Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

Lagos

Social Tech Reporter at Technext.ng

Out here with no humility. Send hate mail to [email protected]

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Articles

Made in Nigeria: Bisi Alimi on How to Tell Queer Nigerian Stories

1 week ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

Twenty-one years ago, Bisi Alimi came out as a gay man on national television. The backlash was intense. A rising career in Nollywood was abruptly cut short, and he became a pariah. In the years that followed, he wielded the attention from that backlash to bring visibility to the plight of queer people in Nigeria. In 2025, Alimi is still doing the work. He has launched a production company, Vengiance Production Studio, driven by a desire to seek justice for what happened to him.
Remember This Meme? The Man Behind It Became a Pastor and Moved to Ghana

2 weeks ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

At the peak of the pandemic, as the world sheltered in place, Kayode Ewumi became famous — or at least, his face did. In 2015, when he was still studying Drama and Theatre at Coventry University, he and his friend from secondary school, Tyrel Williams, got into making short, 6-second videos on Vine, a platform which shut down in 2017. They were trying to create a character based on Ace, Wood Harris’ iconic character in Paid in Full. But as the friends were filming, they didn’t like the shots.
Are Lizzy Anjorin and Tope Alabi Fighting?

2 weeks ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

If you were confused by the news over the weekend about a feud between gospel singer Tope Alabi and Nollywood actress/businesswoman Lizzy Anjorin, you’re not alone. Reports suggest both women are at odds after an incident surrounding a performance — or lack thereof — at Anjorin birthday celebration. According to sources, Alabi was paid to perform at a surprise event, but when she found out that the celebrant was Anjorin, she reportedly refused to perform and returned the payment.
This is How Fisayo Fosudo Makes His Videos

2 weeks ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

YouTuber Fisayo Fosudo had to frantically retrieve his SIM card after using a phone he was reviewing for his YouTube channel, where he has over 746k subscribers. He had formatted the phone and shipped it back to the owners, leaving his SIM card inside. “The work is a lot,” he said.
25 Nollywood Actors in Their First Movie Roles

2 weeks ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

Be warned: readers are guaranteed to feel a crippling wave of nostalgia. The Nollywood stars that you swoon over today didn’t start out in the industry as recognisable faces that drag arses to the cinemas. Once upon a time, they looked like we did, unsure about their careers. From Genevieve Nnaji leading a gang of thieves in Most Wanted to Adesua Etomi-Wellington surviving abuse in Knocking on Heaven’s Door, we’ve rounded up 25 of your favourite Nollywood actors in their first movie roles.
A Guide to Staying Fresh When NEPA Refuses to Cooperate

3 weeks ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

If there’s one thing every Nigerian can relate to, it’s the unpredictable nature of NEPA (or whatever they’re calling themselves these days). One moment, you’re enjoying full AC blast, and the next, you’re sweating like a Christmas goat. But no worries, we’ve got you covered with a foolproof guide to staying fresh, even when NEPA is doing you dirty. First things first, if you don’t have a rechargeable fan, what are you doing?
I Look Like Ayra Starr-But People Keep Calling Me a Catfish

3 weeks ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

There have been people who’ve dragged me for filth, claiming I was an Ayra Starr catfish account. I don’t mean this in a funny, wild fan kind of way. It was Favour Iyiowo’s mother who first told her she looked like Ayra Starr. She had been watching an advert the Afrobeats musician did for a hair brand when she saw someone she could’ve sworn was her daughter. Since then, Favour’s life has changed. A tech enthusiast, she is active online, particularly on X, where she has cultivated a following.
How to go Viral Online Without Selling Controversy, According to Justin Ug and Ini Cash

3 weeks ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

In the last decade, Nigerian culture has gone global thanks to the rise of luminaries exporting our culture through various forms of art. No one is more knowledgeable, on this subject than our features in Made in Nigeria. When Justin Ug joined Vine, the short-form video site, he found a world of content creators making dance videos and “African parents be like” skits. Not too long after, he started making similar content. In those days being a content creator was not as lucrative.
AMVCA 2025: The Complete List of the Nominees

1 month ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

Femi Adebayo’s Netflix original, Seven Doors is the most nominated title with 11 nominations. The 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) nominees were announced on Sunday. Leading the pack this year is Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors with 11 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Aliu Gafar, Best Lead Actress for Chioma Akpota and Best Lead Actor for Femi Adebayo. Adebayo is also nominated for Best Director alongside Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo.
Izunna Dike on How to Cook Creamy Pasta with Crayfish

1 month ago | zikoko.com | Dennis Da-ala Mirilla

It was 10 AM in Vancouver, and Izunna Dike still hadn’t slept. He had spent the night editing a video for TikTok and Instagram, where he had nearly 500K followers. For the past few days, he’d been sharing a series called Nigeria Diaries, documenting his last visit home. But just as he was about to post his latest video, TikTok flagged the sound for copyright infringement, forcing him to re-edit with a new song. This kind of late-night grind has become routine for him.