In an entertainment industry fuelled by talent, ego, competition and constant public scrutiny, conflict is inevitable. From music to movies, comedy skits to Instagram Live sessions, Nigerian pop culture has witnessed spectacular fallouts that have played out in real time before fans. In this piece, TOFARATI IGE writes on the yearnings of many entertainment lovers to see some of their faves who are currently at loggerheads work together in 2026
Portable and Speed Darlington
If there were ever two entertainers who thrived on controversy as much as creativity, it would be Portable (Habeeb Okikiola) and Speed Darlington (Darlington Okoye). Both men are unapologetically loud, confrontational, and fiercely independent. Their clash was, in many ways, inevitable.
The beef reportedly escalated after Speed Darlington mocked Portable’s street persona and questioned his legitimacy in the industry. Portable, never one to ignore provocation, responded with a barrage of insults, threatening videos, and verbal attacks that quickly went viral.
“I no dey fear anybody for this industry. If you talk my name anyhow, I go reply you,” Portable once said in a viral clip.
Speed Darlington, on his part, dismissed Portable as “overrated” and accused him of lacking discipline and professionalism. “Fame is not madness. You can’t be shouting every day and think that’s talent,” Speedy said in one Instagram rant.
However, imagine a joint project between the two. A music video alone would likely break the Internet. Their shared love for raw, unfiltered expression could result in a satirical street anthem or a mockumentary-style visual that blurs the line between parody and performance art. The chaos would be deliberate but irresistible; and that’s what many fans would love to see in 2026.
Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham
Though top actresses and filmmakers, Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, have repeatedy said that there is no hard feelings between them, it is an open secret that there is a perpetually simmering rivalry between both of them.
Whenever Akindele unveils a project, especially her year-end cinema blockbuster, you can be sure that Abraham will be close by, promoting her own film as well.
While congratulating Akindele on the success of her 2024 film, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, Abraham had alluded to the “beef” between them. She wrote in an Instagram post, “The number one cause of fights in the industry then was ‘he said, she said’ before the social media era. Dear Nollywood people, let me chip this in, stop tearing the industry down with your gossip.
“You have caused lots of damage with ‘he-said, she-said’. In those days of the Yoruba film industry, @funkejenifaakindele was number one after the likes of Aunty Bukky and Aunty Faithia. I was the next in line.
“The competition was much and with many gossips in between, we became competitors and persona non grata. She moved on to the English industry, I became number one before moving on too.
“Aunty Funke and I continued the rivalry sort of. It pitted our fans against each other. We are two competitive Virgo women, we love to win and sometimes in that process, we splash dirt and mud.
“But with time, age and more wisdom, I have realised we can compete without being negatively competitive. Aunty Funke, I celebrate you for showing us what is possible. You are a winner. You sold over 1B, you made it possible for other women to dream.”
On her part, Akindele, who is known for her guarded public persona, has maintained silence, choosing instead to focus on her career. “I am about my work. People come and go,” she said in an interview when asked about friendships in the industry.
Both women have gone on to dominate the box office multiple times and have become two of the most bankable female filmmakers in Nollywood.
This has led many fans to call on both personalities to work together as –co-filmmakers and actors on a project. “Imagine a blockbuster film starring and co-produced by both women, exploring themes of sisterhood, rivalry, forgiveness, and power. It would not only break records but send a powerful message about maturity and growth,” a film critic, Tunde Akintunde told Saturday Beats.
D’banj and Don Jazzy
Once seemingly inseparable, popstar, Dapo Oyebanjo, aka D’banj; and maverick beat maker, Michael Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy’s split remains one of the most consequential moments in Nigerian music history. As founders of Mo’Hits Records, the duo helped to reshape the sound of afrobeats, and launched the careers of multiple stars.
Their breakup in 2012 shocked fans. While both initially downplayed the feud, subtle jabs and interviews later revealed underlying tensions. D’banj spoke of creative differences and ambition. “I wanted to explore globally, while Don Jazzy had a different vision,” he said.
Don Jazzy also once said, “When partnership breaks down, it’s not about talent. It’s about alignment.”
More than a decade later, both men have evolved. Don Jazzy built Mavin Records into a powerhouse, while D’banj reinvented himself through entrepreneurship and advocacy.
A reunion—even for a single track or documentary—would be monumental. It would be a celebration of legacy, growth, and the enduring power of collaboration over conflict.
Odumodu Blaq and Blaqbonez
The tension between rappers, Tochukwu Ojogwu, aka Odumodu Blaq, and Blaqbonez, has been boiling for some time, and it seems to be getting even more intense.
The tension first came to public attention on February 7, 2025, when Odumodublvck boldly declared on X that no rap album currently matched the impact of his 2023 project, Eziokwu.
“I said what I said bro. Compile every single hit, it is not touching Eziokwu,” he posted.
