#WithChude

Is Babangida a Bad Man?I spoke with one of Nollywood’s most critically acclaimed producers—known for hits like Mirror Boy, Last Flight to Abuja, and Badamasi—about Nigerian’s former head of state Ibrahim Babangida, and he insists Babangida is a good man.Born in 1985 when IBB took over office, I’ve long held a grudge against Babangida, the man who annulled Nigeria’s most peaceful election, “democratized corruption” and ordered the killing of his best friend. And why own up to his biggest mistakes now? Emelonye says it is his film that forced IBB into reflection and led directly to his apologies and confessions in his new book. From the lips of one of Nollywood’s most decorated and fearless directors, I heard stories of friendship, love, and business.We also talk about how he convinced Genevieve to do Mirror Boy movie after Omotola said no, and how Omotola said yes to Last Flight to Abuja the year after.This is one of the very best conversations I have ever had! Watch or listen to the full episode at WithChude.com.Tell me what you think in the comments below. ❤Watch all new and old fill epsidoes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life’, #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.comDonate to the work here: partner.withchude.comPlease subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude

Yale, Harvard, LSE, Oxford and others.Working on presidential elections in Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone and others. Big Brother, The Apprentice, Idols, Got Talent. And CNN, Aljazeera, BBC. The Future Awards reaching 26 countries across Africa over the past 19 editions. From the Nigeria Media Merit Awards to African Business of the Year. Forbes 30 under 30 to the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. 20 years, this year, of RED | For Africa, with its group of companies that includes one of the region’s top 5 PR companies.Handing over as chief executive officer in 2016 to pursue my vision for content across Africa, and establishing one of the brightest examples of succession planning in my industry across several of my companies - with non-founder, non-family CEOs. My aunty, the iconic Mo Abudu sat down with me to review the global reach of my career over the past 25 years in the media. I am grateful to her for this conversation - and grateful to God for a rich, full life. Watch or listen to the full episode on withChude.com.❤#ChudeIsCelebrating

“Anywhere my ex-husband saw me he would beat me.“He beat me so much, I became an alcoholic - but I couldn’t leave because of the shame that people will say I couldn’t keep a man.”For the first time on TV, veteran actor Ayo Adesanya - who was so big she was already lead star on Most Wanted, where Genevieve had her first minor role - finally speaks in detail about her abusive relationship that made her leave the industry for a very long time - and how she found the courage and the will to return to the industry and rebuild her career. We also discuss:- How she stayed in this relationship for 10 years - ⁠How Bimbo Akintola and her other colleagues got angry because she couldn’t leave this man - ⁠How her ex threatened to pluck out her eyes with a knife - ⁠How he sent her son away to Ibadan at just 1 years old because he was jealous of the attention she was giving her son- ⁠Why her next relationship didn’t work out- ⁠Her long, hard journey back to Nollywood  All pain, the shame, the destruction and the recovery. For the first time on TV, #WithChude.Let me know what you think in the comment section. ❤

This was an incredible honour.To have the legendary newscaster and TV host, Cyril Stober sit down to interview me for my celebration of 25 years in the media, and my 40th birthday. I have worked in the media since I was 15 - from my first job on the NTA - and in this conversation we go deep into a career across print, radio, online, film and television; working from the NTA to MBI to Channels TV, and from TEMPO Magazine to Thisday to NEXT. He grilled me o! - Why did I start so young - what was driving me? - How writing my first book at 13 kicked off my career? - Why did I leave my law degree to practice journalism?- Was I afraid being on TV as a presenter at 16 the first time? What was it like working with icons like Levi Ajuonuma, Funmi Iyanda, Comfort Okoronkwo, Agatha Amata and others? - When did I have time to do ‘young things’? - How did I meet my first girlfriend - on the job?- What led to a nervous breakdown in my 20s?- Why did I choose the lowest paying job out of 5 job offer after NYSC?- Why did I join NEXT newspaper’s even when they were already owing 3 months salaries?- Why I am not fazed by being ‘rave of the moment’ because of all the icons that I have seen go before me - What’s my vision for my work and the next 25 years?From a starry/eyed young couch potato to the host of the most watched talk show on the continent, I stand on the shoulders of giants like Stober and other greats who have shone the path for me. This conversation truly helped me unravel a life of so many highs and so many dreams come true. ❤#ChudeIsCelebrating

After his contract with Naira Marley’s label expired in 2022, Fabian Blu disappeared from the public space after releasing four singles under Marlian Records. He is speaking for the first time to the media about his time at the label and royalties over the past five years that he says he is owed. He says he has not been paid a penny and when he threatened to sue them to court, Naira Marley laughed in his face. He tells me about the suffering and punishments he said endured during his time under the label—how he was called a lazy artist and sidelined because he wasn’t Yoruba or Muslim. How he was maltreated in the accommodation provided, marched out of the studio and ignored when he asked for help for his mother. He says he was introduced to drugs after signing with Marlian Music and to a dangerous lifestyle that he has to escape from. Then I ask him: Why did he reach out to me to speak out just now, when Naira Marley is making a comeback with his music?Hear him tell his story exclusively on withChude.com right away and on @WithChude YouTube at 5pm today. Let me know what you think in the comment section. 

For the very first time, Mohbad’s wife Omowunmi Aloba is granting an interview. She says the bullying her husband suffered, her son Liam is now suffering it. From Naira Marley to her father-in-law. She speaks of death threats and attempted poison. She also fully explains why the DNA test has not been done to verify the father of her child. Today. 5pm. YouTube.

After the release of the monster hit ‘Caro’ with Wizkid, L.A.X (Damilola Afolabi) became a huge star. And he was only 18.He tells me the story of how he got that big break, how Wizkid changed his life… and why everything slowed down because his parents insisted he finish school and does his NYSC. Whatever that may have done to his momentum, he says he has no regrets. Returning to Nigeria, growing up with his grandmother taught him wisdom. We talk about: ● Why he left Wizkid, and why his leaving made Wizkid worried ● Why he continues to call Wizkid his Big Brother and why he thinks Wizkid has been on the attack in the past one year ● Why people think his energy and his career have slowed down, even though he is cleaning out concerts across Europe ● The heartbreaking story of how he found out his ex-girlfriend was cheating on him - and why he still begged her to stay ● How he paid her back for the cruelty he suffered - and what he learnt from that entire experience ● Why he sued the anonymous lady who accused him of sexual abuse and then recanted ● Why he takes life easy, no matter what other people are doing in the industry or on social media L.A.X. says he is a huge fan of the show and that’s a big compliment, because he is without any doubt from one of the coolest guests I have ever interviewed on this show. Watch the full 1-hour episode now on withChude.com.And let me know what you think in the comments section below. ❤  

I watched Teniola in Unbroken and immediately I knew she was a star, from then she’s gone on to feature in some of my favorite movies.But in December, she finally had a global star vehicle befitting of her massive talent with ‘Christmas in Lagos’.In this interview she talked about the journey from being behind the camera, wanting desperately to be in front where she knew she belonged but having little opportunity - especially because very few people believed in her talent. How she got here is a powerful story of fighting - to be seen, to be heard, to be believed.We also talk about Losing her ex-boyfriend, and why this made her tear up on the show How her ex-boyfriend completely changed her life and her relationship with God What his death taught her The story of her AMVCA Trailblazer Award and what that moment meant to herHow she managed to survive the intense pressure of social media, seeing others succeed while her career stalled Why acting matters so much to her You’ve never seen Teniola like this before. Watch the full 1-hour episode now on withChude.com. Let me know your thoughts below. ❤

"I would like to judge my father (Sir Shina Peters) for how he treated my mother (Clarion Chukwurah Abiola), but I’m not in the position to.”“The newer generation of Afrobeats artistes saw me as the old guard and was just like ‘we are tired of you’.”—With these two statements, you already see how deep we got in this conversation.For the very first time ever, the greatest music video director of my generation - who avoids interviews like the plague - opens up like he has never done ever before. He says #WithChude was the only show where he would go this deep or speak this openly. Just after he premiered his revolutionary series ‘Inside Life’ on Netflix, he sat with me and spoke with incredible depth and an open heart. It was well worth the 5-year wait.We also discuss:● How he really feels about how his father treated his mother as the tabloids hit her hard ● Why he learnt to stop judging and forgive his father when he became an adult and had his own relationships ● How his mother resisted the intense pressure to abort him● Why the pressure of being child to two superstars led to impostor syndrome ● The helplessness and fear he experienced as he moved from doing 3 music videos-a-week to the industry ‘rejecting him’● Why he didn’t make his Netflix film ‘Inside Life’ for the world. This was a masterclass - on life, on growth and on how to re-invent yourself after you feel like everything has fallen apart. Please watch or listen to the full 1-hour episode on withChude.com. Let me know your thoughts below. ❤