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Fela Kuti estate signs to WME Legends, biopic, more in the works

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Legends, a division of the global talent agency WME, has signed the estate of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti for management worldwide.

The signing comes as Afrobeats, the genre that Kuti helped to create, has been steadily crossing into the mainstream over the last few years. Kuti, who died in 1997, was a Nigerian-born musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He fused funk, jazz, fuji, and highlife music to create Afrobeat, a percussion-heavy genre that has profoundly influenced music worldwide.

The WME Legends team will manage Kuti’s name, image, likeness, life, IP, music, and publishing rights across WME and parent company Endeavor’s departments and companies worldwide.

The team is focused on growing Kuti’s legacy for a new generation with various projects, including a definitive scripted biopic, an expansion of the Fela! Stage musical franchise; previously unreleased masters and unpublished songs; licensing and merchandising; commercials and endorsements; and more.

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“WME Legends is honoured to be representing the estate of Fela Kuti,” said Leslie Schilling, co-head of WME Legends. “Fela was a visionary artist and activist whose music inspires and resonates with people worldwide. We are committed to working with the Kuti estate to preserve and celebrate his legacy and to introduce his music and message to a new generation.”

The Kuti biopic would be the first to be sanctioned by the Kuti estate. Notably, 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen was previously developing a Kuti biopic for Focus Features to star Chiwetel Ejiofor, though the estate had no involvement in that project.

WME Legends also represents the estates of The Notorious B.I.G., Andy Kaufman, Eartha Kitt, Waylon Jennings, Peter Tosh, and Charlie Sifford, as well as Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation and the iconic New York punk/new wave club, CBGB.

During the negotiation, the Kuti estate was represented by Olajide Oyewole, a member of DLA Piper Africa.

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Entertainment

Olu Jacobs’ funeral mass draws dignitaries in Lagos

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Olu Jacobs

Olu Jacobs funeral mass begins in Lagos as Joke Silva, family members and prominent dignitaries gather to honour the late Nollywood veteran

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Lizzy Anjorin Questions Court Order Over Priscilla Ojo’s Son

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Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has questioned the authenticity of an interim order issued by the Lagos State High Court on 2 September 2026, restraining her from publishing photographs of Priscilla Ojo’s one-year-old son, Rakeem Mkambala, and from posting editorials concerning the family on specified social media platforms.

Anjorin raised the issue during an Instagram Live session on Friday, 4 September, after Priscilla shared a copy of the court order online.

The actress argued that publicising court documents before formally serving the respondent undermines the case.

“Your case na dead on arrival. If you post court letter on any platform before serving person wey you wan go serve, that court case na fake court case,” Anjorin said during the live session.

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Her comments came shortly after the High Court of Lagos State granted an ex parte application brought by Priscilla, her husband, Tanzanian singer Juma Mussa Mkambala, and their son, Rakeem.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya issued the interim order in Suit No. LD/ADR/6646/2026.

The order restrains Anjorin, as well as people acting under her authority, from publishing, posting, circulating, uploading or broadcasting photographs of Rakeem on specified social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok.

The court also directed Anjorin to cease publishing or broadcasting editorials concerning the applicants on the platforms covered by the order.

An ex parte order is made at an interim stage without the respondent being heard. The order is therefore not a final determination of the dispute and remains subject to further proceedings.

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Priscilla shared the certified copy of the order on her Instagram Story on Friday, bringing the legal development into public view.

Anjorin’s reaction centres on the timing and manner in which the court documents were publicised. Her assertion that such publication makes a case “fake” is her own claim and is not a finding contained in the court order.

The development marks another chapter in the prolonged public dispute between Anjorin and Priscilla’s family, particularly Priscilla’s mother, actress Iyabo Ojo.

The disagreement has played out largely on social media and has previously resulted in legal action, including a ₦1 billion defamation suit filed by Iyabo Ojo against Anjorin.

In recent weeks, the dispute has also drawn Priscilla and her young son into the controversy, following public comments by Anjorin concerning the family.

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BBNaija Kess Says Big Brother Makes Life Harder

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Kesiena Tony Adjekpovu, popularly known as Kess, has said that participating in Big Brother Naija can make life harder, offering a candid reflection on the challenges that may come with the reality television experience.

The former Big Brother Naija housemate made the comment in a statement shared on social media, where he suggested that winning or simply taking part in the reality show does not necessarily make life easier after leaving the house.

“Big Brother makes your life harder,” Kess said.

The remark has drawn attention because life after reality television can bring a different set of expectations, particularly as former housemates adjust to increased public attention and the pressure that can accompany visibility.

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Kess was a housemate on the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, which aired in 2022. He entered the show as a businessman and was among the contestants who competed for the season’s grand prize.

His time on the programme also placed him in the public eye, giving viewers an opportunity to follow his personality and relationships inside the house.

Kess’s latest comment offers a more reflective view of the reality TV platform, suggesting that the experience does not end when a contestant leaves the house.

However, he did not provide further details in the available post explaining which specific aspects of life after Big Brother he was referring to.

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