Showbiz
South African Economy Rakes $499m from Cape Town Film Studios

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About R6 billion ($499.3 million) has been contributed to the South African economy by the Cape Town Film studios, the chief executive has Mr Nico Dekker.
Mr Dekker made this disclosure during a site visit to the Cape Film Studios in Cape Town by the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) invited the Portfolio Committee to the set of the Warrior television series which is currently shooting at the Cape Town Film Studios in an effort to showcase their high-profile project.
Mr Dekker said since December 2010 the direct investment and economic impact of productions hosted by the studios led to 47,044 jobs being created and the South African production expenditure amounted to R2 billion in the same period.
“The overall contribution the studios made into the South African economy is R6 billion. The manufacturing process at the studios opened doors to a wide range of artisans that normally do not have access to the movie industry.
“This created significant empowerment to carpenters, painters, builders, garment workers, metal workers, landscapers and horticulturists,” said Mr Dekker.
Business Post reports that the Acting Chairman of the Portfolio Committee, Mr Adrian Williams, said the South African Film and Television Industry continues to attract Foreign Direct Investment from Hollywood’s major studios and creating employment for the services sector despite the economic challenges that South Africa experiences.
Mr Williams said the portfolio committee not only wanted to oversee the work done by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in the film and television industry, but also wanted to see returns on investment through employment created and transformation achieved as a result of the incentive that the companies receive from the department.
Showbiz
Husband of Late Gospel Singer Osinachi Nwachukwu to Die by Hanging

By Dipo Olowookere
Mr Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late popular gospel musician, Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging.
Recall that in April 2022, the singer was said to have died from a domestic violence in the hands of her husband.
Mr Nwachukwu was taken to court on a 23-count charge bordering on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, and spousal battery, among others.
It was reported that while in alive, their spiritual father intervened in the marital crisis between the couple, but the late singer was advised to endure, especially because of her status.
However, things degenerated and she died in the marriage, leaving their children devastated.
At an FCT High Court in Abuja on Monday, April 28, 2025, Justice Nwosu-Iheme found Mr Nwachukwu culpable of killing his wife.
According to the judge, the prosecuting team proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Nwachukwu was responsible for the death of the late musician.
The case could still head to the Appeal and Supreme Courts.
Showbiz
Popular Artist Terry Apala in Ikoyi Prison for Naira Abuse

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A popular music act, Mr Terry Alexander Ejeh, otherwise known as Terry Apala, has been remanded in a correctional centre in Lagos for alleged mutilation of the Naira notes in January 2025.
He was arraigned on Friday, April 25, 2025, by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on a single-count charge bordering on mutilating the Naira notes.
The musician was accused of committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
“That you, Terry Alexander Ejeh, on January 5, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, within the jurisdiction of this court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by marching on the same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007,” the count read to Terry Apala today at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, read.
However, he pleaded not guilty to the offence when it was read to him, which prompted the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, to ask for a trial date, urging the court to remand him in a correctional centre.
The defence counsel, Mr Felix Nwabuda, informed the court of a bail application dated April 23, 2025, and prayed the court for a short date for the hearing of the application.
“Whilst praying the court for a short date for the hearing of the bail application, I will be craving the indulgence of the court to release the defendant to the defence.
“We undertake to produce him in court. He will not evade hearing. He came in from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025; and on the invitation of the EFCC, he came on his own,” he stated
But the prosecution counsel opposed the application, saying, “The application is alien and unheard of.”
“I urge the court to afford us the opportunity to look at the application and respond properly so that the court can make a well -informed ruling,” he said.
In a short ruling, Justice Akintayo Aluko refused the application of the defence, ordering the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application. The matter was, thereafter, adjourned till May 5, 2025.
Showbiz
Spotify’s AI Playlist Now Available in Nigeria

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Global streaming platform, Spotify, has announced the availability of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) playlist in Nigeria.
In a statement on Friday, it said the AI Playlist in beta is for its premium users in more than 40 markets, including Nigeria.
This feature can be found via the search tab of Spotify by simply typing AI Playlist and selecting one of the suggestions.
With AI Playlist, Spotify will curate a personalized playlist made just for users based on the tracks, artists, genres and more. This is easy to revise and refine as users only have to ask for what they want – like “more upbeat,” “more new releases,” or “happier songs.”
The most successful playlists are generated through “genre”, “mood” or “artist” prompts. But animals, activities, movie characters, colours – and even emojis – are all fair game too.
Some fun prompts the platform suggests users to try out include Afrobeat tracks for the dance floor, Trending K-Pop hits I need to know, Reggaeton for hanging out at the beach, Songs to hype me up for a football match, and Latin songs from my top genre, among others.
Since launching last year, premium users have created millions of playlists with the goal of finding music that fits any mood or moment in an instant.
Now, Spotify is making it even easier for users around the globe to create the perfect playlist and find their next favorite artist.
The company has promised that this feature would expand to markets across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.
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