Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Kizz Daniel has suggested he may be considering retirement from the music industry. The artist, known for hits such as “Buga” and “Cough (Odo),” recently released the EP “Lemon Chase” and is already teasing another, “Orange Chase.”

Daniel explained his prolific output by stating his desire to release a backlog of over 600 songs before “hanging his boots.” This announcement followed the reveal of guest artists on “Orange Chase,” prompting a fan comment about overfeeding, to which Kizz Daniel responded with his retirement hint.

Further fueling speculation, the singer declared a hiatus from recording to prioritize family time. He acknowledged neglecting his family due to studio commitments, stating a change in priorities towards a more balanced lifestyle. While the exact timeline remains unclear, these statements suggest a potential shift in Kizz Daniel’s career trajectory.

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, known globally as Tems, was recognized at the inaugural Billboard Global Power Players Event held Wednesday at Shoreditch House in east London, England. Tems was among a select group of honorees, including British music icon Sir Elton John and EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi Shami.

Tems received the Diamond Award, presented by incoming Billboard Africa editor Nkosiyati Khumalo. In her acceptance speech, the Oscar-nominated artist emphasized the significance of the recognition, stating, “Being African and a musician is a whole new world and I feel like Billboard has been so supportive of not just African music but the whole scene and the culture.” She further acknowledged Billboard’s crucial role in the advancement of African music, noting its unprecedented rise and Billboard’s contribution to “moving that needle forward.”

Sir Elton John was presented with the Creators’ Champion Award, while Ghazi Shami, head of EMPIRE, received the Clive Davis Visionary Award. Notably, Nigerian musician and YNBL label executive Olamide presented the award to Shami. The event also marked the launch of the first-ever U.K. Power Players chart.

This honor further solidifies Tems’ place as a leading figure in the global music landscape. She holds the distinction of being the most-awarded African artist in Billboard’s history. In the previous year, Tems achieved another milestone as the first Nigerian woman to be honored at the Billboard’s Women In Music Event. Her consistent recognition underscores her significant impact and growing influence within the international music industry.

Nigerian musician Folarin Falana, known professionally as Falz, has publicly refuted claims of a romantic relationship with controversial crossdresser Bobrisky. This denial surfaces amidst ongoing legal proceedings initiated by Falz against social media personality VeryDarkMan (VDM).

The legal battle stems from an incident last year when VDM allegedly leaked a private phone conversation between Falz and Bobrisky during the latter’s incarceration. In response, Falz filed a defamation suit against VDM, triggering speculation about the singer’s personal life.

During a recent interview on Arise TV, Falz provided an update on the court case. He stated that VDM has yet to formally present a defense. “Update on the court case, very much still in court. There’s a substantive suit which myself and my dad are alleging defamation. We filed the case and ever since we filed the case, they have never entered the defense. Instead, they entered a preliminary objection saying the court doesn’t have jurisdiction to hear the case or something,” Falz explained. He added that the court has dismissed VDM’s preliminary objection, requiring him to enter a defense or risk the court ruling on the case based on available evidence.

Addressing the rumors surrounding his relationship with Bobrisky, Falz clarified, “I never had any relationship with Bobrisky prior to that phone call. He messaged me on Instagram and said, ‘I’m in this case and I want to speak to you about how you can help.’” He emphasized that he receives numerous similar requests for assistance and approached Bobrisky’s situation with compassion. “In a lot of those cases, I will give them an audience, like what is the P, how can I help? Compassionately. Little did I know.” Falz concluded by stating that the experience has made him more cautious about offering assistance in the future, expressing a sentiment of “once bitten, twice shy.” He implied a potential reluctance to offer help as freely as before, highlighting a heightened awareness in future interactions.