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12 Things You Should Know About Nollywood Actress, Funke Akindele-Bello

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By Opeyemi Omotosho

Not many of her fans are aware of some things about one of the most talented and award winning Nollywood actresses that have graced the screen of most homes. She is an accomplished producer and scriptwriter. She is Funke Akindele-Bello, and has been in the forefront of bringing foremost entertainment to teeming Nollywood fans across the globe. Here are some of the things you may not have known about the one popularly known as Jenifa.

  1. Her first movie was Unclad Wire (1997), and was produced by Opa Williams. Therein, she played the part of a waitress.
  2. Funke played the part of Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student, in the popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) sponsored sitcom, I Need To Know. She eventually hit limelight from the series. The sitcom ran for four years (1998 to 2001).
  3. She holds a degree in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. She is also a Lawyer by profession and practice. She obtained her LLB degree from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba.
  4. Funke’s popularity soared after the release of her self-produced movie, Jenifa in 2009. It was under her Scene One Productions company.
  5. Funke runs a non-governmental organisation known as The Jenifa Foundation, which nurtures talent among other things.
  6. Funke was married to Kenny Almaroof Oloyede between May 2012 and July 2013. Their courtship, marriage and subsequent divorce were filled with controversy. In August 2016, she remarried to Abdul Bello alias JJC in a private ceremony in London.
  7. Since the first Jenifa movie, the actress has produced two others: Jenifa 2 and The Return of Jenifa. In January 2015, the actress announced a TV series called Jenifa’s Diary based on the popular character.
  8. Funke has starred in several other Nollywood blockbusters including the Tunde Kelani directed Maami; Omo Ghetto and Married But Living Single.
  9. Funke’s mum is a medical doctor while her father is a retired school principal.
  10. Funke has two sisters and one bother. She is the second child.
  11. Funke has won many awards for acting and producing. In 2009, she won the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Other awards include: AfroHollywood Awards for Best Supporting Actress; Future Awards – Best Actress; Dynamix Awards – Best Actress; City People – Best Actress; City People – Best Movie of the Year for Jenifa, among others.
  12. She was once pregnant for twins but lost the pregnancy to miscarriage after a few months. The lost became obvious when her baby bump was no longer noticed.

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Entertainment

South African Actress, Nomzamo Mbatha, Tells Success Story on Glo-Sponsored African Voices

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Delectable South African actress, Nomzamo Mbatha, will this week on Globacom-sponsored Cable News Network International’s African Voices Changemakers, reveal her trajectory from the Rainbow Nation to the global stage of make-belief.

In the 30-minute magazine programme, show anchor, Larry Madowo, will engage Mbatha on her soaring career which earned her a mention in the prestigious TIME100 Next in 2025.

The thespian who has been featured in two Hollywood productions has also gained acclaim in the beauty industry as she has signed endorsement deals with Neutrogena and Cream of Nature, both global brands in skincare and haircare, respectively.

Madowo and Mbatha sat for the exclusive interview on set of the final season of the hit television series, Shaka iLembe at the historic Cradle of Humankind outside Johannesburg where she highlighted the cultural significance of Shaka iLembe, and why giving back to her society is at the center of her aspirations as well as the legacy she desires to build beyond the glitz and glamour of the big screen.

This edition of African Voices Changemakers will be broadcast on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with additional broadcasts at noon same day. On Sunday, further repeats hold at 4:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and on Monday at 3:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. The repeats continue on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m and Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m and Sunday, March15 at 3:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m as well as Monday, March 16 at 3:00 a.m.

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Tiwa Savage Launches Music Foundation in Lagos

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Nigerian Afrobeats star, Tiwa Savage, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at nurturing emerging African creatives, announcing the launch of the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation and a landmark partnership that will bring the prestigious Berklee College of Music to Lagos for the first time.

The 46-year-old singer announced on her social media platform on Wednesday, declaring, “After years of building globally… It’s time to build at home.”

She introduced Tiwa Savage Music Foundation as “a new initiative dedicated to empowering emerging African creatives through access, mentorship and world-class music education,” adding that, “For the first time ever, Berklee comes to Lagos with the Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Programme empowering Africa’s next generation of talent.”

Berklee College of Music, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is the world’s largest independent college of contemporary music, renowned for its programmes in jazz, modern American music, and a broad range of genres including rock, hip hop, reggae and more.

In an interview with CNN, the “Ma Lo” singer explained that while Afrobeats has gained global prominence, the industry requires more structural support to remain sustainable.

“Afrobeats has captured the world’s attention, but attention alone is not enough to sustain an industry. Talent is universal — but access is not,” she said.

According to CNN, the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation is designed to bridge that access gap.

Beyond supporting vocalists and performers, the foundation will also focus on producers, composers, sound engineers and music business professionals — areas Savage considers critical to building a durable creative economy across Africa.

The foundation’s first major project, tagged Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Programme, will see Berklee faculty travel to Lagos from April 23 to 26, 2026, to host a fully funded four-day training for 100 emerging Nigerian music creators.

The programme marks Berklee’s first-ever event in West Africa.

Savage underscored the impact of short, focused training, saying, “You’d be surprised how much you can learn in four days. It gives you a taste of what’s possible and exposes you to parts of music you may not even realise you’re drawn to.”

With the launch of the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation and the forthcoming intensive programme in Lagos, the award-winning singer is now seeking to extend that same opportunity to the next generation — shifting from building global acclaim to building sustainable structures at home.

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Spider-Man Voice Actor Alexis Ortega Dies at 38

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Mexican voice actor of Spider-Man, Alexis Ortega, has died at 38, according to a report by World Dubbing News.

The platform said: “We regret to announce the sensitive passing of voice actor Alexis Ortega, we send our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues in this difficult time.”

The cause of death was not disclosed at the time of the announcement.

Alexis Ortega was born in Mexico in 1987 and began his career in 2013 as an onscreen actor and voice performer. He later became widely known for dubbing Tom Holland’s roles in Spanish for several Marvel films, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War.

He also worked on multiple Disney projects, providing Spanish dubbing for films such as Big Hero 6 and Star Wars: Rogue One.

Following confirmation of Alexis Ortega’s death, fans took to social media to share tributes and memories of his work.

“Sad news. Way too young at 38. Rest in peace, Alexis,” user Ilman posted on X.

“Such sad news Alexis Ortega brought Spider-Man to life for so many fans. Rest in peace,” Rechardo wrote.

“It’s truly a loss when a talented voice brings so much life to a character we love. Alexis Ortega’s legacy will surely live on through his iconic performances,” Victor shared.

“Lives on for the rest of time with these movies for the world to know him,” Bunsan added.

Beyond voice work, Ortega appeared on screen in shows including Luis Miguel: The Series, Thursday’s Widows, El Candidato, and The House of Flowers. He also collaborated with Mr Beast, dubbing Spanish versions of the YouTuber’s videos.

Ortega’s final Instagram post, shared in November last year, showed him sitting on a couch with his dog at his home in Mexico City. He captioned the photo, ‘My doggo.’

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