Showbiz
Creating Shared Value and Culture Through Local Content
Skills development is one of the fundamental engines of growth for any industry. Training allows aspiring young people to enter the economy, passionate about building careers and contributing to the growth of the business. Their energy is infectious and vital, but it must be shaped through training.
In creative industries, however, training has a wider effect. It not only equips emerging young professionals with skills, but it also drives shared value and enriches culture through the work and the content that those young creators go on to produce.
Africa-wide training
A case in point is the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), an Africa-wide network of training institutions headquartered in Nairobi, Lagos and Lusaka, and founded by MultiChoice, a Canal+ company.
The effectiveness of MTF courses, grounded in three decades enriching lives as Africa’s most-loved storyteller, are widely recognised. But the close relationship with the MultiChoice network also means that graduates of the academies soon go on to rewarding careers creating content for the pan-African network.
This is local content; homegrown, relevant and resonating with the tastes and the cultural needs of African audiences – allowing viewers to see themselves reflected in the shows they love. These might be iconic reality shows like Big Brother Naija, Heartbeat, Real Housewives of Lagos, or popular drama such as Tinsel.
The films they produce are broadcast to audience acclaim on MultiChoice channels across the continent. These culturally impactful films include West African fantasy drama Grown.
Applications are currently open for this year’s intake of students at the MTF Academies in Lagos, Nairobi and Lusaka. African graduates who aspire to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers can now apply for fully funded courses at the industry-leading network of academies.
As part of the CANAL+ family, MultiChoice has rededicated itself to empowering young people with filmmaking, production and storytelling skills.
Enriching lives through content
This homegrown content is cultural output, entertaining and inspiring audiences from Maputo to Accra, strengthening African and national identity, while creating further jobs, boosting entrepreneurship and business opportunities and building a trove of African intellectual property.
MultiChoice functions as an ecosystem catalyst, building partnerships with broadcasters, guilds, financiers, and educators that scale opportunity beyond a single platform. MTF graduates then enter this ecosystem upon graduation, and enrich it with their passion, ideas and awareness.
In an economic sense, training academies like MTF are engines of growth. Feeding the creative economy with up to 60 graduates every year gives it energy and impetus that leads to new productions, and fresh approaches to existing ones. Those productions build audiences and revenue, which in turn funds more creative projects, jobs and skills across the value chain.
Homegrown Culture Engine
MultiChoice stands out as a homegrown culture engine, shaping modern African culture through decades of local content. It drives social-media trends, memes, gossip, and watch parties. Shows like Big Brother Naija attract millions online, sparking conversations and creating culture.
Big Brother Naija has launched stars across West Africa, like Mercy Eke, whose fame has brought multi million endorsements and business like MNM Luxury and Lambo homes. Sparking conversations, inspiring comments, and creating culture.
Creating this culture demands more than technical skill, it requires the instincts of Africa’s digital generation, people who understand how modern Africans live, engage, and consume content. For audiences, this approach ensures entertainment that reflects their tastes, lifestyles, and values.
Those who are interested in joining the next generation of storytellers can apply to the MTF 2026 cohort. Applications close on 27 February 2026. Prospective students can visit https://
For aspiring filmmakers, this could be their first step towards a career at the cutting edge of African entertainment.
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The latest episode of Africa Magic Heartbeat saw the house adjusting to recent exits and shifting relationships. Sharon’s earlier departure and Henri’s elimination in episode eight left the remaining singles settling into their pairings while trying to understand where everyone truly stands. Hilda Reflects on Henri’s ExitHenri’s departure is still fresh in the house, and Hilda admitted she felt bad that her decision ultimately led to him leaving the Love Pad. However, she maintained that she did not regret choosing Bosah. In her view, even if she had chosen Henri, he likely would have remained in the house pursuing other connections. Queen Latifah Calls Out IgweThe episode’s biggest moment began when Queen Latifah expressed concerns about Igwe’s intentions toward Shekinah. While speaking with Hilda, she suggested that Shekinah might be allowing herself to be manipulated by Igwe and questioned whether he was truly serious about her. Queen Latifah later took the conversation directly to Shekinah, recounting how Igwe had previously shown interest in pursuing her and even suggested he was ready to compete with Ken for her attention. According to Queen Latifah, Igwe later dismissed his connection with Shekinah by saying she was “too serious” for him. The conversation quickly escalated when Igwe walked in mid-discussion. Words were exchanged as tensions rose, and what began as a private conversation eventually turned into one of the episode’s most heated moments. Igwe Seeks Clarity From AlvinFollowing the confrontation, Igwe later pulled Alvin aside to discuss Shekinah. With the house already questioning his intentions, he wanted to know if there was still anything between Alvin and Shekinah. Alvin made it clear that things had changed since Ceeoni arrived and that he had no intention of pursuing Shekinah if Igwe was serious about her. The conversation appeared to reassure Igwe that there was no competition from Alvin, and he seemed increasingly focused on resolving things with Shekinah. In a surprising turn, Igwe also acknowledged that the situation had gotten out of hand and attempted to make peace with Shekinah, even reaching out to Hilda, who is close to her, in hopes of smoothing things over. A Brief Moment of Jealousy Between Kena and ChideraEven the strongest couples can experience moments of friction. A brief moment of jealousy surfaced when Kena noticed Chidera wearing Alvin’s jacket, something that made him visibly uncomfortable, given that the two are now committed to each other. The tension was short-lived when Chidera quickly apologised and reassured him, bringing the moment to a calm resolution. The episode closed on a lighter note with a couples’ game that lifted everyone’s mood and brought energy back into the Love Pad after a day full of tension. One question lingered across the Love Pad as the episode wrapped up: has Heartbeat’s resident playboy finally fallen in love? Catch new episodes of Heartbeat every Sunday at 9 pm on Africa Magic Showcase, DStv Channel 151, and GOtv Channel 8. You can also catch up via the DStv Stream app or through Catch Up on your decoder. |
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The new fashion interview show, The Fashion Roundtable, hosted by media personality, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, will premiere exclusively on YouTube on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
The programme will unearth the real, unfiltered conversations with the key players shaping Nigeria’s fashion industry.
The show will feature a powerful lineup of guests, including celebrity stylists Swazzi & Zack Aminu, model Ruth Vader, men’s footwear designer Kiing Davids, creative designers, Nkiru Achukwu of Zephans & Co, Morenike Olusanya of Bawsty, Aanuoluwa Ajide-Daniels of Aso and a host of other notable fashion entrepreneurs and industry players.
Viewers can anticipate standout revelations, such as designer Kiing Davids’ attempt at making women’s shoes that he ultimately abandoned, the story of Zephans & Co selling a staggering 35,000 outfits in one year, and the moment Bawsty’s first pop-up saw 600 registrations and sold out in less than two hours.
The host intends to look beyond the glitz and glamour, providing an intimate space for designers, models, and stylists to share their true behind-the-scenes stories.
The Fashion Roundtable is a direct response to the global attention Nigerian fashion is currently receiving, providing an essential platform to document the industry’s complexities.
Each episode features guests who discuss how they started, the significant challenges they face, how they recovered from failures, and how they financed their businesses. The series is committed to giving a voice to all parts of the fashion ecosystem, not just the designers.
“I created The Fashion Roundtable because I wanted a space to have real, honest conversations with the people who are shaping Nigeria’s fashion industry.
“We often only see the finished product, the beautiful outfits, but we rarely hear from the people behind the scenes about the work that goes into the process. Nigerian fashion is getting so much attention globally, and now feels like the perfect time to share these voices and their stories,” Olateru-Olagbegi said.
Power has shifted, loyalties have been tested, and secrets are no longer buried. As Wura returns for Season 4, before the next chapter unfolds, it’s the perfect moment to revisit the characters whose ambition, secrets, and rivalries have driven the series’ gripping tale of power and consequence. Here are the characters who have shaped the story so far from Season 1 -3.
Mrs Adeleke (Wura)
The boss lady, ruthless CEO of Frontline Gold Mine and the woman at the centre of it all.
Wura built her empire on carefully buried secrets and ruthless decisions. Anyone who threatened her power in the last seasons was silenced, and every move she made was calculated to keep her throne intact.
But power built without mercy eventually demands payment. In the end, Wura’s world collapsed when she discovered the most devastating truth of all: the daughter she had killed in her quest to protect her secrets was actually her own. Faced with the weight of her actions, she pulled the trigger on herself, leaving behind a legacy of power, destruction, and unanswered questions.
Tumininu (Tumi)
Tumi’s journey began with a simple mission: find the truth about her father. What followed was a dangerous path filled with lies, betrayals, and powerful enemies.
Determined and fearless, Tumi chased every clue and confronted the darkest secrets surrounding her family. But the biggest revelation came too late, the woman she had grown to hate the most was the one who gave birth to her.
In her pursuit of justice, Tumi paid the ultimate price. Sometimes the truth costs everything.
Jeje
Jeje was the man caught between two worlds.
Husband to Tumi, yet deeply connected to Wura’s shadowy reality.
For a long time, he carried dangerous truths that could destroy everything. When Jeje finally revealed that Wura was responsible for Tumi’s father’s death, it set off a chain reaction that neither love nor loyalty could stop. His confession changed the course of every life connected to the Frontline empire.
Mr Adeleke
A respected man sworn to fight crime and uphold justice. Yet the greatest criminal in his life was the woman he loved, Wura.
Mr Adeleke shared a home with Wura, blind to the darkness hiding in plain sight. Even as the signs became impossible to ignore, his love for her clouded his judgment.
It raises a haunting question: how do you police an entire city, yet fail to see the truth inside your own home?
Iyabo
Iyabo was the quiet force that kept the family together until one truth shattered everything.
Without warning, she revealed the secret that changed the entire story: Tumi was not her biological daughter. No preparation. No gentle explanation. Just a truth that landed like a storm in a fragile family. Family secrets destroy everyone.
As Wura launches its Season 4 this March, the story moves beyond the secrets. With the truth now exposed and the consequences still unfolding, the next chapter promises new power struggles, shifting loyalties, and choices that change everything.
In Wura’s world, the past never stays buried, and the next season may prove that the real battle is only just beginning.
To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
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