Entertainment
‘It’s wild, ridiculous’ — reactions trail Tems BET gospel music award win

Several Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) have reacted to the BET award win that went to Tems, the Nigerian singer.
On Monday, Tems received an award for ‘Best Gospel/Inspirational Song’ at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.
The singer snagged the award with her 2024 release ‘Me & U‘.
Tems defeated top gospel artistes like Kirk Franklin, Cece Winans, and Erica Campbell to win the category.
This sparked mixed reactions on X, with many questioning why a “secular” artiste would win the category over gospel musicians.
Others also argued that Nigerians should be happy that the award went to a Nigerian.
“It’s worrying that Tems won the BET Gospel/Inspirational Category of the year. She edged out Maverick City Music, Cece Winans, Kirk Franklin and others,” one user Solomon Buchi wrote.
“Gospel music is not inspirational music. Gospel music is believer edifying, Jesus glorifying and God praising. Mentioning God in a song doesn’t make it gospel. The metrics for gospel music should be stringent.”
In another comment, a user added: “The way the world plays with Christianity is so somehow. They created a BET gospel award and gave it to Tems. It is so pathetic.”
Below are more reactions:
Categorizing gospel music and inspirational music together wasn’t a mishap; it’s an intentional attempt to undermine the power of the gospel. Any skilled musician can write inspirational, but that isn’t the gospel. Stop liberalizing the gospel.
— Solomon Buchi (@Solomon_Buchi) July 1, 2024
Nigerian singer Tems winning at the 2024 BET Awards, as the Best Gospel/Inspirational prize. Me & U.
— S.A.B.U.R.I OMO IBADAN 🙌. (@AdepojuEva) July 2, 2024
Is an intentional move to berate & embarrass the flowers of Christ the lord.
Nonsense.
The way the world plays with Christianity is so somehow.
— DISTINGUISHED KPMG LinkedIn Everest (@novieverest) July 1, 2024
They created a BET gospel award and gave it to Tems. It is so pathetic.
Tems being nominated & winning in a gospel category is ridiculous and stupid like an insult to gospel music #BETAwards
— Bensira (@moonlight_sira) July 1, 2024
Bet award organizers are so stupid very stupid.
You see that BET Gospel/Inspirational Category? It’s our lukewarmness and acceptable Christianity that’s led to this. Because how Tems won over Cece Winans, and how the category is even called gospel or inspirational is our fault too. God help us oh.
— Ogbenyealu. (@Yadah___) July 1, 2024
Tems winning the Gospel Category in the BET Awards above Cece Winans, Kirk Franklin, Maverick City is WILD!
— Joshua Mimam Sampson (@mrjoshuasamps0n) July 2, 2024
Tems won BET gospel art of the year as how?
— Nnamdi🍀 (@tweetsbyzyl) July 1, 2024
Does she have any gospel song?
Wait ooo … HOLLUP!
— Clifford Enobun (@cliffordenobun) July 1, 2024
Tems won the Gospel/Inspirational category of the BET award
You say?? 👀
Issokay
I love Tems like so much, buh she had no business being in that category, neither did "Me & U". Especially with the legends that she was in the category with (yes, grace happens) buh this was African patronage for BET's advantage and nothing more.
— Ebo Emakhu (QrisEbo) (@EboEmakhu) July 1, 2024
Bye. https://t.co/IyJt3TUHAH
When I was shouting “you cannot listen to secular music as a believer” throughout 2022-23. All the people that are tolerant were coming out.
— Adaeze of Bloom|Marketplace Prophet| Counsellor (@helloadaeze) July 1, 2024
See this BET awards now, TEMS won over CECE WINANS.
You people that say you’re Christians should continue, okay?
Entertainment
I was pregnant with twins last year but had a miscarriage, says Annie Idibia

Annie Idibia, the wife of Nigerian singer 2Baba, has revealed that she recently suffered a miscarriage.
In a recent episode of the reality TV series ‘Young, Famous and African,’ Annie disclosed she had the miscarriage while pregnant with twins last year.
The 40-year-old said despite already having two children, losing the pregnancy was “hard” on her.
Annie also said she struggled to open up about her loss to people because she was not comfortable. She added that only her husband and mother were aware of the miscarriage.
“The whole of last year, even in the group, I was not coming out enough. I was pregnant with twins but I had a miscarriage,” she said.
“I wish I had someone in this group to tell me I’m pregnant. I would be having a baby, and then we lost that. It was hard.
“I was not even sure if I could even share this with any of my friends. It is only Innocent and my mom that knew about it.”
Entertainment
Bayo Akinfemi narrates how he struggled to make it in Hollywood

Bayo Akinfemi, the Nigerian-born Hollywood star known for his role in the American television sitcom ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’, has recalled his journey to fame.
In a recent interview with Teju Babyface on YouTube, Akinfemi, 55, detailed the struggles that shaped his acting career.
The actor said he relocated to Canada to pursue his passion by enrolling in film school while juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Akinfemi, who played ‘Goodwin Olayiwola’ in the five-season sitcom, revealed that he returned to school in his 40s and had classmates the same age as his children.
“I went to Canada in 1998, my wife was there. We were classmates at the University of Ilorin and we had been dating since then,” he said.
“I joined her in Canada and the first thing I did was to go to film school. I had the opportunity to really pursue my dream. After film school, I started working as a production assistant.
“There was nothing I didn’t do while I was in film school while trying to survive. I drove a taxi at night and worked in construction. I go to school in the morning, drive taxi in the evening, on weekends to work in construction, work in painting— I did all of that.
“There were times when I wanted to go back home. There were frustrating moments where I asked myself if this was a mistake, moments of doubt and regret. I was also getting pressured back home because Nollywood was beginning to develop and a lot of my friends were doing well.
“I was getting calls to come back home but I said no I’m not coming back. I stayed because I began to feel closer to Hollywood and to see that my dream was actually achievable.
“After film school, I was working on movie sets with Jackie Chan, Johnny Q when Denzel shot it in Toronto. Just being exposed to all of that made me feel like I was getting closer to this Hollywood thing.
“Directing is what I wanted to really do, I didn’t want to be an actor anymore. I started making short films and working on all these movie sets. I eventually got an agent who tried to get me into acting and the acting thing just took off.
“When I got to Canada in 1998, I was 29 years old. When I went to film school, I was in school with 19-year-old kids while I was in my early thirties but that was in Toronto.
“When I moved to Los Angeles I went back to school at USC, I was in my 40s in school with kids the same age as my kids. At that point, there was no turning back.”
Akinfemi was born in Ilesa, Osun state. He is an assistant professor of theatre practice at the USC School of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles.
The actor is currently a regular on the series ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’, a CBS/Warner Bros sitcom in its fifth season.
Entertainment
How God used me to reunite my dad, sister after 47 years – Tonto Dikeh

Tonto Dikeh, the Nollywood actress, has revealed “how God used” her to reunite her father with her long-lost sister Chinyere after 47 years.
The actress-turned-politician shared her testimony at a recent service at the Streams of Joy International.
Dikeh revealed that the reunion occurred nearly three years ago after she attended a service, where she prayed for her father’s “peace of mind”.
The 39-year-old said two days later, she received a private message on Instagram from a woman claiming to be her sister.
The movie star said after verifying the woman’s identity, she confirmed that she was indeed her sister, whom her father had abandoned 47 years ago.
Dikeh said her father had been carrying the guilt of abandoning his child for decades.
“My testimony is one of love, togetherness, peace, healing of broken hearts. It is a joy, my family,” she said.
“At about 130 weeks ago, I was on New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD) in the morning. Papa was praying and declaring and prophesying into people’s lives. I picked up something he said that lost people will be found. I did not lose anybody, but I answered amen.
“And around that same time, I have this amazing man in my life, he is my father. My father is a sweet man. He has lost so much in his life. He has lost his first wife, second wife, lost his brother, father, and mother. He was a broken man.
“I did not know how God was going to use Streams of Joy to bless my father. To give him the peace that he needed in the remaining years of his life.
“Two days after Papa made the declaration, I went into my DM and miraculously saw the email. It says, ‘I think I am your sister.’ I just went back to when I was a child. My father told me a very beautiful and sad story about how he left. I asked her what her name was, and she told me. I asked if her name was Chinyere, and she said yes.
“47 years before my father came back to Nigeria, he had a daughter. He left that lady when she was five to seven months old, and he never went back.
“She never knew who her father was. He never knew what her daughter looked like but had knowledge he had a daughter. God brought both of them together. And I introduced them together and they have been speaking since then.
“My testimony happened 133 weeks ago. I waited so much for this miracle to be perfect. I wanted God to heal his broken heart. I also wanted God to heal my sister because she thought she had a father who hated her.”