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Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill a Monkey: The Gritty Crime Thriller Everyone’s Talking About

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Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill a Monkey: The Gritty Crime Thriller Everyone’s Talking About

… Why this Netflix original is setting a new standard for Nigerian storytelling on the global stage.

By  Femi Oyewale

When Nigerian filmmaker Kemi Adetiba set out to create To Kill a Monkey, she wasn’t just making another series—she was breaking her own mold. Known for the political grandeur of King of Boys, Adetiba pivots sharply in this eight-part Netflix crime drama, delivering a raw, emotionally charged, and socially relevant story that feels more like a confession than a spectacle.
And the world is watching.
 Inside the Plot: Morality Meets Survival
At the heart of To Kill a Monkey is Efemini, played with stunning intensity by William Benson, a principled man whose life spirals after financial ruin and heartbreak. He reconnects with Oboz-Da-Boss (Bucci Franklin), an old friend who now thrives in the dark world of cybercrime. What begins as a desperate attempt to rebuild quickly morphs into a moral abyss, as Efemini is forced to choose between survival and self.
Running parallel is the story of Mo, a tenacious cybercrime investigator battling PTSD, who becomes obsessed with solving “The Monkey Case.” As Mo digs deeper, the line between justice and personal vengeance begins to blur, creating a riveting tension that pulses throughout the series.
Adetiba’s storytelling resists clichés. Every episode tightens the noose, as the audience is pulled into a web of betrayal, trauma, crime, and consequence. It’s not about good vs evil—it’s about the cost of staying human in a world where everyone is for sale.
 The Cast: Career-Defining Performances
William Benson delivers a breakout performance. His portrayal of Efemini is painfully honest—fragile, angry, and terrifyingly relatable. Viewers have called it “a beastly performance” and “career-launching.”
Bucci Franklin as Oboz is all swagger and shadow. His charismatic menace makes him the kind of villain you can’t help but root for, and fear.
The cast is packed with Nollywood royalty: Stella Damasus, Bimbo Akintola, Ireti Doyle, Chidi Mokeme, Lilian Afegbai, Teniola Aladese, Sunshine Rosman, and Michael Ejoor, all bringing fire and finesse to their roles.
Lilian Afegbai, who plays Idia, said in an interview, “I poured my soul into this role.” And it shows.
 Visual Style & Language: Real, Raw, Nigerian
Forget glossy sets and fancy cuts. To Kill a Monkey is visually lean and emotionally heavy. The cinematography is deliberate—quiet, intense, almost claustrophobic. Language is another star of the show. Urhobo, Bini, Pidgin, and English blend seamlessly, grounding the series in authentic Nigerian culture while still appealing to a global audience.
 Impact and Reception: A Creative Risk That Paid Off
When To Kill a Monkey dropped on Netflix on July 18, 2025, the reactions were instant and electric. Fans flooded social media with praise for the cast, especially Benson and Franklin. Critics hailed it as “Kemi Adetiba’s most daring work yet,” applauding her for trading grandeur for grit.
Adetiba herself described the series as “a crazy risk.” She stepped out of her comfort zone, stripped away her signature cinematic spectacle, and focused on human conflict, psychological tension, and cultural truth. And in doing so, she may have delivered the most powerful work of her career.
Why You Must Watch To Kill a Monkey
If you’re tired of predictable plots and characters with zero depth, To Kill a Monkey is the antidote. Here’s why:
It’s Bold: Tackles real issues—poverty, cybercrime, trauma, morality.
It’s Brilliantly Acted: Benson and Franklin are on fire.
Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill a Monkey: The Gritty Crime Thriller Everyone's Talking About

... Why this Netflix original is setting a new standard for Nigerian storytelling on the global stage.

By  Femi Oyewale
It’s Culturally Rich: Language, setting, and dialogue are unmistakably Nigerian.
It’s Emotionally Intelligent: No easy answers, just hard truths.
It’s Cinematic: Each episode feels like a short film—tight, beautiful, and haunting.
Final Word:A New Benchmark for Nollywood
To Kill a Monkey isn’t just a series—it’s a statement. It proves that Nigerian storytelling can be sophisticated, globally competitive, and emotionally complex without losing its cultural soul. Kemi Adetiba has raised the bar, and Nollywood is better for it.
So, if you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for?
Kemi Adetiba’s To Kill a Monkey: The Gritty Crime Thriller Everyone's Talking About

... Why this Netflix original is setting a new standard for Nigerian storytelling on the global stage.

By  Femi Oyewale

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Laffmattazz Announces Strategic Partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for 2026 International Tour

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Laffmattazz Announces Strategic Partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for 2026 International Tour

 

 

 

Laffmattazz, one of Nigeria’s foremost comedy and live entertainment brands, is pleased to announce its official partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for the highly anticipated Laffmattazz 2026 International Tour, themed “Next Chapter: A New Season of Laughter.”

 

Now in its 15th year, Laffmattazz—the brainchild of renowned Nigerian comedian Gbenga Adeyinka (Gbenga Adeyinka 1st)—has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for its seamless fusion of comedy, music, and live stage performances.

 

The 2026 tour, which kicked off on Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2026 at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, marks a significant milestone in the brand’s journey. Building on over a decade of success across Nigeria, this year’s edition signals a bold expansion into the international market, with a multi-city run in Canada, alongside major stops in Akure, Abeokuta, and Lagos.

 

This strategic partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited underscores a shared commitment to excellence and innovation. It is also aligned with FirstBank’s First@Arts initiative—a significant and ongoing program dedicated to supporting the creative arts, entertainment, and cultural sectors. Through this initiative, FirstBank provides financing, advisory services, and actively fosters a sustainable value chain for artists and creative entrepreneurs, while supporting key industry platforms such as the Nigerian Entertainment Conference.

 

Speaking on the collaboration, the Laffmattazz team stated:

 

“We are delighted to welcome First Bank of Nigeria Limited as a strategic partner for the Laffmattazz 2026 International Tour. As we mark 15 remarkable years of Laffmattazz, this partnership reinforces our vision to take premium Nigerian entertainment beyond borders, while delivering even bigger, better, and more memorable experiences for our audiences.”

 

As a key partner, First Bank will enrich the tour through innovative customer engagement initiatives, experiential activations, and exclusive fan experiences across all tour locations.

 

With its distinctive blend of humor, culture, and live entertainment, the Laffmattazz 2026 Tour is poised to connect audiences across cities and continents, bringing laughter to thousands of fans worldwide.

 

 

About Laffmattazz

 

Laffmattazz is a premier Nigerian comedy and entertainment brand, now in its 15th year, renowned for its vibrant live shows and nationwide tours. Founded by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, the brand continues to deliver high-quality experiences that celebrate creativity, culture, and laughter.

 

About First Bank of Nigeria Limited

 

First Bank of Nigeria Limited is Nigeria’s oldest financial institution, widely respected for its legacy of trust, innovation, and customer-centric financial solutions that support economic growth and development. Through its First@Arts initiative, the Bank continues to play a pivotal role in empowering the creative industry and driving sustainable growth across the sector.

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Opinions divided over Pasuma Jaiye Kuti proposed wedding 

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Opinions divided over Pasuma Jaiye Kuti proposed wedding 

 

 

The current threading in *entertainment* world of speculated society marriage between oganla Fuji, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma with Nollywood icon, and widely acclaimed Queen of the tube jaiyeola Kuti has brought out different opinions amongst the fans and entertainment personnel.

 

What started as a rumour and mirage is gradually turning to reality and some fans are saying it’s not possible for Jaiye Kuti who is one of the scandal free Nollywood actress to be involved in such an unholy union with Pasuma

Most people who spoke with our correspondence, are of opinion that such a marriage can only happen in a mirage sessions and in Nollywood movies that apart Jaiye Kuti been responsible and married with children, Pasuma is someone who have vowed not to married and have a woman under his roof.

But to some also, it’s not impossible as artistes are known to be engaging and married to each other after denied and counter claims, which made and at the end they will go ahead and married . With this most people believe that truly there’s marriage in offspring for both celebrities While both parties refused to comment on the trend controversial issues about the whole issue , the world is anxiously waiting if this well circulated story of Pasuma getting married to Jaiye Kuti will come to pass or it will turn out to be a mirage.

Either way the die is cast as all eyes will be on Jaiye Kuti and Pasuma with searchlight on Nigeria entertainment industry once again

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated his Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, Mr Otega Ogra, on his election to the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA).

 

The election took place today at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, held during the Global Marketing Week Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES OTEGA OGRA ON ELECTION TO WORLD FEDERATION OF ADVERTISERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President Tinubu described the development as a significant step for Nigeria’s growing influence in global communications.

 

He noted that Mr Ogra’s emergence as the only representative from West Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa on the Executive Committee reflects the depth of Nigerian expertise and the contribution of a new generation of young Nigerian professionals to global industry standards.

 

Mr Ogra was elected to the Executive Committee on the platform of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), underscoring the role of Nigeria’s organised advertising and marketing industry in shaping representation at the global level.

 

The WFA is the leading global body for advertisers, representing over 150 multinational and Fortune 500 companies, alongside national advertiser associations across more than 60 countries, with a combined annual marketing spend running into hundreds of billions of dollars. Its Executive Committee is the organisation’s highest decision-making body, responsible for setting priorities and guiding global policy on responsible advertising, media transparency, sustainability, and the evolution of digital ecosystems.

 

President Tinubu noted that Mr Ogra’s election is both a personal distinction and a strategic opportunity for Nigeria and the African continent, placing them at the centre of global conversations on brand trust, platform accountability, innovation and the future of marketing and communications.

 

The President commended Mr Ogra, who also serves as Vice President of ADVAN, for his sustained contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s marketing and communications ecosystem, drawing on a career spanning leadership roles across the banking, manufacturing, and public sectors.

 

“Otega’s election reflects the growing recognition of Nigerian expertise and affirms our capacity to contribute meaningfully to the frameworks shaping global markets,” the President said.

 

President Tinubu added that the achievement aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in advancing the creative economy, strengthening digital governance, and positioning Nigeria as a competitive hub for innovation and enterprise.

 

Josh Faulks, CEO of the Australian advertiser association (AANA), and Simon Michaelides, Director General of the UK advertiser association (ISBA), also join the leadership team.

 

Current members of the executive committee, David Wheldon, President and Philip Myers, Deputy President, who is also the Chief Institutional Affairs and Corporate Communications Officer at Ferrero, continue in their current roles, as do all regional vice presidents.

 

 

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