Showbiz
GistHouse to Celebrate Don Jazzy as African Icon January 20
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Friday, January 20, 2023, has been set aside to celebrate maverick beatmaker, Mr Michael Collins Ajereh, otherwise known as Don Jazzy, as the Black African Icon of the Month.
This followed his emergence as the African Icon for January through the first Afrocentric audiovisual conversation platform, GistHouse.
“We are most excited and privileged to announce Michael Collins, popular as Don Jazzy, a colossus of music in Africa, as the Afrocentric Icon for The Month of January 2023,” the founder and Gistmaster at GisthHouse, Mr Ope Banwo, said at a press conference in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Mr Banwo explained that the Delta State-born influencer and entrepreneur was chosen through a voting exercise by users and management of the application with consideration for the most outstanding black Africans.
“Don Jazzy was chosen out of dozens of other worthy African icons for his lifetime body of work in elevating the music industry globally in the context of the Afrocentric experience.
“He has not only excelled as a record producer, performer, and music executive, he literally pioneered a whole new genre of music and style of music performance with his iconic MoHits and Marvin Records labels,” he said.
“While Don Jazzy didn’t start international cross-over music in Africa, he brought a delightful new swagger, panache and an amazing financially rewarding dimension into African music with his unforgettable partnership with the inimitable D’Banj in MoHits Records, among others.
“After MoHits, he took his pioneering talent to a higher level with Marvin Records that gave us instant superstars like the sultry Tiwa Savage, super crooner Wande Coal, Dr Sid, and Korede Bello, among others,” Mr Banwo further disclosed at the briefing.
“Beyond establishing himself as a superstar music producer/performer, Don Jazzy has also mentored and helped a whole generation of Africans to turn their talents as musicians into a full-time occupation and impactful vocation,” the GistHouse app creator stated.
Shedding more light on events to celebrate Don Jazzy, the filmmaker and serial entrepreneur noted that GistHouse will celebrate Don Jazzy as its January Icon of the Month in several ways during the month of January.
“As part of celebrating Don Jazzy, we shall be declaring Friday, January 20, as the Icon Celebration Day with Don Jazzy on the GistHouse platform with different special rooms dedicated to celebrating him and his body of work, and also hosting him to a special conversation on the GistHouse platform,” he concluded.
GistHouse provides a safe and rewarding environment for people of all colours to host different audio and video rooms on any topic and provides advanced features for rewarding conversations on everything, including business, politics, religion, personal development, self-development, dating, business meetings, networking, friends and family meetings etc.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A 12-hour non-stop entertainment event offering various performances and activities all night long will take place in Lagos from the evening of December 21 into the early hours of December 22, 2025.
This programme known as InsomniaQ, is being put together by one of Africa’s leading digital payments platforms, Quickteller.
Quickteller is a brand powered by the Interswitch Group, and InsomniaQ was created to celebrate African creativity.
The all-night music and entertainment experience will hold at the Ballroom of the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
It is designed to capture the vibrancy and cultural energy that define Lagos in December. InsomniaQ is positioned to become Africa’s newest must-attend December destination.
The concert blends diverse African soundscapes, creative expression, and immersive lifestyle experiences, offering a night curated for music lovers, diaspora returnees, cultural enthusiasts, and everyone drawn to the city’s festive season.
More than a concert, InsomniaQ represents a new cultural moment, one that celebrates the richness, depth, and diversity of African talent. With a lineup cutting across contemporary and alternative genres, the festival aims to introduce a bold, fresh, and unforgettable experience within Lagos’ already vibrant entertainment landscape.
“InsomniaQ is an invitation to celebrate African creativity in a way that feels bold, fresh, and true to who we are.
“Quickteller has always been an essential part of the experiences people value, and this festival brings that connection to life in an entirely new dimension.
“As Lagos welcomes friends, family, and visitors from around the world each December, we are proud to introduce a platform that showcases our music, our culture, and the vibrant energy that defines this season,” the Divisional Head of Growth Marketing for Quickteller Ecosystem at Interswitch, Mr Olawale Akanbi, noted.
Through Quickteller, Interswitch continues to champion initiatives that go beyond digital transactions to enrich the everyday life of millions of Nigerians.
InsomniaQ extends this mission by empowering cultural expression, unlocking creative opportunities, and supporting the continent’s growing entertainment ecosystem.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The quartet of Oyindamola Timothy (Fashion), Steve Adeyemo (Tech), Uche Kalu (Dance), and Emmanuel Elijah (Music) emerged the category winners of the Stanbic IBTC FUZE Talent Show 4.0.
They received N10 million each for their efforts, along with mentorship opportunities, industry exposure, and support to advance their creative journeys.
The four were chosen from the 12 finalists at an event aired on Sunday, December 14, 2025, on AIT (DStv Channel 253) at 7:00 pm, Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Channel 151) at 5:00 pm, and streamed live on the official Stanbic IBTC YouTube channel, connecting millions of viewers to the excitement and energy of the show.
The 2025 edition drew over 6,000 entries nationwide and continued to inspire a new wave of innovation among young Nigerians in fashion, technology, dance, and music. The participants fought for a share of the N90 million in prizes put up by the organisers.
This year, the FUZE Talent Show also introduced an exciting new twist: The Fan Favourite Feature, which allowed viewers across the country to vote for the contestant who most inspired them. This addition deepened audience participation and further strengthened FUZE’s mission to connect creativity with community support.
“FUZE 4.0 truly lived up to its promise as The Ultimate Show, a platform that celebrates courage, creativity, and innovation.
“Every contestant who graced that stage reminded us of the extraordinary potential of Nigerian youths.
“At Stanbic IBTC, we are proud to continue creating opportunities that help young people dream bigger, think bolder, and achieve more. It is all about home-grown talent for us as we power the made-in-Nigeria initiative,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr Chuma Nwokocha, said.
As excitement builds for FUZE Festival coming up on Saturday, December 20, 2025, attendees can anticipate experiencing this year’s edition theme The Ultimate Show in full, with circus-style attractions, from magicians and parade performers to flash mobs and art displays.
An expanded marketplace, freebies from participating partners and on-site Stanbic IBTC services will enhance convenience, while performances by Wande Coal, Pheelz, Chike, and Ms DSF will add a nostalgic, high-energy finish. Interested attendees can register to attend via the Stanbic IBTC Events App or visit www.events.stanbicibtc.com to secure their spot.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 2019 single released by Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer, CKay, Love Nwantiti, has officially surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.
This feat has made him one of the few African artists to reach this milestone and the first Nigerian solo act to achieve this.
The song has sustained a global appeal, with listeners from the United States, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom playing it in the last 28 days alone, a proof of the track’s staying power well beyond its viral peak.
This achievement places CKay in an elite group of African artists with billion-stream records on Spotify, which includes hits driven by collaborations with Nigerian artists, such as Drake’s One Dance (featuring Wizkid and Kyla), Future’s Wait For U (featuring Drake and Tems), and Rema’s Calm Down (featuring Selena Gomez), and solo song Water, by Tyla.
Love Nwantiti was released on CKay’s EP titled CKay the First. It began as a slow-burn masterpiece that captured a global audience. It then broke out by blending the grooving rhythm of Afrobeats with an emotional feeling and an entrancing melody, a sound CKay himself pioneered and coined as Emo-Afrobeats, fusing African rhythms with raw, heartfelt emotion.
The song, which translates to sweet gentle love in the Igbo language, communicates an intense desire for a love interest. Its journey from a homegrown Nigerian track to a cultural sensation fuelled by countless dance challenges, social virality, and international remixes is proof of the widespread power of its sound.
It remains a fixture on playlists globally, with over 3.9 million playlist adds and sustained streaming momentum across continents.
CKay achieved this historic mark with a solo, non-collaborative lead release by a Nigerian artist. This distinction highlights his unique vision and singular impact as both a writer and performer, making him a true torchbearer for the new generation of African music talent.
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