Celebrities
Linda Ikeji launches social network, plans to pay top users
Africa’s most famous news and gossip writers Linda Ikeji is on the move to take on Facebook with her own social network, which she says gotten over 50,000 sign-ups on the first day.
Linda Ikeji, a former model says her social network, LIS (Linda Ikeji Social) has something others lack: a one-stop shop for everything online. “About 30-40 million Nigerians are now online, and they go through so many sites,” Ikeji told CNN. “They go to Facebook for connecting with friends. They come to my blog to read the news. They buy and sell things and go to places like Nairaland where they exchange opinions.” Just six days in, the network has 86,000 followers. Within the next five years, Ikeji said she hopes to be the new Facebook.
Linda Ikeji “Facebook is my competition,” said the businesswoman, who is famous for her tabloid reporting, which many have criticized for promoting gossip and lacking in credibility. Celebrities have said in the past that Ikeji makes up stories, while others have accused her of plagiarism. Apart from her controversial ways, she differs from Facebook in another major way, however. The plan is to pay people who gain a lot of followers on the site. “Once they have 50,000 followers on their page, we will automatically start monetizing it. That means we will put our client’s banners on the page and pay you a commission from what they pay us.” The cash incentives are paid out to the so-called ‘wallet’ — a section on the network where people add their bank account details. It remains to be seen if anyone will hit that high. For now, she will pay out a weekly share of her advertising revenue to the most popular accounts, she says. “Next week we are putting N20,000 ($63) each into 50 people’s wallets,” Ikeji said. The network also plans to pay users N8,000 (around $25) for original news content.
The aim of the business is to give back to the online community. The strategy could mean good money for users, and the social network who gets help with attracting people to sign-up. A win win, she explains. “Being on social networking sites make the (site) owners billionaires. You being on our site will make us money, but at the same time we will share some of that money with you.” A million dollar business. Ikeji is everywhere in the online sphere, with 1.32 million Twitter followers and 796,000 following her Instagram account. It all started 10 years ago, when she was modeling, and came across a blog post about herself. “I liked it and I wanted to start my own blog.” Back then, blogs were more personal accounts of people’s lives, she said. “I wanted something more interesting.
I wanted to do gossip and news, and I gave them something different.” Already a celebrity, it quickly drew a lot of readers. “It was like a celebrity blog: people knew who I was and were very interested in what I had to say.” It seems to have worked. Today her blog has around 7 million page views per day and is especially popular with Nigerians living abroad in countries such as China, Dubai and the U.S., according to Ikeji. “It’s the number one blog in Nigeria.” However popular and successful she claims to be, Ikeji continues to be controversial.
Some say she is getting rich on gossip. She says the criticism is mainly down to two things: Jealousy and the usual online critique famous people often endure. “There are people who are jealous, because they don’t understand how somebody can be so successful at something so many others are trying to do.” Others simply don’t like what she does, but Ikeji seems unfazed. “They may not agree with the way I do stuff. They will criticize and show their opinion, which is fine with me.”
Celebrities
Plantashun Boiz attempted reunions failed because I wasn’t invited, says Blackface
Blackface, the Nigerian dancehall singer, says Plantashun Boiz, a defunct music group, multiple attempts to reunite failed because he was not included.
Formed in 2000 with 2Baba and Faze, Plantashun Boiz disbanded in 2004 but briefly reunited in 2007 for an album.
In a recent episode of the ‘Curiosity Made Me Ask’ podcast, the host asked Blackface if there was any chance that the group might come back together.
The singer disclosed that his colleagues had attempted to reunite without him but were unsuccessful.
“Without me, they have tried and they have failed. Many times. You saw them in all those shows that they were going,” he said.
“They tried but they failed. But what I must say is I’m the plantation. So let it be known. Forget the fake memo that they spread before.”
In September, Blackface called for the reunion of the defunct music group.
He urged fans to join the mission, emphasising that “unity is strength, not division”.
“My people oya make una talk put mouth for this matter! We are on a mission for world peace and it’s not a small-time thing,” he said in pidgin English.
Since 2015, Blackface constantly tackled 2Baba for recording 2004 hit ‘African Queen’ which he claimed he wrote.
In 2017, he argued that 2Baba “sabotaged” his career in the music industry.
Celebrities
Despite feud, Peter Okoye celebrates Paul on 43rd birthday
Peter ‘Mr P’ Okoye, the Nigerian singer, has celebrated Paul ‘Rudeboy’ Okoye, his twin brother, on their 43rd birthday amid their ongoing feud.
The twin brothers have been in the public eyes since their second fallout in August.
They had their first rift in 2017 which led to the dissolution of Psquare, their music brand. Though they reunited in November 2021, their reconciliation was short-lived.
Paul recently revealed another fallout, accusing Peter of orchestrating his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Peter, however, denied the allegations and accused Jude Okoye, their older brother, of diverting millions of dollars from their joint account into a secret company.
Responding to the accusations, Jude said he had done everything possible, even “sacrificing himself,” to mend the rift between his brothers.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Peter shared several photos showcasing their growth over the years.
He also celebrated their birthday while wishing himself as well as his twin brother more wins.
Celebrities
Tiwa Savage calls out Wizkid fan for bullying
Wizkid’s group of fans collectively known as “Wizkid FC” are popular for their vehement support for Wizkid and their antagonism toward those considered his rivals.
Tiwa Savage is the latest artist to call out Wizkid FC for harassment after some members of the fanbase mocked her for releasing a song on the same day as Wizkid.
On November 15, 2024, Ruger released his new song ‘Toma Toma’ featuring Tiwa Savage which she shared on her Instagram page with the caption “Told yall this one is special. The @rugerofficial called and I answered”.
In response, a Wizkid fan said “Dey play, nothing special pass Wizzy hits”.
The reply rubbed off wrongly on Tiwa Savage who said “Because I am promoting music? WTF…y’all are not fans anymore ooo you guys are actual bullies”.
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