Nigerian Superhero Series ‘Iyanu’ Set to Air on Cartoon Network

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince​
The countdown begins for Roye Okupe’s animated series, ​which is finally set to air in April.
Set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, “Iyanu” follows an orphan who ​uses her superpowers to save her people from an ancient curse​ and is adapted from Okupe’s graphic novel series “Iyanu: Child of Wonder​.”
​Serah Johnson leads the all-African voice cast as Iyanu​ and is joined by​ Okey Jude, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Stella Damasus, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Shaffy Bello.
​The s​e​ries is helmed by Roye Okupe​, who was born and raised in Nigeria and ​also serves as Creator, Executive Producer and Showrunner.
 
Drawing on Nigerian culture, music, and mythology, the animated series follows Iyanu​ and her friends Biyi, Toye, and a magical leopard named Ekun​ as they set off a hero’s quest.
“It has been a hero’s journey for Roye and the team to bring this ambitious and stunning series to Cartoon Network and Max. This April, we all get to benefit from years of their effort and enter the super unique world they have created, filled with magic, mysterious enemies and divine powers,” shares Michael Ouweleen, President of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.
“Iyanu” is set to premiere on Cartoon Network on Saturday, April 5, with streaming available on Max the following day. Showmax has set its launch date for June 13, when the entire first season of “Iyanu” will be available across 44 African countries.

AFI Celebrates Honorees Ayo Edebiri, Cynthia Erivo

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince

The American Film Institute (AFI) recently held a star studded event honoring actors from the best films and television projects of the year.

A private luncheon held at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, the honorees included Cynthia Erivo, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Ariana Grande, Zoe Saldaña, Adrien Brody, Ayo Edebiri, Quinta Brunson and Colman Domingo.
The actors were from films “Emilia Pérez,” “The Brutalist,” “Sing Sing,” “Wicked” and television shows “The Bear” and “Abbott Elementary.” Projects the institute feel reflects the rich diversity of storytelling.
Cynthia Erivo is a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning actress who plays Elphaba in the Oscar nominated movie “Wicked” and Ayo Edebiri is an actress on FX series “The Bear.”
A nonprofit organization established in 1967, their annual award event celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year. Over the past decade, the AFI’s top 10 film selections have aligned closely with the Oscar’s best picture nominations.

Julius Onah Joins the Marvel Universe

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince

The Nigerian American writer and director Julius Onah has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Onah, whose credits include “Luce” and the sci-fi thriller “The Cloverfield Paradox,” is the director of Marvel’s latest offering “Captain America: Brave New World.”
The franchise, which now stars Anthony Mackie as Captain America/Sam Wilson, picks up the pieces from “Avengers: Endgame,” when Steve Rogers passed on his vibranium shield.
“Captain America: Brave New World” is about him taking the mantle of Captain America and running with it while facing threats that are bigger than what we’ve seen in the past and for Onah, who also co-wrote the screenplay, it was the perfect project to helm.
“The Marvel Cinematic Universe is so rich and diverse, and we’ve seen so many cosmic and supernatural stories recently, so to be able to get back to something that really takes these fantastic characters and puts them in a world that we all understand and can relate to is really powerful,” he shares.
In the film, Sam Wilson (Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident after meeting with the newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross and his mission becomes to track down the reason behind a nefarious global plot as he chases down an elusive mastermind.

Onah’s journey to film director has been a remarkably quick one. Just 10 years ago, his movie script about a woman forced to go undercover after she witnesses a murder caught the attention of director Spike Lee. Spike ended up serving as executive producer on the movie titled “The Girl Is in Trouble.” Since then, Onah has worked on numerous projects scooping up several best director nominations including a Spirit Award Nomination for “Luce,” a film which followed an adopted Eritrean former child soldier struggling to find his footing in the United States.
“I am an immigrant, and I grew up all over the world. I was born in Africa, lived in Asia and now in America and I like telling stories that will resonate internationally,” adds the filmmaker who grew up in a very strict Catholic immigrant Nigerian family.
A solid storyteller, Onah is a detailed-oriented director who is deeply invested when it comes to fully developing his characters.
“As the film begins, Sam has been Captain America for a while, and that is a big part of what drew me to wanting to direct this movie. We left Sam at the end of ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ knowing why he wanted to be Captain America, but now we’re meeting him at a place where he has to negotiate what that actually means, what course of action he’s going to take, how he’s going to relate to other people, and how he’s going use the power that the platform gives him. A big part of what he’s going through in this movie is trying to define that in a really specific way,” he explains.
With another Black superhero and a Black director at the helm, Marvel fans can expect a fresh take on the thriller genre that brims with multi-layered characters and visually dazzling set pieces.
Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Brave New World” stars Anthony Mackie, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito and Harrison Ford who steps into the role of the venerable Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, previously portrayed by the late actor William Hurt.
“There have been three widely popular ‘Captain America’ movies before, so clearly this is a beloved character,” Onah continues. “So, I’m thrilled for audiences to go on this journey with Sam, who’s such a fan favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and redefine him as Captain America in a way we’ve never seen before. I can’t wait for people to see it!”
“Captain America: Brave New World,” which premiered last night in Hollywood, opens in U.S. theaters on February 14, 2025.

Photos byJoe Scarnici and Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Lynn Whitfield Receives Legacy Award in Los Angeles

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince
She portrayed the unforgettable character, Brandi, in Martin Lawrence’s popular urban revenge saga, “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate” and went on to score success as the beleaguered wife of Samuel L. Jackson in “Eve’s Bayou and film “The Josephine Baker Story” which earned her an Emmy Award.

With more than 30 years in the entertainment industry, Lynn Whitfield was recently honored by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) with a Legacy Award at their annual Special Achievement Awards Luncheon.

Held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, this annual invitation-only awards ceremony honored Whitfield and several other significant individuals for their contributions to the entertainment industry.

Actors Brandon Wilson and Ethan Herisse received a Next Gen Award for their film “Nickel Boys,” a movie based on American novelist Colson Whitehead’s book about an abusive reform school in Florida. The movie also earned the film’s director RaMell Ross the Karen & Stanley Kramer Social Justice Award for spotlighting the abuse.

Amazon MGM Studios executive Amber Rasberry received the Horizon Award for elevating Black stories in film, and Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominated songwriter and composer, Taura Stinson was given the Ascension Award.

Presenters and guests included Keith David, Kelly Rowland, DeVon Franklin, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jennifer & Kat Kramer, along with AAFCA President and Founder Gil Robertson.
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Whitfield has won five NAACP Image Awards numerous nominations for her work in television and film, including “Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story,” co-starring Jamie Foxx.  Her television credits include roles in the Oprah Winfrey-produced miniseries, “The Women of Brewster Place” and “The Wedding.” She also attracted a new generation of fans in two of the Disney Channel’s highest-rated movies, “The Cheetah Girls” and its sequel, “The Cheetah Girls 2″ and plays a contentious mother-in-law in the new movie “Albany Road.”
Photo Credit: Sheri Determan/for AAFCA  

Beyoncé Kicks Off Black History Month with Historic Grammy Win

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince
Beyoncé made history at the music industry’s biggest night becoming the first Black woman to ever take home a golden gramophone in the Best Country Album.
The historic win kicked off National Black History Month which is celebrated annually in America.
Held at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles and hosted by South African comedian and writer Trevor Noah, who was also nominated, the 67th Grammy Awards not only honored the life and legacy of Quincy Jones, with a star-studded salute, but raised funds to support wildfire relief efforts and aid music professionals impacted by the wildfires in Los Angele. Beyoncé, who was snubbed at last year’s Country Music Awards also received her first Album Of The Year award for the album “Cowboy Carter.”
“Sometimes genre is a code word to keep us in our place as artists,” said Beyoncé onstage while receiving her Grammy. Thanking God, her family and her fans​, she encouraged people who are passionate about their craft to stay consistent.
Other winners at the prestigious event included Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”​which  snagged awards in all five categories he was nominated in. “Love Me JeJe” earned Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems a Grammy for Best African Music Performance. Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film received the Best Reggae Album and Alicia Keys was given the Global Impact Award.
With electrifying performances from artists like Doechii, Shakira, Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monáe who performed the tribute to the late Quincy Jones, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards honored the best recordings, compositions, and artists from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024.
Black History Month has been celebrated every February since 1976 and features numerous entertainment related events showcasing the achievements of Black Americans.
President Donald Trump, on Friday, released a statement honoring American heroes such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Thomas Sowell, Justice Clarence Thomas, whom he says “shaped our Nation’s history.” Recognizing February 2025 as National Black History Month, he encouraged the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

Jonathan Majors Tipped As Pan African Film & Arts Festival Ambassador

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince

Actor Jonathan Majors, whose credits include “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quatumania,” has been chosen to represent the annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF).

As the 2025 PAFF Ambassador, Majors, who was convicted in 2023 of domestic assault, will finally showcase and promote his new drama “Magazine Dreams.” The film was put on hold after he was convicted on two counts of assaulting his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabarri.

In “Magazine Dreams,” Majors plays the amateur bodybuilder Killian Maddox, who is driven by a desire to achieve greatness. Written and directed by Elijah Bynum, Majors tackles Killian, a character who pushes his body to its limits while battling inner struggles. The film, which is set to hit theaters on March 21, will premiere at PAFF’s opening night on Tuesday February 4 in Los Angeles.

The iconic Black Film Festival was founded in 1992 by actors Danny Glover, Ja’Net DuBois and executive director Ayuko Babu, an international legal, cultural, and political consultant who specializes in Pan African Affairs.

Marla Gibbs to Receive Hollywood Legacy Award

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince

Marla Gibbs, the actress known for her iconic portrayal of Florence on the sitcom “The Jeffersons,” is receiving a major accolade.
The five-time Emmy nominee and eight-time NAACP Image Award winner will receive the Hollywood Legacy Award at the American Black Film Festival’s annual awards season gala.
A Legend Award recipient, Gibbs, whose career has spanned film, television, and music is a dedicated activist and entrepreneur.
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is one of the few events that honor and celebrate Black artists. Their awards season gala called ABFF Honors recognizes excellence in the motion picture and television industry.
Actor Aaron Pierre is also slated to be honored with the Rising Star Award. Pierre voices Mufasa in Barry Jenkins’  “Mufasa: The Lion King for Disney.” The actor is also known for his role as Don Johnson in the Netflix drama “Rebel Ridge.”
Both honors will be doled out at the ceremony which will be hosted by actress and comedian Zainab Johnsonin Beverly Hills on February 17th.

97th Oscar Nominations Offer Few Surprises

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince
Announced this morning by actor-writer-comedians Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang live from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles, the 97th Oscar Award nominations offered few surprises.

As widely expected, Cynthia Erivo snagged her third Oscar nomination for her role as Elphaba in the movie “Wicked.” The Nigerian actress was previously nominated both for Original Song and for her leading role in the movie “Harriet” in 2019. Her film “Wicked” also picked up numerous nominations, but the drama ‘Emilia Pérez’ a Spanish-language Netflix musical exploring trans identity and the 3 and 1/2-hour film about a Hungarian architect chasing the American dream racked up the most nominations.
Other notable nominees include Zoe Saldaña who earned her first Oscar nomination for playing “Rita” in “Emilia Pérez” and Colman Domingo who earned his second nomination for the engaging prison drama “Sing Sing.”
“Conclave,” the brilliant drama about the selection of a new Pope received 8 nominations for Costume design, Film editing, Original score, Production design and acting nods for its lead actors Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini. The song “The Journey” from Tyler Perry’s Netflix film “The Six Triple Eight” also received an achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song).
Shut out from the Best International Feature Film category was Mati Diop’s “Dahomey.” The documentary style piece which tracks the journey of royal treasures looted during colonization by France as they are returned to Africa, was a firm favorite in the Oscar race for best foreign film nod. There was also no Oscar love for Malcolm Washington’s “The Piano Lesson” or “Blitz,” Steve McQueen’s World War II drama which follows the epic journey of a 9-year-old British boy.
The 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theater at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu.
Photos: A.M.P.A.S.

Friends, Family Celebrate Kayode Jacobs @65 in Lagos

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By Ruth Udeme

Amiable socialite, Dr. Kayode Jacobs, was filled with immense joy when family and friends turned out in numbers to felicitate with him on his 65th birthday.

As guests stepped into the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the event, they were warmly received and ushered into the spectacularly decorated hall.

Even before the star appeared, everything was put in place to ensure it would be a beautiful gathering.

As Bidemi Alaran took charge of proceedings as compere, the celebration began officially as celebrant and his family danced joyfully into the hall accompanied by friends and well wishers.

Described as the strong force for the family, a problem solver, a cheerful giver by many, friends and family took turns to shower encomiums on the celebrant.

The wife of the chairman of Ovation, Yeye Aare Mobolaji Momodu stated thus, “My brother has never failed us, if you need anything just call on my brother. He takes care of my mum and always makes us happy. I pray that the joy you give us, you will receive it in a million folds from people.You are too kind and I love you very much and many happy returns. I pray you live the rest of your life.”

In the course of the celebration, there was a special rendition by the Old students of Molusi College of Ijebu-Igbo.

The celebrant was at his hospitable best as he ensured that guests were well pampered as assorted dishes, chilled drinks and cocktails were made available.

Dr. Jacobs had his primary education at St. Peters Primary School, Iyaro, Benin City from 1966 – 1971, and completed his secondary education in 1976 at Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo.

He proceeded to the United States of America to study Business Administration. He completed his first degree in Economics and Finance in 1983.

He worked as a financial specialist and auditor for a few years before he started the power of hitch to further his certification in the medical field.

Actors Union Rally to Assit Members Affected by Los Angeles Fires

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By Samantha Ofole-Prince
Since the fires broke out last week in Los Angeles, SAG-AFTRA’s offices have been temporarily closed. The union which represents actors and entertainment professionals in America has announced its organization is making a $1 million donation to assist members experiencing hardship caused by the Los Angeles fires.
The fires that have ravaged families, businesses, and communities broke out across Los Angeles last week in the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Southern California, which is home to several celebrities such as Tom Hanks, Ricki Lake, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Extremely dry conditions coupled with strong winds allowed the fires to spread quickly to Altadena, a historic middle-class Black community in California, forcing evacuations of tens of thousands of residents. To date, the wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 24 people and destroyed more than 12,300 structures.
“The destruction caused by these blazes, the loss of life and homes, has been gut-wrenching to experience,”said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “But we knew we could do more; we hope this pledge helps relieve suffering and assists those impacted in putting their lives back together after this calamity. I have personally been affected by the fires and I feel deeply for others who are experiencing this tragedy. These are particularly stressful times. Stress compromises the immune system so we must be mindful of taking measures to support our health.”
Other companies and individuals who have rallied to help those impacted by the devastation include the entertainment studio the Walt Disney Company, who committed $15 million to relief and recovery efforts. Warner Bros., Amazon, Netflix, Sony Pictures, Paramount and Fox have also stepped in with cash donations. On Sunday, Global superstar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter donated $2.5 million through her foundation, The BeyGood Foundation, to help with fire relief in the Los Angeles area after her mother Tina Knowles lost her home in the fire.
Several entertainment events including nominations for the upcoming Oscars have all been postponed as a result of the fires. The upcoming Critics Choice Award has been postponed and the Oscars Nominations announcement is now rescheduled for Thursday, January 23.The glitzy Oscars Nominees Luncheon, scheduled for Monday, February 10, will not be held this year and although the 97th Oscars is currently scheduled to happen, it may be canceled this year due to the devastation which has impacted several of its board members.  The last time the glitzy event was impacted was in 2021 when the coronavirus pandemic delayed the 93rd Academy Awards.