.

The programme, tagged Peller & Friends China Business Tour 2026, will bring together Peller and five other prominent content creators for an experience designed to combine entertainment, business education and tourism.

The initiative is being organised by Kara Kata Kajola/Bank of Ideas, which said the tour is aimed at exposing Nigerian youths to opportunities in the Chinese market, particularly direct importing.

According to the organisers, the programme will demonstrate how young Nigerians can source products directly from China while obtaining value for their money.

Peller, who has more than 10 million followers, expressed enthusiasm about participating in the tour and encouraged his fans and fellow content creators to take advantage of the opportunity.

He said the programme would take place in November and promised participants an exciting experience.

“I am excited to lead the China tour, which is happening in November. I am appealing to all my fans, especially, content creators to key into the programme. It’s going to be an exciting experience,” Peller said.

Read Also: Princess Catherine Brings Regal Elegance to ‘Digger’ Premiere

Kara Kata also disclosed that activities from the tour would be streamed live on TikTok, with the organisers projecting more than 50 million views daily.

Beyond tourism and content creation, the initiative is being positioned as a youth empowerment and business development programme.

The organisers have created sponsorship packages classified as Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. SMEs and individuals can also participate as supporters through smaller contributions.

Sponsors are expected to receive promotional opportunities, including having their company logos displayed on tour T-shirts, fez caps and masks.

Other benefits include free advertising videos and daily promotional shout-outs from Peller.

The organisers described the initiative as a combination of youth empowerment, business education and digital content, encouraging businesses to participate and gain exposure through the tour.

The programme is expected to use Peller’s large social media following and the participation of other content creators to showcase the Chinese business environment to Nigerian audiences.

Princess Catherine Brings Regal Elegance to ‘Digger’ Premiere

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Princess Catherine brought royal elegance to London on Tuesday as she joined Prince William, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, David Beckham and other high-profile guests at the global premiere of Digger.

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Royal Film Performance at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, an event that brought together members of the entertainment industry, celebrities and royalty in support of The Film and TV Charity.

Catherine attracted attention with her choice of a floor-length purple gown designed by Jenny Packham. She completed the look with historic pieces from the royal jewellery collection, including the Queen Mother’s Amethyst Sautoir Necklace.

The necklace was presented to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon by Queen Alexandra as a wedding gift in 1923. It has previously been worn publicly by the then Duchess of Cornwall, who appeared in the necklace at the London premiere of Skyfall in 2012.

Catherine also wore earrings that once belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, adding further royal significance to her appearance.

William opted for a double-breasted black velvet tuxedo jacket with a bow tie. His outfit drew a friendly reaction from Cruise, who greeted the Prince by complimenting his jacket.

Read Also: Nollywood Actor Laide Olabanji Declares Support for Peter Obi

The appearance marked another meeting between Cruise and the Waleses, who previously crossed paths at the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.

The evening also featured a reunion involving David Beckham, who attended with his sons Romeo and Cruz. The former football star was photographed with William and Catherine, while he and the Prince were later seen chatting and laughing.

Catherine also spent time speaking with Romeo and Cruz during the event.

Cruise was later seen accompanying Catherine down the cinema steps, holding her hand as they made their way towards the screening.

The royal couple also met members of the film’s cast and creative team, including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons, Emma D’Arcy and director Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

Digger stars Cruise as a powerful man who launches a desperate mission to establish himself as humanity’s saviour before a catastrophe he has caused threatens to destroy everything.

The cast also includes Ahmed, Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Plemons.

The premiere marked the 73rd Royal Film Performance, with proceeds supporting The Film and TV Charity and its work assisting people behind the scenes in Britain’s film, television and cinema industries.

Nollywood Actor Laide Olabanji Declares Support for Peter Obi

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Nollywood actor Olaide Olabanji has publicly expressed support for Peter Obi’s presidential ambition ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

Olabanji made his position known in a post on Instagram, where he urged Nigerians to place leadership considerations above ethnicity when deciding who should govern the country.

The actor referenced the military administrations of former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon and Murtala Muhammed to argue that the length of time a leader spends in office does not necessarily determine the impact of their administration.

Read Also: Chef T Promises More Excitement in ‘Delicious or Disaster’ Season 3

“If someone can destroy a country in three years, with ease, another person can make it better,” Olabanji stated.

He further argued that Nigerians should be willing to consider leaders from outside their ethnic groups if they believe such candidates can provide better governance.

Olabanji specifically cited the shorter tenure of Murtala Muhammed compared with Gowon’s administration before asking Nigerians to consider Obi’s candidacy on leadership grounds.

Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election. He secured the party’s presidential ticket in May 2026 and later announced former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.

Meanwhile, a separate political dispute involving Obi has emerged in Anambra State following claims by the state government over debts allegedly linked to his tenure as governor.

Anambra Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, said the state government was not interested in indicting Obi and described the disagreement between him and Governor Charles Soludo as a political matter.

The controversy followed the state government’s release of records concerning loans and other financial obligations associated with projects during Obi’s administration. The government said eight external loans had an outstanding balance of $92.35 million, valued at about ₦127.37 billion as of June 30, 2026. Obi has disputed the claims.

Chef T Promises More Excitement in ‘Delicious or Disaster’ Season 3

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Nigerian food content creator Tolani Tayo Osikoya, popularly known as Chef T, has unveiled the third season of her cooking competition series, Delicious or Disaster, with a promise of a bigger production and more engaging experience for viewers.

Chef T, the creative force behind Diary of a Kitchen Lover, announced the new season during its launch, explaining that the rapid growth of the programme made it necessary to formally establish the Delicious or Disaster brand.

She said the latest season represents a major step forward from the show’s early days, when the production was carried out under difficult conditions.

“Because this is a bigger season, it was a no-brainer to officially announce the Delicious or Disaster brand to the world,” she said.

According to the chef, Season 3 comes with a purpose-built studio, greater support from industry stakeholders and a stronger production structure designed to improve the overall quality of the show.

Read Also:Mimi Bartels’ Movies Excite Audiences at Toronto International Film Festival

Chef T said the programme has evolved beyond her personal brand and is now aimed at building a wider culinary movement capable of promoting Nigerian and African food internationally.

“It’s beyond Chef T now. We are starting a movement. We want people to know that we have our own cooking show, our own MasterChef, in Nigeria, by a Nigerian, with Nigerian ingredients, promoting African food to the world,” she stated.

The new season retains the competitive format, bringing together contestants who will face a series of demanding culinary tasks. The challenges are expected to test their cooking techniques, creativity, adaptability and ability to perform under pressure.

Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, commended Chef T for her contribution to Nigeria’s culinary industry.

Olusanya said initiatives such as Delicious or Disaster could contribute to the promotion of Nigerian food culture and tourism. She also noted Chef T’s involvement as the face of the Lagos Food Festival.

The Season 3 judging panel features several personalities from the food, entertainment and digital media spaces. They include Folagade Banks, popularly known as Mama Deola; Gbolabo “Captain Gibbs” Adebakin; Opeyemi Famakin; Hilda Baci; Adeola Diadem; Funmi Ajose-Adeogun; Blessing Nze; Timi Agbaje; Omoye Cook; and Tobe Ugeh, among others.

Mimi Bartels’ Movies Excite Audiences at Toronto International Film Festival

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Nigerian filmmaker and producer Mimi Bartels has continued to strengthen her profile on the international film scene after two productions linked to her were screened at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Bartels was involved in two of the projects presented at the prestigious festival, including The Market and The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. She served as one of the producers of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, while also working as producer on Old Scores: The Black Book 2, the sequel to the successful Nigerian crime thriller The Black Book.

The Toronto appearance further highlights Bartels’ more than 16 years of experience spanning film production, development, financing, co-production and distribution.

Throughout her career, she has participated in the development, financing and co-production of more than 30 films. Her work in distribution has also contributed to the release of more than 110 titles.

Bartels is the co-Founder and Director of Creative and Productions at Anakle Films. She previously served as General Manager of FilmOne Studios, where she played a role in the growth of Nigeria’s film industry.

Read Also: Peller Teases Jeriq After He Claims Not to Know IceKing Ochacho

Her production portfolio includes films that have collectively earned more than 30 nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), resulting in two wins. She was also recognised as Nigeria’s highest-grossing producer in 2021 and has served on juries for both the International Emmy Awards and the AMVCA.

Speaking about the importance of having her projects represented at TIFF, Bartels said the festival supports her ambition of taking Nigerian stories to international audiences.

She described her approach as “local-to-global content”, noting that TIFF offered an opportunity to showcase Nigerian productions while connecting with filmmakers, audiences and industry professionals from different parts of the world.

Bartels was also involved in the early creative development of The Black Book, which became Netflix’s most-watched African Original of 2023. She later returned as producer for Old Scores: The Black Book 2, produced by Anakle Films and Invention Studios.

Meanwhile, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is an adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s acclaimed novel and was developed through a collaboration involving EbonyLife Group, Nile Group, Genesis Group and Silverbird Cinemas.

For Bartels, the ultimate objective goes beyond producing movies.

She said her ambition is to create stories that connect with audiences, generate value and travel beyond Nigeria to reach viewers around the world.

Peller Teases Jeriq After He Claims Not to Know IceKing Ochacho

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Nigerian content creator Peller has jokingly teased rapper Jeriq during a recent conversation after asking him whether he knew his associate, IceKing Ochacho.

Peller confidently introduced IceKing as the “best musician right now” and asked Jeriq if he was familiar with him.

Jeriq, however, said he did not know IceKing and instead mentioned veteran Nigerian rapper Ice Prince.

Peller asked, “Do you know the best musician right now? Na IceKing. You know IceKing Ochacho?”

Jeriq replied, “No, I no sabi am. Na Ice Prince I know.”

Read Also: Life Taught Us – Iyabo Ojo Reconciles With Toyin Lawani After Feud

The response prompted Peller to jokingly question whether IceKing had not become popular enough to be known by Jeriq.

He said, “E never famous reach your side? You for say you sabi am na, livestream we dey.”

Peller then appeared to make another playful reference to Jeriq’s alleged decision to delete his Spotify account.

“Oh sorry, I don forget say you delete Spotify,” he added.

The exchange appeared to be friendly banter between the two entertainers rather than a serious disagreement.

Peller used the opportunity to promote IceKing while playfully teasing Jeriq over his unfamiliarity with the musician.

The interaction has attracted attention among entertainment followers, with fans reacting to the humorous exchange between the two personalities.