Welcome to Vol 125 of The Spread!

Hello and welcome back to The Spread; your weekly edit of all the best stories and global news about Africans shaping mainstream culture.

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In other big news, Marmalade is curating travel experiences, and we'd like you to help us shape them! Take this quick survey here to share your travel style.

Now, on to the real peel 👇

FEATURE STORY

Funke Akindele Crowned West Africa's Box Office Queen As 'Everybody Loves Jenifa' Grosses N1.8 Billion

Image Credit: Funke Akindele//Instagram

Nollywood genius, Funke Akindele has once again cemented her status as the Queen of the Box Office with her latest hit, Everyone Loves Jenifa, which continues to shatter expectations. Just last Friday, the film grossed over N1.8 billion, solidifying its place as West Africa’s highest-grossing movie of all time, according to FilmOne, its distributor.

Akindele’s reign at the box office isn’t just a lucky streak; it’s the result of years of strategic storytelling, intentional growth, and an undeniable connection with her audience. In December 2024, Everyone Loves Jenifa was already making history, becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film of the year with N511 million and setting records as the fastest Nollywood movie to hit N500 million in just 12 days.

But this isn’t her first rodeo. Since 2020, she's dominated the industry with back-to-back blockbusters, from Omo Ghetto: The Saga to A Tribe Called Judah, and now, Everyone Loves Jenifa. Each film not only outperforms the last but also redefines what’s possible for Nollywood.

Now, with Everyone Loves Jenifa taking Nollywood to unprecedented heights, Akindele proves yet again that she isn’t just making movies–she’s making history. And if her track record is anything to go by, this is only the beginning.

Read on PremiumTimesNG
Image Credit: Wizkid/Instagram
Image Credit: Ugochukwu Onukwubiri/Instagram

⏳ Trivia Time

Which Nollywood movie was the first to make it to the Oscars?

A) The Wedding Party B) King of Boys C) Lionheart D) Omo Ghetto: The Saga

Scroll to the very bottom for the answer.

ICYMI

🧭 Guide: Empowering Progress: Celebrating African Women for International Women’s Month

For African women specifically, Women’s Month has always carried a unique weight. Across the continent and the diaspora, women have not only fought for equality, but have also been the backbone of cultural, political, and economic revolutions.

Today, Women’s Month is more than just a day, it’s a season of recognition, a chance to uplift voices that have been silenced, to reclaim narratives, and to celebrate the progress made by women who continue to shape our world.

This month, at Marmalade Collective, we’re leaning into that legacy with our theme: Empowering Progress.

Read & Share Guide

What We're...

📰 Reading: The Woman Next Door, by Yewande Omotoso

🎧 Listening to: Flood, by Little Simz, Obongjayar, and Moonlight Sannely.

📺 Watching: Queen Cleopatra; a finely crafted four-episode series portraying the life and reign of Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.

🎟️ Booking: The All Nigerian Pub Quiz Presents: The International Women's Day Pub Quiz

👀 Eyeing: AAKS’ Oroo Oak Tote, made with traditional Ghanian weaving techniques

🧡 Member Spotlight: Shelcy Joseph

Image Credit: Shelcy Joseph

Meet Shelcy Joseph, a fashion editor and cultural storyteller exploring the intersections of style and business. She spends her days shaping editorial strategies and consumer culture; but catch her off duty, and you'll find her deep in a book, sketching designs, or uncovering New York’s hidden gems.

Get To Know Shelcy

We See YOU!

At Marmalade, we believe in celebrating all the incredible voices that make our community thrive. Are you a creative shaking up the scene, an entrepreneur building something bold, or a culture enthusiast with a story or two to tell? We'd like to hear from you!

Share Your Story

👏 That's a wrap!

Did we miss anything? Or just want to say hey? We'd love to hear from you! You can...

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Trivia Answer: (C) Lionheart
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