Category Entertainment News

While the convenience of streaming is undeniable, there is a certain magic from the collective gasp of a crowded hall, the immersive roar of the sound system, and the crystal-clear detail of a high-definition projection that only the cinema can provide.

This March, Nollywood is giving us every reason to leave our couches behind. With a powerhouse lineup of period dramas, thrillers, and soul-stirring musicals, these stories are designed to be experienced as they were intended: larger than life.

Don’t wait for the “coming soon to streaming” announcement. From the nostalgic streets of 1980s Aba to the tension-filled waters of the Niger Delta, here are the four cinematic experiences you need to catch at the box office right now.

1. Aba Blues

Status: In Cinemas Now (Released March 20, 2026)

Lead Cast: Angel Anosike, Jide Kene Achufusi, Prince Nelson Enwerem, Toni Tones

Director: Jack’enneth Opukeme

Where to Watch: Showing at all FilmHouse, Genesis, and Silverbird Cinemas nationwide.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1989 Aba, this period drama from Inkblot Productions and FilmOne Studios is more than just a romance—it’s an exploration of the emotional debris we leave behind. Amara (Anosike) finds her stable marriage to Uzor (Achufusi) threatened when her first love, Dirim (Enwerem), reappears.

Editor’s Note: Look out for the heavy-hitting supporting cast, including Patience Ozokwor and Eucharia Anunobi, who bring a grounded, authentic texture to this retro Abia State setting.

Watch the Aba Blues official trailer:



2. Evi

Status: Coming to Cinemas March 27, 2026

Lead Cast: Osas Okonyon, Uzor Arukwe, Omowunmi Dada, Ibrahim Suleiman, Waje

Director: Uyoyou Adia

Where to Watch: Debuting this Friday at all major Nigerian cinema outlets, with a limited international release in selected UK and US theaters.

Evi pulls back the curtain on the Afrobeats industry. Osas Okonyon stars in her feature film debut as a celebrated but prideful singer whose life is upended when her record label drops her. Stripped of her fame, she is forced to rediscover her voice and humility.

Produced by Judith Audu, this film features a powerful soundtrack that Osas Okonyon performed herself, making it a standout entry in the musical drama genre.

Watch the Evi official trailer:



3. Headless

Status: In Cinemas Now (Released March 13, 2026)

Lead Cast: Gideon Okeke, Segun Arinze, Uzoamaka Power, Baaj Adebule, Femi Branch

Director: Michael Ndiomu

Where to Watch: Currently screening at all major cinema chains. Digital streaming rights are rumored to have been secured by Netflix, expected later this year.

Headless is a bold action thriller. When a decapitated head is found in the boot of a prominent filmmaker’s car, a police investigation led by Inspector Jane (Power) unearths a dark web connecting the movie industry to high-stakes politics and crime.

Following its acclaimed premiere at AFRIFF, this film is a “must-watch” for fans of noir.

Watch the Headless Official Trailer:

4. The Delta Epic: The Creek

Status: Coming to Cinemas March 27, 2026

Lead Cast: Bucci Franklin, Sam Dede, Sunshine Rosman, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Charles Inojie

Director: Toka Mcbaror

Where to Watch: Premiering this Friday at FilmHouse, Genesis, and Viva Cinemas.

Toka McBaror returns to the familiar, volatile terrain of the Niger Delta. The Creek explores themes of survival and truth beneath calm waters, following a community caught between hidden secrets and the struggle to defend local resources.

Featuring an international ensemble including Jimmy Jean-Louis, the film also highlights the return of veteran actress Chinwe Owoh, adding significant gravitas to the production.

Watch The Creek Official Trailer

Pop superstar Shakira will wrap up her record-breaking world tour with a concert residency in Madrid at a custom-built venue, promoter Live Nation said Monday.

The six-night residency runs September 18-20 and September 25-27, with more dates possibly added depending on ticket demand.

The shows will be held at a temporary venue to be built in southern Madrid dubbed the “Shakira Stadium” with a capacity for roughly 50,000 people, the president of Live Nation Spain, Pino Sagliocco, told a news conference.

Shakira’s Madrid concerts will be a “celebration of life” and Latin culture, he added.

“Spain is where we’re really going all out. The show’s going to be something people have never seen before. I’m really excited,” Shakira said in an interview published Sunday in daily Spanish newspaper El Pais.

READ ALSO: Davido Announces Debut UK Festival At Crystal Palace Bowl

The concerts will mark her first performances in Spain in eight years, and her first since reaching a 2023 settlement with Spanish prosecutors to settle a tax fraud case.

As part of the deal, Shakira, 49, paid a fine of over 7.3 million euros ($8.6 million), after previously settling 17.45 million euros with the Spanish tax agency.

The case centred on the period when the Colombian singer lived in Barcelona with Spanish football player Gerard Pique. The couple, who have two sons, broke up in 2022.

The residency will mark the final dates of Shakira’s “Women Don’t Cry Anymore” world tour, which has become the highest-grossing tour ever by a Latin artist.

A woman who said she was drugged and sexually assaulted by veteran US entertainer Bill Cosby was awarded more than $19 million on Monday after a civil hearing in California.

Donna Motsinger said she was working as a waitress more than 50 years ago when the performer began to target her.

The hearing in Santa Monica was told how the comedian had initially come into the restaurant where the now-84-year-old Motsinger worked.

One day, when he picked her up in his limousine, Cosby gave her a glass of wine and what she thought was an aspirin.

She began slipping in and out of consciousness, and the next thing she knew, she was waking up at home, wearing only her underwear.

“She knew she had been drugged and raped by Bill Cosby,” the suit said.

Attorneys said Cosby, 88, did not remember any sexual contact with Motsinger but that any that had occurred had been consensual.

READ ALSO: ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Actor Nicholas Brendon Dies At 54

The jury took three days to deliver its verdict, ordering Cosby to pay $19.3 million, a figure that could increase if they add punitive damages.

The case was heard in the same courthouse where a 2022 jury ordered Cosby to pay $500,000 in damages to Judy Huth after finding that he had molested her in 1975 when she was just 16 years old.

The man formerly known as “America’s Dad” was jailed in Pennsylvania for drugging and molesting a woman in a separate criminal case in 2018, but was freed in 2021 when his conviction was overturned on a technicality.

Cosby was a towering figure in late 20th century American popular culture, including for his starring role in “The Cosby Show,” which ran from 1984 to 1992.

Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has announced plans to headline and curate his first-ever UK festival, Davido & Friends, scheduled to hold at the Crystal Palace Bowl in South London on Friday, August 14, 2026.

The Grammy-nominated singer made the announcement on Monday via his social media platforms, describing the event as a milestone.

“Yo, my people of London, it’s your boy Davido.  I know you guys have been feeling left out, but guess what?

“For the first time ever, I present to you Davido and Friends. This will be my only outdoor show I’m performing at this summer in London.

“We’ll be taking over the Crystal Palace Bowl on the 14th of August, so make sure you get your friends down, as I’ll be doing the same. London, I’ll see you guys soon,” the 33-year-old said.

The festival forms part of the newly launched Palace Bowl Presents series, the first of its kind at the historic venue, scheduled to run from July 31 to August 16 2026.

READ ALSO: Davido Thrills Fans At ‘5ive’ Tour In Enugu

Davido is expected to headline a full-day event on August 14, with the Nigerian star also taking on curatorial duties for the lineup.

While the list of supporting acts, described as “friends,” is yet to be unveiled, expectations are high that it will include a number of his Afrobeats collaborators and international guests.

With a capacity of about 15,000, the Crystal Palace Bowl, an iconic open-air amphitheatre known for hosting legendary performances since the 1960s, provides a significant platform for the event.

The venue has undergone recent upgrades as part of efforts to revive its status as a major live music destination in London.

Other headline performances confirmed as part of the Palace Bowl Presents series include Grace Jones, Tom Jones, Gary Numan, and Bastille.

Ticket sales for the event are expected to commence later this week, with presale access opening on Thursday, March 26, followed by general sales on Friday, March 27.

The announcement comes months after Davido concluded his 2025 5IVE tour, which saw him perform across multiple cities in Africa and Europe, including Nigerian cities like Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Enugu, Ibadan and Lagos between October and December.

Widely regarded as one of the leading figures in Afrobeats, Davido’s upcoming London festival marks a top moment for the genre’s continued global export and expansion, particularly within major UK live music venues.

The father of late Nigerian singer Mohbad, Joseph Aloba, has expressed concern after two of the three laboratories approved by a court to conduct a DNA test on his grandson, Liam, reportedly indicated they do not offer such services.

Aloba’s lawyer, Oladayo Ogungbe, disclosed that the labs nominated respectively by Wunmi [Mohbad’s wife] and the Welfare Officer to the Lagos State Government stated they lack the capacity to carry out the required DNA testing.

The development followed preliminary enquiries aimed at confirming whether the listed laboratories possessed the technical capability to conduct procedures involving embalmed remains.

Reacting in a viral TikTok video posted on Monday, the singer’s father described the situation as deeply troubling.

READ ALSO: Mohbad’s Father Seeks Prosecution Of Daughter-in-Law, Others Indicted In Coroner’s Verdict

He said the revelation reinforced his long-held concerns about alleged attempts to obstruct efforts to uncover the truth surrounding his son’s death.

“My lawyer called me, and I was shocked when he said he had discovered that the centres presented in court by the Lagos State Government’s welfare officer and Wunmi’s lawyer were not legitimate.

“They brought forward fake centres, and I was deeply saddened to hear this. I have heard that some powerful people have conspired with others to make me suffer over Mohbad’s death.

“Anyone can verify the legitimacy of the hospital I selected. In contrast, the one they chose had no proper knowledge of DNA testing. This suggests they are not ready for the truth, which is very troubling. I have also heard that a powerful figure was influencing this case and preventing justice. I sincerely hope I will not regret coming to Lagos State,” he said.

Aloba further alleged that this was not the first instance of questionable facilities being proposed in relation to investigations into his son’s death. He claimed a pattern had emerged which, in his view, could hinder the discovery of the truth.

“During the pathology and toxicology process, we made enquiries about the hospital proposed for the tests, and it was confirmed that it did not exist. Now, with the DNA test, another questionable facility has been presented. It appears to be a pattern aimed at preventing the truth from coming out,” he said.

The singer’s father added that he would consult his legal team on the possibility of transferring the case to Ekiti State, while appealing to authorities to ensure that the DNA test is properly conducted.

“I am appealing to the Lagos State Government to allow the DNA test to be carried out properly so that I can finally lay my son to rest. The DNA test is a crucial part of the evidence, and without it, the burial cannot proceed,” he added.

Court Proceedings

In February, a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikorodu approved three overseas laboratories to carry out the DNA test, months after initially ordering the procedure.

The facilities include the DNA Diagnostics Centre in Fairfield, Ohio, United States, nominated by the applicant; AlphaBiolabs in Warrington, United Kingdom, proposed by the respondent, Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi; and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited in London, selected independently by the court through its Welfare Officer.

Presiding Magistrate Adefisoye Sonuga granted the application filed by Aloba, who is seeking a conclusive determination of the child’s paternity.

The matter is scheduled to resume in April, when updates from the laboratories are expected to be presented.

The legal dispute surrounding the late singer’s death continues to unfold, with the issue of a DNA test remaining central.

Nigerian lawyer and creative industry expert, Audu Maikori, has raised concerns over the challenges surrounding the distribution of music, products, and services in Nigeria.

The co-founder and former CEO of Chocolate City Group highlighted the difficulty Nigerians face in accessing goods and creative content, especially when compared to more developed markets where e-commerce and distribution systems operate seamlessly.

Speaking during an interview on the The Afropolitan Podcast, Maikori illustrated the problem with a personal experience involving a local hat vendor. According to him, the vendor’s lack of business structure and customer service ultimately led to a lost sale.

READ ALSO: ‘It’s Time To Practice A Politics Of Ideology’ — Audu Maikori Seeks To Trade Music For The Green Chamber

Drawing a comparison with cities like Los Angeles, he said consumers in more advanced markets can easily order products online and receive them almost immediately through platforms like Amazon.

“We can’t get products to people. We can’t get music to people. The platforms we’re talking about is distribution. We don’t own it. We don’t have it,” he said.

Maikori further questioned the systems in place to connect creators and businesses with consumers, particularly in the events space.

“Who’s fixing getting the product to the people? How do I sell tickets for a concert without you coming there and know that when you get there, there’s a scanner that will allow you to walk into the space seamlessly?” he asked.

His comments was a pointer to wider concerns about Nigeria’s distribution ecosystem, which faces structural challenges despite rapid digital growth.

While Nigerian artistes such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, Ayra Starr, Davido, and Asake continue to achieve global success, the local market still grapples with issues such as inadequate infrastructure, piracy, limited access to digital services, and inefficient royalty collection systems.

Meanwhile, Maikori, who appeared on Channels Televison’s LunchTime Politics ealier in March outlined his vision for the “creative economy”.

Despite the global explosion of Afrobeats, he noted that the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP remains significantly low, at approximately 0.33%.

The lawyer believes the solution lies in a rigorous overhaul of the Intellectual Property (IP) regime.

“Intellectual property is closely linked to GDP growth, but in Nigeria, we have not been able to harness the IP regime. If I am blessed to be in the House, I will push for clearer policies.